Oct 5 -- Roussillon & Gordes

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Roussillion and Gourds , Oct 4
Inspired by the tour of the ochre factory, we returned to Roussillon to walk the Canyon Colorado. The path winds through pine and chestnut forest. Purple heather and orchids line the brick-red trail. Around each curve, formations of ochre-saturated rock in sunset hues of red, orange, and gold, loom over the trail.

Coming out of the park, we eat goat-cheese pizza at a cafe then wander the orange cobblestone streets, taking pictures of limestone buildings, with rainbow hued mortar.

Cobalt berries dangled from Green ivy in the process of turning orange clung to the walls of the buildings and Terra-cotta pots displayed geraniums, impatiens, cyclamen, and violets. Each shop displayed either the bright-color Provence fabrics, decorated with olive branches, lavender, and sunflowers; pottery colored with the local ochre; or abstract art inspired by the surrounding cliff-faces.

We had kids pose for photos under arches and against walls that mirrored Bella's pink skirt or Balika's red hair.

Our next stop was Gordes, another hilltop village favored by cinematographers. It seems to organically grow out of the limestone rocks that form the mountain. Rock walls and cypress tree line the road to the top. The restored castle, the caves under the town, and many of the restaurants are closed for the winter in spite of the summer-like weather. Us Alaskans would not have liked it here in the August heat!

Next we drove 2.5 k to The final must-see village in the area--Bories, a restored prehistoric village of beehive-shaped unmortered limestone dwellings. The restoration was extensive and included hand-tools for pressing olive oil, a tool shed, an cooking room with a pizza oven, and sheep and pig barns.
We returned to our home with all four cameras beeping the low-battery signal.