ARDECHE AND CHATEAU DE VOGUE

Two apps and no photos....oh well. Yesterday was a full day of lavender fields and seeing the beautiful Provence region. With two days to write about, I will probably go back and forth. We visited two working lavender farms, calling themselves lavender museums. We saw a short video on the process of distilling the lavender. I won't bore you with those details, mostly because I didn't pay attention!

Lavender has been grown here since the 18th century, used to combine with other herbs against the plague. Lavender can be called the little bottle of medicine. The best lavender is called fine lavender (or pure essential oil) and is only grown in high altitudes. This is the lavender we want for pure essential oil. Lavendin is a man-made plant, sterile and grown in lower altitudes. This lavender plant is in some detergents and chemicals (to disguise odors) and no doubt used for inferior essential oils. And yes I came away with lots of lavender oil and lavender items!

We stopped, for a wonderful lunch in Monieux (Tuesday).  Every lunch and dinner wine has been served, and I haven't  turned it down, but always followed it with dessert and espresso! Espresso is in such a tiny cup, it doesn't seem to keep me up. 

Today we visited Vogue, one of the most beautiful villages in France. We walked around this historic village, and the Chateau de Vogue, owned by one family for over 500 years. I was able to get some gorgeous photos and hope to post them. Perhaps eventually given my persistence. My favorite scenes are narrow cobblestone streets with colourful shutters, flowers in full bloom, and green lush shrubs on the edge of quaint homes. Laundry hanging on clothes lines is a close second.

This afternoon was a highlight, visiting the gorge of Ardeche in Vallon Pont d 'Arc. And no, I don't remember how to spell these French names. I have to look them up! At the foot of the gorge is a river  filled with beach goers, colourful canoes, and tourists marvelling at the beauty. The gorge is like a wall of stone, with an oval doorway in the middle, maybe 50 feet wide. At the bottom is a serene river filled with red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple....the contrast is so beautiful against nature. 

We arrived at the boat in time to freshen up for a drink in the lounge and dinner. There are usually 3 choices of apptizer, main course and dessert. Tonight's dinner was the chefs choice: beef bourginoine, French onion soup, and creme brûlée. Exquisite!!  

Merci and bonne nuit!  God bless, Aleta