Thursday, March 22, 2018

Tourrettes~Sur~Loup~










This window♥




That famous blue door♥


Help yourself~


My car..no no:)


Many restos are in little stone grottos:)





My fave pottery shop.


THE place for violet products.




Can you tell I love her?



Tourretes-Sur-Loup..was a coup de coeur in 2008..so we went back:)
The people are friendly,the food delicious,the streets charming.
You are 15 miles from Nice,Antibes..

We stayed in a remote little place ..not in Tourrettes..I think too remote for us..the driving was incredible..  out of everywhere we stayed..this was the challenge.Well the worst challenge.
Our hosts were welcoming..we stayed in an annex to their home which was built for their parents.
Prefectly comfortable...clean..  but so remote.

And you have to be ready for things that can change..the photos..had shown lush green grass surrounding the home..  verdant as far as the eye could see..poor them..
Provence had such a drought..when we went..all the grass was brown..no grass actually surrounding the house..our view was pretty though..as you can see by the last photo..but arid .

 This is one area we could not anticipate staying in again.The whole area is so hilly with Evil Knievel bends in roads..picture this ..manual transmission..90 inclines..180 turns..narrow roads..oncoming cars.
You have to really be a pro.And Jacques was.
But I kept holding onto the door handle..anyway you get it.

While there..we visited places close by..Tourrettes is one..

CHARMING.

The streets have inlaid Violets or wolf (sur -LOUP).. paw prints..Tourrettes is known for it's violets:)

I bought sugared violets and violet syrup..who can resist.
La Bastide Des Violettes is a special building /compound..where they make ..produce and sell the violet specialties of the area..

The pottery I bought was from there..Poterie Tournesol.

Pont Du Loup..

Is a hike too..
but we went..
it is the home of Florian.. top quality confiseries..
It's rugged..and raw.Super scenic.But I have seen it now:)
As you arrive there is an abandoned hotel..which sets the feeling..on a misty grey day..it was a bit sad.




Confiserie Florian..beautiful..$$$$


Gives you an example of how far up you are driving and under what conditions..


The gardens have roses..edible..cute cute..


We also visited Oppède Le Vieux..which is very remote and you walk up to it..many many steps Highway to Heaven.lol
Do not mistake it for the newere Oppède..keep going and going and going..it' s so artistic..sketchers abound..it's tiny and quaint.




Jacques is FIT.. 30 yrs on the treadmill every day..  golf for most of his life..daily walks..to get up to the village the steps ,are uneven stones..narrow..crooked uphill..you have to sometimes grab onto something for fear of losing your footing.
Do not venture up if walking is an issue..it is a LOOOOOOONG walk..hundreds and hundreds of stairs.




The resto when you get to the top.



Arists were sketching here..I met a lovely woman.. who had trouble walking..so there has to be a way to drive up for people who cannot get there.Her husband was walking around..she was sitting..happily sketching..she had never seen a waterbrush..What an artist.her workd was amazing

The biggest shop:)



We also  stopped in Grasse, for one moment ..well a few.. but left shortly after..
and a few other towns..but from this moment on..we left this particular area of Provence..





 And headed to  our final destination..Aix ~En ~Provence..which I loved..I guess that will be the last Provence post:)

36 comments:

  1. It's so quaint. The villages of the south of France have such a way of making an individual statement, like the wolf prints here.
    Toulouse also is known for its violets. I can't quite get into candied violets, but they are beautiful.

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    1. They are! I put them in sparkling water:) For a treat:) Have to find the perfect recipe for the violet syrup as it tends to color..maybe macarons:) Bonne journée!

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  2. Such a wonderful vacation. I would love to go visit the area. We stayed only in Nice before going to Paris and didn't get to go looking around, but it was beautiful. Freesia and violets are my favorite scents.

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    1. So close Nice!!The sights..scents..sounds.. so perfectly Provence..
      Paris..is a constant.. whirrrr.. cars.. scooters..police..ambulance..traffic..some quieter areas of course.. but busy..Aix is busier than our favorite towns too..but not as busy.:) Next:)and final;)

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  3. Again, such gorgeous photos. To many to comment on each one but I would have fallen in love with the Mademoiselle en Bleu also! And La Porte Bleue! Oy, those stairs! The worst part, if you have bad knees, is going back down, especially without a railing to hang onto. Interesting about the artiste. I wonder how she did get up there! Thank you for sharing all your loving photos. Happy to see both you and Jacques in some of them :)

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    1. Yes a handrail would be needed..some depths ..of those stairs..well you have to turn your foot sideways.
      Thank goodness for all the walking though..I still have a few Cafés Gourmands lbs to garden off;)
      There had to be a way for the car..we never saw one:) Glad though:)

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  4. Belle, tres belle Monique, beautiful and love the pics ! Like always a beautiful post. Hugs!!

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  5. Oh no! I don't want your Provence posts to end! You really saw many places and many towns...I want to go more and more each time i see your photos and read your descriptions. Your soul place...one of them..

    A little (literally little) something will be coming to you via la poste...

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    1. This town..s..you would love..Tourrettes and Oppède Le Vieux:) You would want to stay in that those tiny hilltop viallges:)And paint away!!
      Bon weekend!

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  6. You are so adorable in your linen and colorful espidrells! I love seeing all these images. It takes me back to our visits to this area. I don't want your Provence posts to end! Delights!!!

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    1. You are so sweet!! Gosh I love espadrilles:) You need MC ones:)
      Thank you Sarah:)Bon weekend!

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  7. I would love to visit all those small charming villages.Perhaps next July I have the chance to go there.
    Have agreat weekend, dear Nana.

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    1. Aix will love YOU Nina..:) Next post:)Have a nice weekend!

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  8. I love seeing what you're seeing.
    Please go back again. Perhaps not to places too challenging...
    I never understand why people must climb up all those steps...like visiting Mt Everest? I'm never tempted. A Complete wuss ��

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    1. Had to walk off our leisurely lunches:) :) We will go back..God willing..once more.;)

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  9. Lovely photos, makes me want to visit. So many magical places to see. You look darling in your linen dress. Your hair is quite long...looks so lovely. ❤️

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    1. It's super long lol:) I did get a trim so it's more even ..less layers..but long..I can't seem to part with it.So while I can..I'll keep it.
      You never know..It's so easy for me.It's gor curl..so I straighten it..and it's good for quite a few days:) Not a daily shampooer here..not a salon gal either.I leave w/ it wet;)

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  10. Love the photo of you in linen.💕. Your travels are such an inspiration! If life ever slows down, I would like to go for a month or so. It always feels so rushed when we travel. Working long hours just to have our bases covered before we leave and then playing catch up when we return. We took our daughter to Mexico for a month when she was twelve. She still talks about that trip! Have a lovely weekend!

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    1. That must have bben an amazing month!

      I hear you..when we would go away when I worked(I almost can't remember when Jacques worked lol)..I had to leave my work w/ a replacement..had to fill them in on everything..because I liked the personal part of my job..Murphy's Law..often an offer upon leaving..coming home catch up catch up catch up..never relaxing.Always thinking about what was going on back home.

      Not anymore..apart from family♥
      You will get there one day..it happens faster than you ever imagined sometimes.
      I had not planned on stopping that particular year..
      Life happens...
      Now I am like everyone else and wish I had stopped working before;)
      xoxox

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  11. Another beautiful post in a lovely country! I've got the travel bug again and hope my photos turn out half as pretty as yours. You have a wonderful eye. I love the sculpture too!

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    1. I had a point and shoot I was not familiar with:( But so grateful to have it and tuck in my watercolor pouch..

      Your No Bake Bailey's Cheesecake is in the fridge for tomorrow! Everything went well..deco tomorrow..TY!

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  12. Oh, I am so sad to think that this is the end of your Provence posts! I have so enjoyed every one of them and all of your beautiful photos! I agree with Tricia, you do have a wonderful eye. I LOVE THAT BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE! Oh my, gorgeous! What a lovely holiday you and J had. I am so pleased for that because you both surely deserved it. I expect you are in the throes of your Easter preparations now. I am wanting to do something different myself, but still thinking. I will probably think myself right past the holiday! Have a great weekend! xoxo

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    1. You are so creative I am sure you will do something so cute..I just don't know where you get your endless creativity! Never stop:)
      Today is J's bday so I had to sidestep..he's opened is card and a wifi booster;) How exciting!!:):)
      He's so easy and only want bdays every 2 yrs..

      well..

      :)Bonne journée..!

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  13. Now I feel like I've been to Provence once again. Your pictures are amazing Monique! I love the violets in the street!

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    1. Charm everywhere..I could have lived there..Provence could have become my home many years ago..had I known;)
      Bon weekend..

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  14. Love the picture of you. So Provençal. We have never been in that part of France. Hoping for more trips to Provence.

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    1. I hope you get to go back too:)
      Have enjoyed your Fl stay!

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  15. So amazing! I wish there would be more posts...kind of like reading a good book....with fabulous photos! :)

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  16. Loved seeing Tourrettes through your eyes. We were there a few years back and it really is a sweet town to visit and not as touristy as some of the others. I especially enjoyed the photo of you...you look as though you are one of the artists that live in the village. :)

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    1. What a thoughtful thing to say:) Maybe 45 yrs ago..it would have been a nice place to settle in..we met a certain young man who is just so envious of us living in QC..so funny how we all are..:)He would love to study here..he might get cold:)

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  17. You can take us (me) with you to Provence with your glorious photos and wonderful words any time you want. I'll sort of hate to see this series end! This is beautiful country but I can see why driving those hills would be a little hair raising and I'm not sure my gimpy hip and knee would have survived the uneven steps. Let's just say I'd be glad for that resto -- so pretty. And all the shops! Love the paintbrush photo, of course and the violets in the street. Oh, I love it all!

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  18. Fantastic photos and just the sort of place I like with its casual elegance and colors and potted flowers. Nice of you to take us along.
    Amalia
    xo

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