Monday, November 12, 2018 -- Marseille (St. Remy de Provence)

On this somewhat grey day we ventured on an excursion out to the country, to get the feel for the Provence region, visiting the small town of St. Remy de Provence.

It was a tranquil Monday morning in St. Remy.

Another end-of-season announcement; at least this kind of bullfighting appears to be "grab the ribbon from the bull's horns" type.

Famous citizens: Nostradamus was born in St. Remy, and Van Gogh spent a year here, doing some painting, and then checked into the local mental hospital for a period of time.

From a handicrafts shop in St. Remy: To all our lady friends with November birthdays, this is for you. (Translation: "All young women are born equal, but the best are born in November"). Even better is the price tag, which says, "This piece is an original creation; to take a photograph is good, to make an offer is better."

This is the price for using the toilet in France; well worth it.

We stopped at a small salt and spice store. The couple who own it import salt from all over the world, but bring in lots of French salt from the Camargue region with which they mix lovely blends of herbs and spices. We had a nice visit there regarding their wares.

 These are really old shutters, typical of St. Remy's old town district.


















Turn the corner from this charming wall, and you find that Noir et Blanc is an antique shop.

St. Remy had other examples of whimsy as well. For example, stockings in one shop, fun socks in another, and windows with teddy bears nested among the topiary.

 The fields of Provence are highly ordered; very small plots of fruit trees and vinyards are protected from the wind by tall hedgerows of trees between them. All-in-all, a lovely visit in spite of shop closures and grey skies.