In the South of France

I don't usually take group tours when I'm travelling, but when I do, it's because I want to go to some seriously pretty towns for less money that I would otherwise have spent if I had done it solo (oh, the woes of travel and money! Every traveller wishes that they could have an infinite bank account.)

But on occasion, being on one of these group tours can be pretty interesting, when they take you to really sweet little towns that you never knew existed.

Have you heard of a place called Moustiers-Sainte-Marie? I hadn't either until my tour group took me there. It's a really little place, a tiny little village tucked away on the edge of a limestone cliff and at the entrance to the Gorges du Verdon. With a population of only 700 people (seven hundred!!!), it seems like everyone wandering their streets in summer must be tourists.

The buildings in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie are painted in shades of warm, terracotta colours, with shutters that stand out against the colour of the walls. It's all very quaint and quintessentially French, as one might expect from a little village in the cliffs. The bushes and plants are alive in summer, and with clear blue skies, nothing could be more perfect.

What I liked about this picture-perfect little village is how, despite the buildings and cobblestone that seem caught in time, little details like metal foldaway chairs provide a gorgeous modern contrast to the old.

While in a place as picturesque as this, what else is there to do other than indulge in some seriously good eats? This basil and cheese sandwich that I had was absolutely to die for - perfectly grilled bread and yummy yummy basil! How is it that something so simple can taste so good? Whatever it is, I'm stealing the secret recipe!

I also had some lavender ice cream, which I decided to get because it was such a gorgeous shade of pretty pastel purple. I wouldn't really recommend it though. Lavender is amazing as a scent and I love dropping a few drops on my pillow before bed, but as a food it comes across a little too strongly for my liking. As far as lavender ice cream goes, I'll pass the next round.

Still though, food and blue skies in the middle of a cliffside French summer? Sign me up!

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie opens right up to the spectacular Gorges du Verdon, which has water the most mesmerising shade of bright turquoise. The most incredible bit? All this is real! Water this colour actually exists! The water attributes its colour to glacial melt as well as the suspension of mineral rock flour sediment.

I would have loved to be one of those happy people in boats paddling around the canyon!

Look closely at this picture - do you see a guy cliff jumping?! If only I'd been able to join him!

Standing on a bridge in the middle of the Gorges du Verdon is breathtaking - just being surrounded by bright turquoise water on either side. Turquoise!!! This blue-green colour is absolutely my favourite colour ever, so can you imagine how excited I was? Just like a little girl who couldn't keep still!

The contrast of summer dry grass to the turquoise water is so pretty, too :)

Tell me - will you be visiting Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the Gorges du Verdon?

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Lavender Summer

Did you know that the L'Occitane has museums in the middle of France's lavender fields? Yup, you read that right. Museums! For a skincare company! There's an endless display of L'Occitane related things - from the founding of the company to incredibly pretty seasonal packaging.

I guess it's no surprise that L'Occitane has a museum in this part of France, given how obsessed the French seem to be with everything related to lavender especially this time of year.

It's easy to see why and how the lavender obsession starts (although any real French person will never admit that they're properly obsessed over anything, that's being far too passionate). The fields burst into vibrant purple, so colourful it almost doesn't look real. Interestingly though, the characteristic calming scent of lavender doesn't get released until you crush the flowers, so even though the fields are filled with lavender they don't scent the air!

I couldn't resist taking a picture of myself in the field of flowers. Look how it's all the same colour as my hair!

This region of France is crazy scenic. I mean, this view! Look at this view! A warm summer's day, with clouds lazily drifting in the sky... It gives the effect of making everything look incredibly timeless, as if these fields and buildings have been here forever and will be here for a very long time to come.

It's impressive how every row of lavender is perfectly in line - just endless rows of perfectly carved, straight bushes of lavender. The only thing that wasn't perfect about this scene were the many bees and other bugs among the flowers - I kept thinking that I was going to get stung by a bee! Luckily for me nothing of the sort happened in the slightest.

So I continued dancing among the flowers.

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