Home again!

We are now back in Portland. This voyage has been quite an experience and I have to admit that suddenly it feels so odd somehow to be back in our house!
As we flew into Portland in the early evening of July 16 I caught these views from my seat by the window. It was so lucky that I sat on the left side of the plane as we passed close to Mt. Hood.

I looked down at these patterns below as we began the descent into Portland.

 We are back in Oregon!

We left Marseille at dawn, en route to Madrid once again for our Iberia flight to Chicago. It was so early and we were sleepy...the Bastille Bal in Venasque sent celebration sounds up through the bedroom window until 1:30 a.m.

View of Venasque in the distance

Our chauffeur to the airport (Anton) had coffee waiting for us in the car!! Merci!! The drive was nice and we watched the dawn coming over the hills of Provence.

I strolled around the quiet airport...more poster photos to add to my collection.

This cookbook  looked very appealing...no more room in the carry-on however!

When we arrived at last in Portland, my first impression was how lush it all is! It is true that we spent a good deal of time in big cities; some of the last 10 days of our voyage were in Estonia just outside of Tallinn where there are lots of trees and also some unusual houses like this one which belongs to an architect...the house is built for a view of the sea.

Somehow though, Portland seems to be more "tropical" than the birch tree lined path in Estonia or the farmstead at the open air museum.

Or especially the countryside of Provence...

Or this of Bretagne...or the attico in Rome

Some things I am still thinking about are the wonderful handcrafts of Estonia found in shops like this...Eesti Käsitöö...

or out in the market stands around the Laulupidu.

The stripe effect was also demonstrated in this modern young woman's hair color variations...

Like the various stripes above...color really caught my eye on this trip...for example these dishes spotted in a shop window in Rome...

 and the lavender house with blue shutters in Bretagne...

 or the macarons in this pastry shop in Paris.

Going to markets in Provence was something I enjoyed very much too...

as well as painting sessions in the garden in Carpentras.

Or a family barbecue...

The time went so quickly we can hardly believe it... here we are taking a selfie in the mirror of a restaurant in Paris.

And watching a cocktail party float by on a barge on the Seine.

A good lesson to try and learn on a trip of any kind is probably this... seen on a poster:

I am not sure we have learned that yet but we are working on it and this trip certainly taught us that this statement is probably true!

Here's a toast to travel and new experiences:

A la prochaine!! Thank you for joining us...it has been great!

Almost full circle

Today is Bastille Day in France and there will be fireworks tonight. Venasque has set up for the Bal which will take place around the fountain later tonight.

We are also packing for the return trip to Portland. I can hardly believe the voyage is at an end! I think this might be my last entry from France but you know...I took so many photos I may just write a bit more so you can look at them...also I think I will enjoy seeing them again too!

We had a gorgeous full moon the night after we arrived and I stood up on the terrace for this shot.

Since I've taken pictures of geraniums before...how about these on the terrace in Venasque!

 This is a view from the bedroom window...that is the clock tower at the Mairie.

The next morning we were off to the darling market in Pernes les Fontaines...

 It was time to stock up on olives and other good things at the outdoor market. Can you tell there is a Mistral blowing??

 We checked out the Provençal donkeys again too.

Over at Anton and Emmanuelle's, the cat Black et White found this bag to be very nice...she is so funny!

Later it was time for ice cream at Isabella's in Isle sur la Sorgue. I think Holly is wondering if we are actually going to be able to finish any of these! Well....we did!

Don't you love this poster? The best friend of the handyman...I want that friend.

I took some photos of road signs in St. Didier...all are of my favorite spots!

Also, some last minute shots around town.

Then off to Lac du Paty for a picnic. See these signs??

Okay, now look in the water!!!! Sans commentaires...

On the banks of the Lac du Paty is a guingette or snack spot with a dance floor outside. There is a lively DJ who adds such great commentary to the CD's he broadcasts. JC and I even danced a little...it was fun!

Venasque is prepared for the evening....there will be people dancing here tonight...I do not think I have met a French person who does not like to dance!

(The dancing and party actually lasted until 1:30 a.m. and we left at 3:30!!)

Now it is time for one last look on the terrace...

Can you see our suitcases lined up against the wall on the left?

Departure is set for dawn again and then our voyage will have come full circle.

It has been great fun keeping this journal to share. Merci Caro for getting me started!
A la prochaine and happy Bastille Day!

(This blog was written earlier and published today, July 16, 2014, at the Chicago airport waiting for our plane to Portland.)