The Hills are Alive...

...with the smell of Lavender (and many other plants that don't ring a bell). But those types of suprises are exactly what made our trip to Provence last week so pleasant. Sure, Monoco and the Casino were nice (but not at all what I expected - the Casino was small, quiet and didn't even have a running blackjack table at 3 in the afternoon!) And Nice was nice (of what we saw). And Cannes, well, it was a bit like South Beach (somewhat trashy) and because of our terrible dining experience (of which was our second choice after the first "gay" establishment looked a bit scary), I left Cannes with an unfavorable impression.

However, what made our trip were the many small villages (Tourette, Mons, Callian, and Seillans) we visited over three days as well as our host and acommodations. The vineyard where we stayed not only had a beautiful pool but English satellite TV just like in Paris! Better yet, with un endless supply of Lavender at our disposal, Xavier and I picked bunches to bring back to Paris (after we spent hours stripping each flower and cutting to precise length).

I, of course, enjoyed the sights more than the food and beverage. I still don't enjoy French cuisine or wine for that matter. I'll try anything ONCE. But after that, if undesirable, forget it. And after three days of eating mostly foie gras, lamb and numerous sauces, I was ready for Fat Girl Sunday on Monday night - Pizza and soda for me please!

The Casino in Monoco, or Monte Carlo...I still get confused.

A view of the hillside in Monte Carlo, or Monoco, I'm still confused.

A picturesque view of Seillans I snapped before we stopped for lunch.

A cute restaurant where I once again ordered the wrong thing - lamb with no flavor. But the dessert was devine!

Chris and Xavier trying to find Mons - a village with no water!

After a long drive to Mons, we were quite thirsty. Too bad nobody sold drinking water!

Cannes at dusk and before our mishap at the Italian restaurant.

If it's being touted as the "new Hollywood," you'd think they'd upgrade the theatre where the Cannes Film Festival is held. It's a bit boring - and square.

The vineyard. The Lavender. The joy.

The ice cold pool. With the nights in Provence still chilly, it hadn't heated to dipping temperatures. I avoided a heart attack by laying poolside only.

Xavier utilizing his gay gene to the fullest.