Vaison la Romaine

This is just stunning.  After an 8 hour drive from Autun thru ever changing landscape and vast vineyards and a brief stop in Cluny, we  reached the ancient city of Vaison la Romaine.

Taken over from the Celts by the Romans in the 2 BC, the city is one of 2 parts.  The old medieval city and  Cathedral rests on the side of a mountain, while the modern city is situated below with its shoppes for tourists of all kinds.  Bath salts, gauzy clothing, aperitifs that you can dispense by the bottle, nick-knacks, everything you would want in a tourist area.  The terrain reminds me very much of Southern California and Arizona- dry landscape, almost sandy soil and Mediterranean vegetation.

Our accommodations are located about 10-15 walk along the river to the town.  We are staying in a school that was built for music students and upon arrival were promptly greeted by two beautiful white horses that reside on the grounds.  Practice rooms everywhere and a salon where recitals and master classes are held.  Currently, there is a group of string students residing here with us from Japan, parts of Europe and America. Music can be heard from all over the complex until about 10pm.

Breakfast was lovely – a hearty tropical granola, yogurt, fresh fruit from the area and good coffee and juice.  Lunch is with everyone from the Festival including the students, so it’s quite busy.  Served buffet style and mostly fresh light salads.  The weather is quite hot, so the cool salads and melons are welcomed after a walk into town and back. I can see the afternoons being rather restful, although as I type this blog, there is a group of students playing soccer in the common area outside my window.  Ah the young.

Tonight we have our first concert in quite a few days and I’m looking forward to it now that the Faure Requiem is over.  We will be singing in Valreas, about 1/2 hour from here.  We have our own small bus for this week and a great driver named Roland.  This gives us the opportunity to spend a little time in the village before we sing – something I missed doing in Italy.

Tomorrow is market day in Vaison – world famous and we are looking forward to hopefully finding the things that we have heard so much about Provence.  Lavender, Fleur de Sel, herbs de Provence, among many others.

I am once again without a continuous stream of Internet, in fact I have heard rumor of one Ethernet port in this whole school.  Blogs will be few, but I hope to have the opportunity to post a little, as well as feature photos on a new page that will be coming soon to this site of my summer travels.

Wishing you all a wonderful day.  I welcome your comments!  -Lisa

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