Wed July 16th

With our discovery of the great lavender field right near L'Isle we would return there every morning. The field was oriented east and west so we could get the light in front or behind us. Below we are shooting into the sunrise.

_8502216-Edit One of the surprising things we found was the way the lavender changed color as the light changed. The golden morning light seemed to changed the purple into magenta. We were so mesmerized by this phenomenon we almost forgot one of the rules of photography: Look behind you! Here's what was going on. 

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After our lavender shoot we took a drive over to Gordes to check out the Village des Bories there. This settlement was built in the 17th century when displaced peasants began to try to farm what had been just sheep grazing land. First they had to clean up the rocks. And what else was there to do with them but make fences, houses, stables, pigstys, etc.

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The rocks are stacked dry. That is, without mortar. We've seen this technique used in Ireland and Italy. Below is what looks like an exact replica of the Gallarus Oratory in County Kerry, Ireland, which was built 1000 years earlier. Did the French send a team of architects over to copy the plans?

_8502875 _8502876 _8502881 The managers of this site set up a place for the children to try their hands at building with rocks. The kids were quite into it. But I wonder how many smashed fingers and toes they treat in an average day.

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This little girl, sitting in her stone chair, made me wonder if this village might be the inspiration for the town of Bedrock, home of the Flintstones? Maybe?

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We headed back to L'Isle for lunch and a little more scouting about the town. Here's a very French kind of place. A garden accessory store. We dubbed it "Le Gringo Jones". IYKYK

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I like the horse and the bull. They are so Provencal! And we are going down to Arles later tonight for a bullfight! But we will do a separate post for that.