The Mayor of Tahoma decided to get out of Dodge, get out of the Sierra, get out of California, get out of the US of A. While I've been to France a few times, Paris, Champagne, Normandy, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley(north), and Strasbourg, I've never spent time in the south east province of Provence. This is the fabled home of the red wine variety that competes with its Bordeaux cousin: Burgundy, aka Pinot Noir. The press reported that there, too, were wildland fires in Provence. Fortunately, they were not as massive in scope as those found in California and Oregon in August/September.
The Mayor shared this European experience with the Deputy Mayor and two travel advisors who know France very well. Plans were made months before despite reports that the COVID virus was making a sharp impact across the Continent and in France in particular. The U.S. Dept.of State issued a travel warning Cat. 4: do not visit unless absolutely necessary. On advice of our government info source, we continued to pursue plans for a late August departure. We flew through Chicago, then on to Paris. From Paris to Nice on the south coast where we were picked up by our travel companions who arrived days before. We then drove about 3 hours west to a B&B near the hilltown of Roussillon. For those travelers who've been in the region, they might remember that Roussillon is the home of the Ochre Hills or the red earth cliffs that have been a source of awe for millenia.
Provence was also the site(s) of numerous Roman military encampments and fortifications. These grew to be entire cities and cultural buildings and constructions, including stadiums, theaters, temples, bridges, roads, and aqueducts. Additionally, Romans brought along their various baths and physical comforts. Many of these ancient structures have been preserved, and have survives two world wars, numerous revolutions, and political changes. Even the Catholic Church has a history here of significance: Popes relocated here in Avignon for a long period, building a new cathedral and Papal headquarters for the Church.
No comments:
Post a Comment