The Calm One needed to spend five days in Provence with a client so I got to tag along as the photo journalist. We started our all-day journey by leaving Angouleme early and catching a train to Bordeaux and then to Marseille where we got our final connection to Hyères, our destination.
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| I find analog clocks comforting, and the Bordeaux station had a lovely one |
Set in the middle of the busy Bordeaux station, this burgundy-coloured pastry wagon was filled with a pastry called Canelé. However, I was able to refrain from eating this regional speciality with its tender, custard-like innards encased in a thin, deeply carmelized, delicately fluted crust. I had a feeling that I needed to ration the amount of rich pastries I would be consuming on this trip so this was way too early to start stuffing my face.
Hyères dates back to Greek settlement. Initially it was right on the sea, but as pirates became a problem, the city moved inland a bit, on an elevated spot where a series of expanding walled circles were built. As it grew, eventually construction expanded into the surrounding hills and valleys, outside the original walled gates.
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| A narrow street within the walled old quartier with a black cat on the left |
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| Bougainvillea, colourful shutters, and cobblestones |
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| A smart choice of a pale, grey-blue, hanging succulent in a window box |
In the mid 1800's, some movers and shakers decided to plant palm trees in the areas expanding outwards from the old city. Hyères then became popular with the hivernants--visitors escaping from winter in their own countries--especially the English following Queen Victoria's stay.
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| The smaller palmier has a trunk resembling a pineapple |
Les Palmiers are everywhere. Instead of some floppy, wind-torn petunias in a roundabout, there are various stout palm trees.
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| A roundabout planting of palm trees |
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| Oleanders of various hues |
Dating from the late 1800s, this fountain was built and named for a rich industrialist, Godillot, who was instrumental in modernising Hyères. Old photos showed that at the time this location was practically rural, while presently I had to wait some time for traffic to cease at this busy roundabout in order to get a clean shot.
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| The four statues represent mythological figures. |
There are several old churches. The one nearby where we stayed tolled each hour of the day twice--the first ringing done on the hour and the second five minutes later so one can check the number of peals--with a solitary one marking each half an hour. One of the oldest churches is from the 1200s.
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| Thirteenth century St. Louis with its three front doors representing the trinity |
The Calm One's client graciously let us stay at his home which is located in the old town. Off a single lane street, one enters an even narrower street pictured below.
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| The first turn off on the left is a narrow passageway leading to where we stayed |
We stayed in the end house on the left in the photo below, behind the yellow
door. After the green door there is an even narrower path on the right leading to
another house. Often sheltered between the two, opened outer-doors was Caroline, a very sweet, light-orange, long-haired cat with one eye. She lost half her vision in a fight with a bird. I am guessing if she could talk, she would say, you should see the other guy.
I had chosen the very best garlic from my harvest to give to the lady of the house. She hung the braid of garlic in a well ventilated place and out of the sun.
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| That's the garlic I have grown in my potager! |
Their house is a narrow one with its five levels connected via a winding staircase. The last flight of stairs is exceedingly narrow leading onto the roof's patio.
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| The skylight is composed of curved, transparent roof tiles |
There usually was a refreshing breeze up on the roof patio which was very welcomed because it can get quite hot in this area.
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| We enjoyed some wonderful meals (and pastries!) on the roof patio |
On our first night here, our host led us up rather steep paths into the old fortress area high up on the hills while describing the history of his town. With a fast deepening twilight and chirping crickets all around us, the descent was a bit exciting, and I probably would not have made it down in one piece if not for the scrupulous attention of the Calm One. I am grateful to both men for a memorable time.
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| Some of the lower ruins of the old fortress area |
I found the very densely situated houses in the old
quarter to give a dreamy quality to every day life--I would be walking
up/down the various flights of stairs, hearing bits of conversations from
other households drifting through our cracked-open shutters: a mother
saying A table! to summon her family to dinner, a neighbour
singing with joy as he does a spot of gardening in his tiny garden, the
clinking of plates and glasses, assorted coughs and sneezes, and of
course, the almost constant ringing of church bells. It was not exactly
intrusive--everything is shuttered, muffled though thick stone walls,
presenting a living collage with others' routines layered over yours.
We visited Nice, which was about an hour's drive east of Hyères to check out a history of video game exhibition and to eat socca, a regional speciality. I could show the many photos I took of various games, keyboards, and explanatory panels, but I think the photo below was the most visually arresting.
We visited Nice, which was about an hour's drive east of Hyères to check out a history of video game exhibition and to eat socca, a regional speciality. I could show the many photos I took of various games, keyboards, and explanatory panels, but I think the photo below was the most visually arresting.
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| Skulls wreathed in smoke sharing wall space with some casual photos |
We then strolled through Nice. As we ambled around a square, I realised that the rather elegant yellow buildings did not really have ornate cornices and balconies as they were all trompe d'oeils. They are excellent, down to the detail of the shadow that real cornices would have cast.
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| The right side of the yellow building has no trompe d'oeils |
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| Those are not real balconies and cornices! |
Close by to this square is a long pedestrian street filled with interesting boutiques and restaurants.
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| In this area close to Italy, signs are often bi-lingual |
Gourmet salts are a big thing here and this shop does not disappoint with its selection including one mixed with green tea.
It was time for lunch, and I was finally able to sample socca which is made from chick pea flour and grilled over a wood fire in big, round batches. Your serving consists of pieces from this large circle. It is kind of a French version of refried beans, and I really liked it--creamy but crusty, tasty, and nourishing.
Interestingly, our host never heard of socca. His verdict? Good enough to eat every once in a while, but it would be much better if it had toppings like cheese, etc.
Besides a plethora of churches, fountains, there are many wonderful towers with clocks.
Eventually, we walked to the Mediterranean and the plage.
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| The beautiful azure of the Mediterranean sea |
Though I had a great time, it was so nice to get back to the potager and Monsieur and Madame M who kept a watchful eye over Dayo the cat and the garden.
