We see what we want to see; we tell ourselves the stories that comfort what we think we know.
I don’t take the beauty of Provence for granted. It can be wide and sweeping or minuscule and intimate. An endless variation of songs to light up the dance floor. And how I do love it when I am asked to dance.
But, but after ten years of living here, I can be a snob about certain things, as unattractive as that is to admit.
For example, I don’t like crowds and feel foolish when caught in the midst of them in full on “ooh” mode.
Fanning women who have “A Year in Provence” poking out of their bag and agressive baseball cappers extending a selfie stick towards the sky make me grumpy.
See? Right on time. Snobby.
And certainly no place tends to prickle my skin more than Les Baux-de-Provence.
While I have a healthy respect for its fame, I see its potential and shake my head in dismay at the endless line of identical tourist shops lining the cobblestone streets, those selling fake savon du Marseille and polyester napkins imprinted with bees.
And yet, here we go, the entry to the humbling part…
…of course I wanted my Mom and her husband Leonard to see it while they were visiting in September.
And they were enchanted.
So how could I not be? Wonder is delightfully contagious.
All of those veils of ideas, judgements and expectations fell away. The crowds pushed around me and yet it didn’t matter. Of course, they have the right to stop and point and rave.
By giving in, I found myself back in Les Baux, the one that I know to love in my heart, even when my head tells me otherwise. Stories silenced, vision cleared. In seeing it through the eyes of loved ones, I discovered it anew for myself, Provence plus one.
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Eh oui, I seem to have written quite a few times about this enigmatic village (and I am not done yet as there will be a post on the main church there in the future). It is fun to look back at them now…especially in seeing how certain places have changed or not over time.
If you would like to understand the history of the village, click here.
Another shift in perspective, this time via a camera trick. To read, click here.
I love everything about this post (save that the photos are so small!): here.
And for my friends in the other hemisphere, you must believe in spring, so please click here.
Oh! And thank you all for your lovely responses on my previous post. For those of you that have been wondering, yes, Ellie arrived safely and is already making her new house a home…
"Each footfall begets separation.” Or a return to places we learned to love-"the one that I know to love in my heart…” and discover them again. One place I learn just now: "Les Baux des Provence, one of the most picturesque villages in France…so alive the light…gorgeous and then…”.
We come back to them because it is ephemeral and remains precious. For you, this place, I have to add: so personal. One of your many treasures: "Treasures in the palm of a fallen blossom.”
With your photos and narrative present and past a place I will wish to experience.
Believe me when I tell YOU I have never seen a SELFIE stick in use or sitting on the floor!!!!
This Contessa needs to get OUT more!!
I think I have passed this village but not stopped is it close to that Isle de Sorgue?You know what I'm trying to SPELL!!We stayed outside up a hill from there below a Nunnery in a cherry Orchard once a long time ago!!!!Tis time to do a Repeat of that trip but with new people!!You and Madame D!!!?Xoxo
I try to love being a traveler, and not get too snobby – but, it is difficult sometimes. I'm all about the awe moment, so visual, it's almost tiring in a way – so much to take in, to enjoy, to remember for the future, to reminisce about the past. We loved visiting Les Baux a few years ago, but last year there were just too many tour buses lined up to get in; we just couldn't bring ourselves to get in line, too. As someone mentioned, time traveling is limited – and Les Carrieres was pulling us in to its beauty – so it won the visit for the day. We did like getting lost circling around the forest and rocky area surrounding Les Baux! I loved seeing your photos, so beautiful – through them I can picture all over again, the lovely nooks and crannies of Les Baux. The view wasn't too bad, either!
We bypassed Les Baux, although we had fond memories of a former visit, to get to Les Carrieres de Lumieres. That was so amazing – I might return to Provence just to see that again. We saw Klimt and have always loved his work.. just fabulous. Ellie and everyone should see this amazing ultra-video-music presentation in the Quarry. What a party could be had in there (if one's eyes weren't so captivated looking at all the paintings floated around on the mamoth stone walls, floor and ceiling!)!!!
We can see your renewed sense of wonder in your photos!! I love the light and clouds in all the photos (especially of the last one, the church), and is is just me or does the photo of the dk. blue/green door look like a painting?? At any rate, how could Mom and Leonard's enthusiasm not be contagious?? Ah, yes – I remember ridiculing the tourists in NYC on a regular basis – why such snobbery? (are we the snobby sisters??). I love your first line: "we see what we want to see; we tell ourselves the stories that comfort what we think we know." A line of dialogue from our Imago Therapy goes, "..and the story I'm telling myself about that is..". Meaning, you aren't necessarily doing something to me; I'm interpreting what you're doing as THIS! But I just like the line – yours – sounds like the first line of a (YOUR???) novel…..: )
Thank you for keeping the crowds away in our little tour of les Baux…I am also not a big fan of the crowds…and not a selfie stick in sight!! Yay !!:-) Just back from a trip to South America and found the number of selfie sticks being used by people around amazing and a little hilarious…I suppose they could double as a hiking pole when not in use! 😉
First, I understand about Le Baux. I have only visited once, and at once was charmed by it, but horrified that there seemed to be no village left, only shops with pottery that chirped as I walked by. Ghastly, really. Second, thanks for the news of Ellie, I have been wondering every day how it went, etc.
bonnie
I feel the same way about Les Baux, Heather. I don't think we are snobs, I think we are realists…it is a very touristy place with a FASCINATING history! Your photographs remind me of what a truly beautiful place it is! Now when we go, we view the town from afar, and go directly to the Carrières de Lumières, a "must see" in my list of places to visit. The first time I viewed the display, I wept. Since it changes every year, there is always something new to experience. (please take Ellie, I think she will love it..and it is wheelchair accessible!) The fact that it is down the street from one of my favorite restaurants in the world does not hurt! Here's a link: http://carrieres-lumieres.com
Ah yes, I think we would get on well together. i am a bit of a snob in that respect too. I hate being a tourist when I am away from home but when you're in a place for so short a time, what can you do but point and click? So I wish time was infinite and we have all the time in the world to just stop and savour everything. But alas, that is not possible.
What stunning photos! I don't think you're a snob as much you wish to protect the soul of a place you love. I hate crowds and will do anything and everything to avoid them. I'm glad you took them and opened yourself up to enjoy this place through a fresh-er set of eyes. So glad Ellie's there!