Who?
Bill and Annabelle 

From?
Toronto, Canada

Why did you choose to visit Provence?

We love France, love visiting the back country. Some years ago, we read about Provence, as so many people, in Peter Mayle's books, were intrigued about the villages, the countryside, the places he described.

Was it the way you imagined?

Sometimes you read about places to visit and they disappoint when you get there. But here, in Provence, it is exactly the way it is described. The light, the colors, the people, and not to forget, the food and the wine. This is our second, no, third visit and we enjoy every day of our stay. 

It's April. Is this a good month to visit?

We're having wonderful, sunny weather. The advantage is that is still relatively quiet everywhere, on the road, in the towns. Last year, we were here in March and the shrubs and trees were still subdued. Now, you can see wild flowers jumping out, roadside shrubs are starting to bloom. There is color everywhere. Perhaps we're lucky with the weather this April, because it may also rain in this month. But for us, it is a perfect month to visit. 

Any negative experiences?

The toll fares on the Autoroutes. They are very expensive. Granted, you can take a National Route and not pay anything, but then you are on the road for most of the day.

Another negative for us is the dog poop in the streets. No one seems to pick up after their dogs, just letting them roam free and do their thing wherever they fancy. 

Then there are cultural differences which you have to take into account,  not negative, mind you: the shop closings during long lunch hours, the washing machines that function differently from those at home, the toilets, though the squat-down toilets are less and less frequent these days. 

Why did you choose to stay at Le Muy?

We found this attractive B&B, very happy with it. From there, we can easily explore the perched villages to the north and east, the coast is a half-hour drive away. We like to have a fixed place for a week and explore from there. Next week, we'll be in Beaulieu, east of Nice, where we rented an apartment for a week. Another area to discover at our leisure.

Any advice to visitors to Provence?

Do your homework beforehand. Read guide books, search the Internet. There is so much information available before you  leave.

The other thing we advise is to rent a car. Granted, there is public transportation between the major cities, but to see the countryside, the villages, you need a car. It is essential. Contrary to the horror stories, the driving is fine in France.

And when you plan to be here in France for more than 3 weeks, it is economical to do the buy-back system, with Renault for instance. A much better deal than renting a car and you are covered with full insurance.

Would you to return to Provence?

Next year, we plan to visit Italy. Perhaps, at the tail end a bit of Provence. Otherwise, certainly the year after.

Read Previous Interviews: