IF you visit Provence this year, you will surely have a very satisfying life. The number one satisfaction you can have is that you can have help save the world economy by doing nothing in Provence except spend and spend and spend. Remember, this certainly is not the time to save otherwise you will be branded as greedy and selfish. We must help each other in saving the economy of the world. These are trying times. The United States is on a brink of recession. The whole Asian markets plunged two days ago but managed to buoy up starting yesterday. And so are the European markets.
If you are an American, the first thing to do upon coming here in Provence is to plan your travel. Will the travel be just a vacation or an ultimate excuse to stay in the country forever? It’s much exciting if you can find a French spouse here in Provence. French – men and women – are all intellectuals and are said to be the most romantic people on earth. I don’t know whoever popularized that notion but simply put, the French are a very lovable bunch. Maybe it’s because of their being thinkers. They constantly know how to love their romantic partners.
And Provence brings a mix not just of romanticism but nutritious food because it is located in the Mediterranean. Everybody knows that the Mediterranean region on earth is where the healthiest people with the highest life span live. That and numerous other factors – there are nudist beaches here in Provence where you and your romantic partner can skinny dip all night long. Just don’t steer away from the shore because there are no lifeguards or French Coast Guards patrolling these areas. And if you have a romantic partner, make sure to stay with her or him only otherwise you’ll be in big marital trouble.
To travel here in France, the first rational thing to do is to log in Expedia and book for a flight. By booking the flight, you will pay for the air fare and part of the fare goes to Expedia. It means that you are already contributing to the American economy because Expedia, an online travel agency, is based in the United States. If you are boarding a United, you will also be contributing to the American economy but if you are boarding Air France, you will now be contributing to the economy of France.
Once you have touched down at Charles de Gaulle, you will board a domestic flight to Provence or you will board the Eurostar. Either way, you will still be contributing to the French economy. And when you arrive by Provence, you will be staying at a vacation villa or a Mediterranean vacation resort there. Of course, that entails spending money so you will be contributing to the Provence economy itself. Now isn’t it great that you have contributed something for the economy?
ONE of the most ingenious stuff to enjoy in Provence this year is to hop aboard a train tour of the Mediterranean province. Or better yet why not go to the Mediterranean itself and take the Mediterranean cruise and look at the stunning view of Provence from the sea. Aside from all the cruising, Provence is also very conducive to learning. People in Provence like the rest of France are deemed as very intellectual people and constant learning is their forte. In September for example, Provence will be hosting the 1st International Conference on Negative Ions, Beams and Sources. This is pretty technical stuff but this science and technology has been used in almost any facet of our daily lives. The conference will be held at the Aquabella Hotel. The Aquabella Hotel.
Another aspect of Provence that is perhaps not known to many is that it has lots of hip joints and pubs where people can wind out and party every night until the wee hours of dawn. There are lots of gay bars here too as Provence is another hot destination of the gay community in northern Europe who want to escape from their colder region into somewhere with a more temperate climate. Cheap local wine called rose is available in these outlets.
Other sites of Provence that are heartening to explore are the historical sites. After all, Provence is part of France, one of the oldest civilizations in Europe where the Frankish tribes ruled in prehistoric times. Thus, we have remnants of historical courtyards seen here. It’s also nice to stroll around Provence on foot to really get a feel on how the place looks like and it helps if you’ll get to converse with the locals as long as you have a little grasp of the French language. Anyway, most people learn a second language such as English, at least the younger ones because it has been European Union policy recently to adapt the mandatory teaching of second language in secondary schools all over the continent. Never be intimidated by Provence folks, they’re really a romantic bunch as all people in France are. It’s even heartwarming to go to the seaside markets where you can get fresh catch such as redfish, grouper, mollusks, clams and lobsters as well as fresh produce inland such as olives, cranberries and other fruits and vegetables. It’s likewise nice to get a taste of the native Provence sweet delicacy known as calisson which is actually made of real melons and oranges.
If you are that religious, you may want to go to St. Sauveur Cathedral where you will not just be entranced by its serenity but its architecture representing three eras – Roman, Provencal and Gothic. Of course, Gothic is mainly a symbol and is not really for practical use as history teaches us that most churches in Europe are splashed with Gothic designs in the olden times to lure in the pagan unbelievers.
PROVENCE is a Mediterranean region in France and because of that, it is one of the most desired places in the country. There are a lot of things the region can offer, foremost of this is food of course. After all, we literally can’t survive without food and eating a balanced and healthy diet can assure one of a longer life here on earth. Provence has one of the most adored exemplars of the Mediterranean diet which basically consists of fruits, seafood and vegetables. Provence has one of the largest olive plantations in France and from these olive plantations of course beget the olive fruit as well as olive oil which is the healthiest olive oil in the world because of its low fat content. Also, the Mediterranean has rich harvests of redfish, grouper, lobsters and mollusks and one can even order these direct from the aquarium of the restaurant to be cooked in whatever way you want it so that you can be assured of really fresh seafood.
Actually, Provence is a very big region and the most famous city in the region which has long been cited in popular culture such as novels and films is Marseilles. You can come in from Marseille through many transnational flights and even transcontinental flights from across the Atlantic and from the Middle East. There’s one international airport there, the Marseilles-Provence International Airport. Of course, you can reach here through car or train since France is locked to the European mainland. There are daily train trips coming from Spain as well as the rest of the countries bordering France. But when you come here by car, be sure to accompany someone with you because it will be one heck of an adventure ride.
Your companion will fill you in if you’re about to doze off and you must also ensure that you have everything in tow – credit card for the gas as well as your food, water and motel expenses. If you’re coming in from Spain, there will be no border guards to accost you because France is a signatory of the Schengen agreement, the policy which binds most countries in the European mainland not to erect border outposts.
But generally, Provence is rural country and each day is market day here. It’s not just olives that you see along the road, there are lots of other goods as well such as cheese, bread, sausage and preserves. Also, try to remember that France is the capital of meticulous preparation in the world and that influence is not exempted here in Provence. And of course, wine is a staple drink here because it is also one of the contents of a Mediterranean diet. And do not forget that wine is good for the heart. So that’s about it. Whether it’s January or June, Provence can be a very happy and heartwarming place to stay. It’s not just the attractions here that are wonderful after all. It’s more of the people.
