Lac de Ste Croix, Gorges du Verdon and Moustiers Ste Marie

I am writing this blog at the kitchen table with a lovely glass of Rose and eating and munching a piece of pre dinner bagette and some "poulet" flavoured chips.

Today was a sightseeing extravaganza filled with some real natural marvels, historical perspectives and a lot of sensory overload. All of which is was just fine with me. We began our day by leaving the house at 8:15 a.m, and headed north through Aups. Another lovely day with a mix of sun and cloud and 26C. After Aups the terrain starts to gradually change to sub alpine. The roads start winding more and more and before long we arrive at Lac St. Croix. The water is a very teal green colour, I takie it due to the depth and the minerals. Surrounded by small peaks with the Gorges du Verdon entering the lake at the north end.

After a brief photo opp, we headed directly for the Gorges and took Hwy D952 along the north side of the Gorges. The lookouts along the route are specatular. The photos below from my Sony Cyber shot do not do it justice. It is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon and is awe inspiring. We soon leave the highway for the "Route des Cretes", a circular road, that follows the Gorges and was a one way road until not that long ago. It still should be. It is not for the faint of heart. I love driving these cliff side, and I mean cliff side roads with drop offs into the canyon of more than 1000 feet or maybe even metres, I wasn't looking or counting! I would rank it second to the road to Hana on Maui for the most spectacular and exciting drive I have ever done. More and better pics of the Gorges later from others cameras.

After a couple of hours we headed to the wonderful town of Moustiers Ste Marie. The town is known for its white pocelain ceramics and is has been home for hundreds of years to many artists. Some of us enjoyed lunch on the terrace of a cafe. I thoroughly enjoyed my Tartare de bouef, served Provencal style with capers, onion, coddled egg yolk and olive oil, served with delicious frites and mesclun salad (of course accompanied by a glass of vin rose de pays). While having lunch we noticed LA, DD and Marie where climbing the long cobblestone steps to the Chapelle Ste. Marie, which is perched about 500 feet above the town. Barry and I decided to take the trek up after lunch and what site and view!

We then shopped a little, had a gelato and drove home. Another bottle of rose opened and the blogging begins. The ladies are planning tomorrows village tours and tonight we will eat food from our fridge...which is stocked with two weeks of food for the average family and call it an early night.

I hope that everyone back in Canada is doing well.

Au Revoir.