Gayle Smith Padgett's Blog, page 2

A Winter Wander in Avignon…

First of all… Bonne Année 2025 &  Meilleurs Voeux à Tous! Happy New Year & Best Wishes to all! *** Provence in winter usually means a crisp chill in the air but more often than not, sunshine reigns. So when duty recently called Ralph and me to Avignon—about a half an hour north of Saint-Rémy—we … Continue reading A Winter Wander in Avignon…

Joyeuses Fêtes 2024!

From Saint-Rémy-de-Provence… Happy Holidays and a Healthy, Happy and Hopeful 2025! Dear Readers, As this challenging year comes to a close and we reboot our energy and reset our focus with optimism for the New Year, please know, from the bottom of my heart, how much I appreciate your continued support of my blog, Falling … Continue reading Joyeuses Fêtes 2024!

Ferry to a Fish Shack in the Camargue

Watching with wonder works wonders on boosting spirits, especially when the star of the show is my favorite bird, the Greater Flamingo. I love watching these captivating creatures do what they do—prance and preen, forage and fly, squawk and even snooze. While they catch some Zzzzzs, they balance on one spindly leg for an incredibly … Continue reading Ferry to a Fish Shack in the Camargue

Incredible Corsica

Stunning scenery, delicious cuisine, glorious beaches, and enchanting towns are all to be found on the Île de Beauté, the Island of Beauty. Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthplace duly impressed us earlier this month during our week-long stay in Calvi, in the northern sector–despite an island-wide, wildcat strike at airports and seaports two days before our departure, … Continue reading Incredible Corsica

Côte d’Azur Rendez-vous

Twisting my arm to visit Nice is hardly necessary. In September, or any time of year, really, the splendiferous seaside city on the Côte d’Azur covers the three Es with ease–enchanting, enthralling and enticing its way into your heart. Whether it be the stunning architecture, inviting climate, dazzling Mediterranean location, buzzy ambiance, markets, vibrant cultural … Continue reading Côte d’Azur Rendez-vous

Summer Mini-break in Beguiling Bonnieux

What began as a simple déjeuner idea became a mini-getaway—a surprising development during very high season in Provence. The lunch reservation had been locked in weeks ago at Ju-Maison de Cuisine in the Luberon hilltop town of Bonnieux, deux pas from Ménerbes of Peter Mayle fame. Since the village is only an hour from St. … Continue reading Summer Mini-break in Beguiling Bonnieux

Hiking High into the French Alps

Cicadas buzzing, rosé sipping, piscine splashing—all signal sizzling summertime in Provence. It’s an especially luscious season in the south of France, attracting loads of visitors and tourists, particularly this year with the Olympics in Paris. As residents, however, July and August are the months to forego the autoroute and stick to our own stomping grounds. … Continue reading Hiking High into the French Alps

Provence on a Plate: Top Saint-Rémy Producers’ Small Screen Moment

À table, mes amis! Come sit down for some mouthwatering meals—if only vicariously—with the celebrity chef Marcus Wareing, who hosts the recently released British TV series, Simply Provence. Throughout 15 episodes, this Michelin-starred chef highlights the products of a handful of the best producers in Provence. From tomatoes to chocolate, the curious and exacting chef … Continue reading Provence on a Plate: Top Saint-Rémy Producers’ Small Screen Moment

From Saint-Rémy to Mighty Montauban & Artsy Cordes sur Ciel

A Huguenot hotbed in the early seventeenth century, the city of Montauban in southwest France became the headquarters for the Protestant rebels in 1621. Legend has it that in order to end a lengthy siege, Catholic King Louis XIII’s army pummeled the town with 400 cannonballs. The townsfolk held and so did the phrase, faire … Continue reading From Saint-Rémy to Mighty Montauban & Artsy Cordes sur Ciel

Quoi de Neuf à Saint-Rémy-de-Provence?

What’s new in St. Rémy? Well, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus is known to have said, “The only constant in life is change.” And so it goes in Saint-Rémy, where Greeks once roamed. This vibrant town nestled into the foothills of the Alpilles continues to reinvent itself in ways big and small. Here are some … Continue reading Quoi de Neuf à Saint-Rémy-de-Provence?