cool gardens in a hot climate™
After Provence, we drove north to Lyon, where we would catch our flight home. But first we had a day of sightseeing. Of course that included a garden. Lyon’s botanical garden is part of Parc de la Tête d’Or, a large city park that also encompasses the city’s zoo, a lake, running and cycling trails, and a velodrome. … Read More
I can explore a garden or busy market all day long, but I have a low attention span for cathedrals and museums, no matter how stunning. I joke with my husband, who loves the history and culture of such spaces, that I prefer places that are alive, not dead. So when he urged a visit to Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct about 30 km west of Avignon, I tried to muster some enthusiasm but am not sure it showed.… Read More
We day-tripped through Provence for 5 days in late July, climbing steep lanes in the hill towns of the Luberon, chartering a boat to view the calanques of Cassis, and watching famous paintings come to life at Carrières de Lumières.… Read More
Summer in Provence — what do you think of? Fields of lavender and sunflowers, sun-washed hill towns, buzzing cicadas, hot days and cool nights, a glass of wine at a small table along a cobblestone street? Yes, yes, and yes. … Read More
July 06, 2018 Our mid-June French château-visiting plan was foiled when we missed the last house tour at Château d’Ambleville (not that I minded, with that wonderful garden to explore). But like I said, you can’t throw a rock without … Read More
July 05, 2018 So many châteaux (manor houses, mostly, but also palaces and castles) litter the French countryside that today some can be purchased for a relative song. We were not looking to buy, however, but merely to visit a … Read More
July 01, 2018 Having admired his waterlily series at the Musée de l’Orangerie, we decided to visit French impressionist Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny while vacationing in Paris last month. Braving Paris traffic, we rented a car one Sunday morning … Read More
June 28, 2018 After Venice earlier this June, we spent 5 nights in Paris, a city I hadn’t seen in 29 years. It is as beautiful and vibrant as I remembered. My husband took these twilight images from the top … Read More