I’ll never forget the first time I had heard about île de Porquerolles from our friends Laetitia and Loïc. It was in 2011 while Brigitte and I were on a tour around the world and spent a few weeks in the south of France. Looking for cool ideas of places to see, L & L suggested a day trip to the Island of Porquerolles. Apparently it was a must do while visiting the Toulon or Hyères area. Heeding their advice, our first encounter with the “Golden Island” (or île d’Or), came in June that summer.

With a day left in our Provençal weekend getaway, we set our sights on a couple of other most beautiful villages within the Luberon region. We planned to visit Bonnieux and Lourmarin, but not before making a stop in Lacoste to see the hilltop castle that defines the village from afar.

The new day brought on new ambitions and we started our morning heading out to the town of Roussillon, to check out its unusual Sentier des Ocres (or Ochre Trail). Unlike the images that come to mind when dreaming of Provence, this area around Roussillon is particularly curious in its geological composition. Iron oxide is present in the sandy soil (dating back eons when Provence was under water), which transformed the landscape into a Rolland Garros’esque bright orange setting balanced by the green pine and oak forests.

My mother came to visit us last Fall and, before returning to the US, asked if she could visit again early summer. She was already planning her next France trip, making up for lost time and travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Provence had always been a highlight for her serving as the backdrop and destination of numerous art trips she had taken over the past several years. As an artist, she adored the colorful and aromatic landscapes and drew inspiration for some of her projects. Now, there was even more reason to visit and we planned for her stay in early June.