South of France Tour
My craving for the South of France commenced nearly thirteen years ago with my first cooking school in a Provencal village called Plascassier. Here, I had the pleasure of staying in an old vine-covered farmhouse encompassed by olive trees and cypresses. The cooking school location happened to reside in the past home of Julia Child. We all knew the farmhouse as “La Pitchoune” or otherwise known by the locals as “La Peetch.”
Little did I know that my stay at “La Peetch” this short week would lead me several years later to the creation of my travel business Jackdaw Journeys.
Never in my life had I been exposed to the sights (landscapes and seascapes), taste (Camembert in Puff Pastry and Pavlove au Chocolat), sounds (Cicadas), smells (lavender) and spectacular views (Vieux Nice), that I witnessed and experienced in that week. What I didn’t know at that time was that what I was experiencing on that first trip is known to many as, “The Spirit of Provence.” After many years of repeat visits to the South of France, I learned that this “Spirit of Provence” wears two distinct faces: one called Provence and one called The French Riviera.
Cote d’Azur
On the coast line you have a region called the “Cote d’Azur.” Here, you find alluring coves of clear blue cool waters, yachts and boats of all sizes and colors, Belle Epoque architecture, marvelous villas, beautiful people, fast cars and always bougainvillea draped lanes and houses.
Provence
Then you have what is often just called Provence! Provence is the countryside. It is enchanting château’s and medieval hill top villages, gentle winding back roads with vineyards, weekly markets, quiet bistros, Roman ruins, fields and fields of lavender and sunflowers and a crystal light that has attracted many artists over the years for its purity.
So now let’s jump several years forward to the beginning of Jackdaw Journeys. Not being able to choose which part of the South of France to treat my guests to, I decided to explore both of the two most beautiful places in the world: the alluring villages and lands of Provence and the awe-inspiring coastline of the French Riviera. Come along with me and you too will soon be craving the South of France.
Interested in the tour details? Make sure to check out our itinerary and get in touch about our 2019 October tour or our 2020 tours!