One of the few places I've always wanted to go to in France was Provence. Probably inspired by of VanGogh and Matisse, their descriptions of the light and color of the region (and the sunshine and warmth) have always been at the back of my mind.
I must say, I haven't been disappointed. The landscape is an interesting mix of arid and green. It smells of pine forest and thyme. The historic hill towns and valley vistas are delightful to explore. And the mix of sunshine with a constant breeze makes for a climate (at least at this time of year) that really agrees with me.
The one drawback, in my opinion, is that it is overrun with tourists (like me). To avoid the onslaught of tour buses and souvenir shopping crouds, I like to photograph early in the morning, or later in the afternoon or evening. At those times, the towns and countryside seem almost deserted, and those who are out and about live and work here. And the light is lovely.
Here are some night shots from this past week.
A wierd photo, you say? Well, thank you very much. Isn't the moon and sky beautiful? And the light on the metal shopping carts? I couldn't pass it up, in the parking lot of a Super U. Don't ever expect to be able to shop for anything past 8pm in France. Most places close even earlier.
This is Gordes, the hill town just up the road from where we are staying. It is listed as one of the most beautiful places in France by someone or other, and they weren't lying. It's pretty impressive. My favorite parts are where you can see the remains of the rear walls of old homes, carved out of the sandstone. I love to explore. 
A borie (actually a replica). These abound in the hills where we are staying, and visited at night by moonlight are fascinating and spooky. I hope to explore more; you can read about them here.
The pool and garden at our little hotel.
And another strange image from our hotel.
From Portland to Europe, I love being a travel and editorial photographer!
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