Every year, without fail on May 24 and 25 mayhem and magic befalls Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. On the 24th, "the travelling people" come from all over to pay homage their patron Sainte Sara.

You see, legend has it that after Christ's death, St. Mary, sister of the virgin Mary and St. Mary, mother of the apostles James and John, their servant Sara, Lazarus and his two sisters Mary Magdalene and Martha, were expelled from Jerusalem.  Abandoned to the sea in a boat without sail, they came to shore in the Camargue. The two Mary's and Sara remained and inspired a chapel under which the village grew around.

 On May 24, the shrine of Sara is brought out and carried to the sea in a procession accompanied by the gardians on horseback and the thousands of gypsies who have come from the four corners of Europe. On the 25th, the statues of the two Mary's are brought down from the chapel and marched to the sea as well. On both occasions, the priest arrives in a small boat and blesses them.  After the whole village becomes an enormous party.

 To be in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer during this time is exciting, moving and crazy all at once. 2,000 years of history come together all at once.  The smell of paella, the impromtu music of the gypsies and the visual beauty of the horses and costumes makes for a memerable couple of days.

On the deck with an Apero. Roasted asparagus, baked kale, pork slider meatballs and a fabulous bottle of Pink Pink Wine by Cliff Creek. A Cab Franc Rose. My new fav for the summer! It's almost here right?

Girlie But Good Martini

2oz Absolute Mandarin
1oz Pama
Juice of 1 fresh lime
Slice of fresh ginger
Shake your stress right outta there!

Ahhhhhh....

Heralding in spring with an homage to the Wizard of Oz, the fields of Provence are blanketed with red poppies. Its breathtaking!  It doesn't matter how many times I come across these crimson delicate flowers. I have to pull my car over, lean back and take it all in.

I know that most people think of the lavender fields and they are quite beautiful but by the time they are out, its hot and a bit dryer. I love the poppies. The fields are green, there is a promise in the air of warm weather after the brutal winter mistral winds and everyone seems happy. Not a bad way to begin the season!

There are quite a few amazing areas in Provence that grow exceptional grapes. This is my husbands favorite.  I can always lure him on a trip with me with a promise of visiting Chateauneuf du Pape.  In the 1300's Pope John XXII built a little summer castle here. He also planted vineyards. Many. Today, thanks to WWII the castle is in ruins but the vineyards remain.

If you are visiting Provence, this area is a must. There are many tasting rooms happy to let you try their vintages and if you arrive around April 25 or so, the last vintage is opened during the Fete de la St-Marc. I recommend stoping by the Musee du Vin where they will give you free tastings along with an extensive exhibition on the process.  The village itself is tiny but have lunch and then walk to the castle for an amazing view of the valley.

 Of course as every wine grower knows, its all in the soil. In Provence its red clay but laying on top are large smooth stones.  They trap the heat during the day and release it at night giving the vines a warm blanket.  The AOC of Chateauneuf is only around 35 sq.km but it puts out roughly 13 million bottles per year. Mostley reds, but there are some exceptional whites.  There are strick regulations that allow only 13 different types of grapes. Its so worth seeing and tasting here. My husband never misses it!

When filming my Documentary, Gardian Nation, I had the honor of being able to film this young girl getting ready a festival.  This is a typical costume of a young Arlesian woman and takes most of the day to get just right.  I felt a bit intrusive as her mother carefully layed out the laces that have been handed down for many generations. Yet she made me feel completely at home as she pinned the delicate fabric on her daughters shoulders and pleated the collar just so.  Next came the hair.  All girls wear their hair long so that it can be twisted, rolled and tucked into just the right shape. I could see how intimate these moments were. Her mother passes down not only her fabrics but the stories of her mother, grandmother and so on. I'll never forget that day and I'll always be thankful for that amazing opportunity.

I heard them first, only I thought the honking sound was geese.  But there they were, right next to the hotel I was staying at.  Very cool. I expected to see them of course. The Camargue is a huge nesting area for flamingos but it still seems weird to see them so close.  I look up a lot during the sun set.  The setting sun provides a neon pink glow to these flying works of art.

 Established in 1512, the Brotherhood of the Gardians are a sight to behold.  On their white Camargue horses, with the beautiful Arlesienne women, they participate in several festivals throughout the year.  Its a wonderful contrast to see this pagentry against the backdrop of the colorful and whitewashed buildings of Provence.

On Jan.2 of this year, a plaque was unveiled on the very spot of the old chapel where Saint George signed the act, creating what was to become the oldest organization of this type still in operation in France.    The Gardian Counfrarie di Sant Jorgi