Here are my top tips for visiting Provence
Going to Provence? This will help.
Hello there.
This week on The Earful it’s been all about the region of Provence. After a recent visit, one of several we’ve made over the years, we put together a list of helpful hints so you can make the most of your next trip.
You can listen to us talking it through in this week’s podcast episode, which is embedded below. Or you can watch the chat happening in real time by watching our newest YouTube video, also below.
More about this video further down, because exciting things are happening. But if I had to summarize the Golden Rules for Provence episode in 100 words for a newsletter, here’s how I’d do it.
1) Adjust your sense of time. Entire towns close for lunch; restaurants serve early dinners; markets close at 2pm.
2) Carry a fifty: Cash is king in Provence. Don’t get caught out.
3) Get wheels: Public transport is limited, driving gives you freedom.
4) Don’t put Paris on a pedestal: Paris is of little interest to French people elsewhere, so keep your travel plans and stories local.
5) Think seasonal: Lavender is from March to August. Sun but no tourists? Go in April/May or September. For the thick of it: June/July.
6) Don’t be too ambitious: Slow down. Over-planning your visit goes against the Provençal ethos.
Not bad. 100 words, six numbers. Now, back to that video for a moment.
New “Walk Shows”
Exciting things are happening at The Earful! On Wednesday night we premiered a new idea. In an evolution from our popular live walk show videos (a walk show is a talk show while walking)… we hired a cameraman to record the show in High Definition as we strolled the streets of Paris and down to the Seine river. The audio turned into Monday’s podcast episode. The video below shows the walk, a lovely half an hour in a picturesque part of Paris.
Paris, Provence and a pram... and a cameraman who is excellent at walking backwards. This was a test, hence the unusual choice of walking through Paris while talking about Provence. But it worked. We will do four more videos like this, if you guys like them, we’ll make more.
For an additional slice of fun, I invited all Earful members to watch the video online as it premiered live, and we were all chatting in the comments. Get invited to the next premiere, and get the map detailing the trip, by becoming a Patreon member here, or a Substack member on that button below. Or just watch the video and hit the like button. It all helps.
The comments were fantastically positive, thanks to all who commented, liked, and shared. And while 1,000 views in two days might not seem like a big deal to some, I’m very happy with it :)
Lastly, are you an American thinking of moving to Paris? My friends over at FrenchEntrée are putting on a free webinar that is literally made for you. With a team of experts, they're going to discuss everything from finances, visas, the French property market, and how to secure a mortgage.
The webinar will be on Thursday, November 7th at 6pm EDT. Can't attend live? Sign up anyway and they'll send you the recording afterwards. And did I mention: this is all free! Register here.
Have a lovely week.
Oliver
PS: Today (November 1st) is the only day each year that the smallest cemetery in Paris is open to the public. Here are some pictures from when I explored it with the Mayor of Montmartre: A quick look inside… and way more pictures from inside. That’s us below waving to some tourists on top of the Sacré Coeur.
