Angela
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- Ethnic group
- Italian
I won't be able to go this year, so I'm visiting it virtually. I dare anyone who looks at these videos not to want to go. I'll say about it what one of my favorite professors used to say about Italy: it's a feast for the eyes, the mouth, and the soul.
First, just take a look at the countryside. It's absolutely stupendous... a kaleidoscope of vibrant color, texture and beautiful smells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwMxnYKeikY
Wild Provence...you absolutely must rent a car as one of the vacation gurus insists. That's the only way to see some of this, especially some of the "wilder" parts. The BBC did this one, and their travelogues are always good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv0YKswaVuE
I particularly like this video by the New York Times because of the visuals, but also because it's explained through the voices of the actual French inhabitants (with English subtitles). It also shows local restaurants and gathering places.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZdJKv6JM4
Rick Steves has done a few videos on it, and as is the case with his videos on Italy, they're not for people familiar with the areas (and he's a bit of a dork), but the visuals are very good, and he gives you the basics.
This is Provence: Legendary Light, Wind, and Wine. It's actually a good basic guide to what to see in Pont du Gard, Cotes de Rhone wine region, Nimes, Arles, Avignon, and Aix en Provence. You should take the opportunity to go the bull fights while there...not at all like the bloody affair in Spain. The young men take their lives in their hands, but only to pull a ribbon off the bull's head. These bulls live out their lives in some pasture somewhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AZ7_yC_t_Q
This is his video on the Cote d'Azure or the French Riviera: Nice, Villefranche, Cap d'Antibes, Cannes,and Monaco. It's one area where you don't need a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er2tS8vWXHs
As you look at the beautiful Promenades des Anglais, you can imagine why the recent terrorist attack was such a psychic shock. He does a nice job of showing the Russian influx, the wonderful art, especially Matisse, and the Italian roots. You really have to go to the Matisse and Chagall museums.
I was lucky enough to go to a corporate dinner at the Villa Rothschild; it's an absolute must both for the villa itself and for the spectacular grounds. Eze may be touristy, but you absolutely have to go, and tiny Monaco is fun too, the aquarium, the changing of the guard, the cathedral with the tomb of Princess Grace, and, of course, the casino.
Eze:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgF8aGUMmE
St. Paul de Vence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K71LeQb5mEM
Baux de Provence: the stone village
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Edwcd-9wqQ
This is what we're trying to do with my home village, which is equally, or perhaps even more unchanged.
You need the nitty gritty, too. There are downsides to everywhere, including here. As this video says, you need a car, if you go in July and August, when it's at its most beautiful, it's very crowded, and it's expensive. In addition, some of the problems of Marseilles have spilled over, so be attentive to your belongings and to your car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9MLtGq_DWg
Before you go, do yourself a favor: read some of the Peter Mayle books like "A Year in Provence", "Tourjours Provence", etc.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/11/year-in-provence-peter-mayle
First, just take a look at the countryside. It's absolutely stupendous... a kaleidoscope of vibrant color, texture and beautiful smells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwMxnYKeikY
Wild Provence...you absolutely must rent a car as one of the vacation gurus insists. That's the only way to see some of this, especially some of the "wilder" parts. The BBC did this one, and their travelogues are always good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv0YKswaVuE
I particularly like this video by the New York Times because of the visuals, but also because it's explained through the voices of the actual French inhabitants (with English subtitles). It also shows local restaurants and gathering places.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZdJKv6JM4
Rick Steves has done a few videos on it, and as is the case with his videos on Italy, they're not for people familiar with the areas (and he's a bit of a dork), but the visuals are very good, and he gives you the basics.
This is Provence: Legendary Light, Wind, and Wine. It's actually a good basic guide to what to see in Pont du Gard, Cotes de Rhone wine region, Nimes, Arles, Avignon, and Aix en Provence. You should take the opportunity to go the bull fights while there...not at all like the bloody affair in Spain. The young men take their lives in their hands, but only to pull a ribbon off the bull's head. These bulls live out their lives in some pasture somewhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AZ7_yC_t_Q
This is his video on the Cote d'Azure or the French Riviera: Nice, Villefranche, Cap d'Antibes, Cannes,and Monaco. It's one area where you don't need a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er2tS8vWXHs
As you look at the beautiful Promenades des Anglais, you can imagine why the recent terrorist attack was such a psychic shock. He does a nice job of showing the Russian influx, the wonderful art, especially Matisse, and the Italian roots. You really have to go to the Matisse and Chagall museums.
I was lucky enough to go to a corporate dinner at the Villa Rothschild; it's an absolute must both for the villa itself and for the spectacular grounds. Eze may be touristy, but you absolutely have to go, and tiny Monaco is fun too, the aquarium, the changing of the guard, the cathedral with the tomb of Princess Grace, and, of course, the casino.
Eze:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgF8aGUMmE
St. Paul de Vence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K71LeQb5mEM
Baux de Provence: the stone village
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Edwcd-9wqQ
This is what we're trying to do with my home village, which is equally, or perhaps even more unchanged.
You need the nitty gritty, too. There are downsides to everywhere, including here. As this video says, you need a car, if you go in July and August, when it's at its most beautiful, it's very crowded, and it's expensive. In addition, some of the problems of Marseilles have spilled over, so be attentive to your belongings and to your car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9MLtGq_DWg
Before you go, do yourself a favor: read some of the Peter Mayle books like "A Year in Provence", "Tourjours Provence", etc.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/11/year-in-provence-peter-mayle