It is always interesting visiting a place you have seen so often in your imagination; you cannot fully anticipate what you will see. Provence is a remarkable place, where the simple towns, filled with charm and warmth, are situated perfectly in the surrounding countryside.
I felt a great sense of history as I traveled past the old castles with their formidable walls. I imagined myself as a pilgrim searching for shelter, or a knight riding on horseback. What must is have been like to live centuries earlier in the shadows of these great structures! While many of them are now in ruins, they still possess great beauty and presence.
The people were warm and friendly, quietly living out customs and traditions as old as the castles. In the mornings, the narrow, winding streets were filled with the smell of fresh-baked goods, as the townspeople threw open their shutters, and put out their flower baskets and pots. I especially remember the flowers - they were everywhere: in the fields, along the roads, and in the flower pots of the towns.
Charming cafes on cobblestone streets were an open invitation to stop awhile and take in the view of the river, the fountains, and the people strolling by. I always enjoyed observing how the architecture from different centuries revealed itself in the patchwork layers of stone, brick, mortar, and wood on almost every building. I could sit and draw this study for hours!
I will always remember my summer in Provence; the people, the traditions, and the great beauty of nature. It is a wonderful place!