The Village of St Remy

The visit to St Remy was a little shorter due to our interest and length of stay in Les Baux.  This is also a very cool little town.................most well known due to the artist Vincent van Gogh - this is where he spent the last days of his life and he captured much of the areas beauty.........it also had  amazing buildings and great boulangeries.......

Cute little streets........................

We even stumbled across this shop....................................

And then this shop with the unreal Poisson pedicure - yup fish eating your dry foot skin - great after a day walking around and up and down in a chateau - felt totally weird, unreal sensations and a very interesting experience......Loki is keen - maybe next time!

 Then, another amazing church before we hit the road and headed back to Marseille - another great day in Provence, France. LIFE IS GOOD!

Carrieres de Lumieres - Les Baux

Carrieres de Lumieres - this is the most amazing art exhibition I have ever been to - it is held in a quarry (yup - a giant - gigantic cave which is a little chilly) and the pictures, with soundtrack, are amazing.  The art is projected onto the immense walls, pillars and floor of the carrieres and it is crazily amazing - and pretty much indescribable just how amazing it was.  Art is not really Karls' thing so he didn't come - but I think that he and Loki would have been amazed - next time (if we get back there).  Connor came with me as he figured this was his 'less walking' option as the others were climbing the other tower of the chateau and he was pretty amazed, however as his amazement doesn't last that long I didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked - and left wanting more!

The photos Connor and I took do not do it justice but will hopefully give an idea of the sheer size of the place.......................

The size and colours and multiple senses activated - 

 Connor climped up on a bit of a shelf to almost be part of the art..............................

The amazing Les Baux - the Chateau

Today we had an amazing trip - visiting the ultra superb village of  Les Baux - this is now the favourite town of the whole family........................way cool! We were planning on spending half a day here and pretty much spent the whole day and could easily go back again for more exploring!

 First off - the Chateau Des Baux-de_Provence and the midieval feel and experience it gives - and the views AMAZING- Connor of course had to have the real thing!

Shots of the views from the chateau - lots of them................again - AMAZING

 

There were of course midieval displays showing us medieval military tactics - different types of catapults such as a trebuchet, the couillard and lots of other things..................

 The catapult show and of course Karl was picked (or volunteered by us) to help up and be part of the show - much more fun we thought.............

 Was so funny when they fired the catapult - one of the guys was standing in the firing line pretending to catch it and then ran for his life............................the kids thought it was very cool! What an amazing machine - they said this catapult could be fired 10 times an hour.....................................

Connor waiting for the show!

After the show we went exploring.....................

 The shops built into the cliff - the boys particularly like the blacksmith......................

They had such fun - asking a million questions and trying out things.........................Karl was just as enthralled as the little boys

It was so tempting to leave the boys here (below) for a while while we went and had a peaceful lunch - however there were no locks!


Next it was off to bow and arrow shooting where we all had a turn - I think that the instructor was very surprised that we all were right on target - go the Fraser family -
 


By this time we were starving and so headed out for lunch before the dual this afternoon - below the cool restaurant of choice and Lachlan's yummy pizza - then we all had crepes - delish!


After lunch we did a little exploring and shopping and then it was time to head back for the dual.........................




This place was amazing - and as I mentioned above - it is our new favourite place - to fisnih our time in Les Baux I headed off to an amazing art gallery - check out the next post! 

Heading home from our boat trip and some of our favourite things

 Here is one of my favourite stores in Marseille - the Nespresso Shop - here we buy our capsules for our machine - cheap as 3.50 Euro for a 10 pack and then they ask if you would like a coffee - yes please we say (in French of course) and they usually give the boys a chocolate or biscuit each - perfect!

 We then walked home via one of the famous streets in Marseille - the Rue de Republique and this is one of the amazing buildings we passed..........

We were then getting a bit hungry after all our adventures and so stopped at a boulangerie/patisserie for lunch - delicious - a sammie/pizza or croissant for main and then a treat!!!

Connor with his croissant 

After his pizza, Lachlan chose the biggest treat he could find - and all for 2 euro

Connor, as usual choose a strawberry focused dessert

And after my sammy, I chose a coffee, cream and toffee eclair - amazing! More walking needed! 

Chateau D'If - The Count of Monte Cristo

Today was a beautiful sunny day in Marseille and the boys and I decided to head out to one of the islands, D'If.  D'If is most well know as the location for the famous story by Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo". While not actually a true story and chateau has named the cells and created the illusion that Edmond Dantes was actually there alongside his friend Abe.  As we have the kids version of the book and the kids know it well they were excited by the island and the chateau.

The chateau was built in 1529 by Francois I.  It was the first royal fortress of Marseille.  It had a threefold role: protecting one of the kingdoms main trade ports; covering the exits and the anchorage of the new fleet and thirdly, watching over Marseille.  By 1580 - it was a prison.  A prison from where no one ever escaped.

Travelling over - up the front and ready for action.......

The prison - where no one ever actually escaped from - except for in a story! 

Exploration begins.......................

The boys are always looking for the archers slots.......and are very excited when they find them.........

The castle in behind - Connor just wants to get up there.........

The draw bridge over the moat - almost there..................

The cell of Edmond Dantes - the Count of Monte Cristo

The tunnel that Abe built which built their friendship and their plan for escape.........

Despite my best efforts - the boys managed to get out! 

The views are breathtaking...............

Up and down the towers we go 

Yup, I was really there too.......

Action shot - must improve my technique so I look like I am jumping higher...........

Listening in English - Connor got these working when Lachlan and I couldn't - sometimes just tapping randomly works!!!!

Castle done and dusted and now time for more exploring outside........

Chilling and thinking..................

Then it was time for lizard spotting....................

Walking around the walls........

Ferry docking - time to go! 

On the ferry - about the pass Fort Jean - we are home!