Does this setting look familiar? It’s the amazing little hilltop village of Gordes, France, in the heart of Provence! If you think you recognize it, that may be because you saw the movie A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard, based on the book of the same title by Peter Mayle. Doesn’t it look like a postcard? Our visit was one of the highlights of my retirement trip in June, 2007. The scenes centered around the café belonging to the character Fanny were all filmed in a marvelous little restaurant called Le Renaissance here in Gordes!
I must add that we ate dinner at Le Renaissance, having asked for a table where Russell Crowe sat…I’m such a goofball!…and got an additional bonus! While we were eating, the director of the movie, Ridley Scott, and his party came to the restaurant and sat beside us! It seems that he has a home nearby and frequents this restaurant! How fun is that?? And no…I did not dare to say one word to him! lol (photo of Russell Crowe from 20th Century Fox)
The restaurant pictured in my header photo was also located in Gordes. Its name translates my father was a pastry chef! Isn’t this just so frenchy? Sadly, the restaurant has now moved to St Rémy and modernized its decor!
Also nearby is the magnificent 12th century Abbaye de Sénanque, known for its beautiful fields of lavender, which unfortunately, were not in bloom yet. Getting there is an adventure along a very high one-lane road with two way traffic!! See the tiny car way up high on the cliff?? Yikes! Next time I won’t be driving!Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed my photos. To see more mosaics, please visit our gracious hostess Mary for Mosaic Monday at her beautiful blog Little Red House to see who is participating this week!
And to see some wonderful photos of the great outdoors, please head over to visit our hostess with the mostest, Susan at her amazing blog A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday! See you next time! A la prochaine!
Oh Debbie, I always love seeing all the wonderful photos you took on your trip. You visited the most beautiful places. It's always such a kick to see a picture of you there. I really enjoy your commentary too. Have a super day. Love ya. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteDebbie, MAGNIFIQUE! Que je voudrais y aller encore! Les photos sont fantastiques - tellement jolies! J'aime la bicyclette devant le restaurant. Bravo pour toi, Madame! Linda
ReplyDeleteWow, Debbie! Wonderful mosaic and fabulous story!! Love it!
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are stunning!! They are the first I have seen from your trip so it was quite a treat! I never heard of the movie or book but it must be a gorgeous place if they wanted the movie filmed there. And isn't it true that if the locals go to a restaurant than it surely must be good? I don't know, maybe I said that! LOL!!
Loved the mosaic and pictures!!
xoxo
Jane
Hi Debbie, it's hard to pick a favorite picture because they are all so interesting BUT since I am a dog lover I do love that shot of the dog getting some water from the fountain! Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHey Deb
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on the baby food. I cook for the dogs, so we had fresh hamburg, berries, wheat germ, and vitamins for their water. Randy is feeding them every 30 minutes. Just an hour ago, one of them lifted it's head with his/her beak open! Keep your fingers crossed. Never a dull moment for sure.
Adored your photo's. Always wanted to live in France. Being French I do get to speak my mother tongue here where I live. Ah c'est la vie... isn't it?
Take care
Love Claudie
xoxoxo
I loved that movie! What a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing your memories of it.
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie, what a wonderful trip that must have been!!! Your photos are so beautiful, and I loved reading all about your lunch with Hollywood biggies. :) Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful images at Mosaic Monday. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, that was a great retirement present for you! Each of your photos have great angle shots. Looking at your photos makes me want to go. I surely enjoyed the cyber trip. I still enjoy looking at your cat crew. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie~~~what wonderful photos of France! I went there in 2000 with my hubby on a business trip. In addition to Paris, we rode the bullet train to Dijon, France~~Absolutely beautiful countryside! I need to get out my photos and dedicate a post about the fantasy trip~~~
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing....I wonder what the thirsty dog's name is that is drinking in the fountain??
Hugs,
Lynn♥
oh how lovely! i especially like the large one in the mosaic. would love to be there.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, yes, the photos are so frenchy!! :) I love them! I'm sure you had a wonderful trip of a life time!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! We were in Paris in May, but I have never been to Gordes. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteaaah, gorgeous photos!!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW...lovely photos...I am soooo jealous!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Linda
What a beautiful place and scenery, Debbie. Don't you just love France? You are so lucky you got to stay there for so long. We visit but only a day or 2, sometimes only for hours at a time. I would like to stay longer. You should join me for Sightseeing Sat. one of these days. I was able to install Mr. Linky...Christine
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteI just love love love this post! I felt like I was there with you, the pics are just amazing my dear! What a super duper trip! Hugs, Cindy
Debbie, these are just beautiful! I love seeing pictures of your retirement trip. What a wonderful adventure. Love the thirsty dog - quite the contortionist! And the Abbey is just gorgeous. Thanks for the virtual vacation. Kathy
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of a gorgeous place! I would Woo-hoo too ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat mosaic and what a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful! I want to go there now!!!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are gorgeous Debbie! Loved the one of you at the restaurant! ☺ Diane
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post and mosaic! Thanks so much..
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
~Really Rainey~
Beautiful mosaic and incredible photography, happy Monday, Kathy.
ReplyDeleteI loved viewing your photos of your trip to France and the stories that go with them.
ReplyDeleteI'm just learning how to make the mosaic colleges. I spent so much time taking the pictures, cropping them and creating the collage, only to have the pictures so small, you can't see them. I do upload by selecting the "large" box. How do you get your picture so big? How do you get it to enlarge by double clicking?
What a great story and the TRIP to France!! WOW! Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment about the soup tureen (red cliff) I just got. I didn't know anything about it! If you come across a plate for under it, on ebay...would you please email the listing to me at nancyrosalina@aol.com I would love to have one for it, but I don't know what to look for.
Nancy
Debbie, wonderful photos. I've wondered about your header photo, and now we know. It is charming! The hill towns of France are enchanting. Thanks for letting us visit Gordes this morning. Hugs~ Sarah
ReplyDeleteOh I loved seeing your photos and I enjoyed reading your story and I'm sorry that you didn't speak to the director. (I would not have been able to either.) Looking at your mosaic closer I thought what a marvelous piece of sculpture the drinking dog was...until I realized he is a real dog.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, this is ABSOLUTELY amazing! I cannot get over how beautiful it is there. I've always wanted to go to France, and I can visit with you as the best guide! And LOL! that pic of you with Russell. Isn't he a hottie???
ReplyDeleteThanks for the smiles and the tour. I'm so glad to see this post this morning...
XO,
Sheila :-)
Those pictures are all beautiful! Looks like a nice trip.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Bonjour Debby,
ReplyDeleteYour post make me smile. Your photos remind me a very good souvenir. Happy week to you.
These are "Postcard Perfect"!!!! Thanks for sharing I loved every shot...
ReplyDeleteThis will definitely have to be on my list of places to visit before I... stop traveling! Absolutely beautiful! And what fun to have Russell Crowe standing there beside you (hee hee)....
ReplyDeleteI haven't even seen the movie, so that's on my list of 100 movies to see.
Roban
What awesome pictures! I would love to go to France someday.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Debby,
ReplyDeleteMerci pour tes chaleureux commentaires. Je reviendrai visiter ton blog. Je te souhaite une bonne semaine.
I am smitten!
ReplyDeleteThe countryside and ambience of this place is amazing. I would so love to visit there.
Have a happy Monday!
Becky K.
Hospitality Lane
Hey Girlfriend...
ReplyDeleteMy friend, it seems like it's been forever since we've visited...I was so happy to read your sweet note that you left on my Corpus Christi mosaic...thank you for coming by and for your sweet comments!!!
Girl, I would just love to go to Gordes! It looks so quaint...so perfect! You really did have a fabulous experience on your retirement trip to France...you got to go to so many wonderful places!!! The Abbaye de Sénanque is soooo beautiful...and I can just imagine how lovely the fields of lavender are when in bloom! I love seeing the restaurants that you went to! The second little restaurant...I love the look of the entry...so sad that they moved and updated! When I think of the country side of France...these are the pictures that I imagine!!!
Loved your mosaic of Gordes...gorgeous, my friend!!!
Love ya,
Chari
Love seeing France with your eyes! I enjoyed it so much!
ReplyDeleteLoved the pictures. I just got home from a rainy week of camping during which time I caught up on some movie watching. Believe it or not I watched that movie for the first time last week. The movie was great and so was the scenery. Your pictures are wonderful. As you know in my "first teaching life", I was a history teacher. My major is actually in European history. I am dreaming of spending a year in Europe when I retire..........going back and forth between England, France, and Italy........but at this point it is still a dream so it is fun to explore possibilities. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I love hearing and seeing them..........
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! Love the mosaic. The dog leaning over for a drink is priceless :D
ReplyDeleteGM Debbie...girl I am loving all this frenchy stuff I am seeing here...Oh girl that olden bike is to die for...and girl I would have been over there giving that guy my autograph ha ha!! Your post was just beautiful today my friend...May you have a great week...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
ReplyDeleteOh, Debbie! How beautiful! I just love your beautiful photos from France! You're so cute sitting there by Russell! LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweetness, my friend.
BE a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Oh my, how lovely! Simply divine! I can't get over the scenery Debbie, and how luck you were to be able to see it all in person. One day - I'll get there, one day, and I am pretty sure, not much will have changed. The wonderful thing about towns steeped with European tradition, eh? Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDeb, I just love going on vacation with you. It is like reallly being there. The scenery and and all the different textures in the buildings. I just love going to France even if it is only vicariously. Hugs Kathysue
ReplyDeleteyou are such a goof ball!!! I love the photos...especially the one of you at lunch!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place...it is just picture perfect!
I loved seeing your photos and reading the stories behind them! That abbey is so beautiful! I probably wouldn't have said anything to Ridley Scott either! But how cool was that - I would have been listening in on their conversation!
ReplyDeleteManuela
I know I commented on here once, Debbie, but those pictures are just amazing! Oh, how I'd love to go to France.
ReplyDeleteHappy OW!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Debbie .. This lil Georgia Gal lives vicariously through your photos... I'm always in awe! I always get lost in your header photo.. and now I see that rusty bike out on the side.. I love it! My lil town is known as "Hollywood of the South" and I see famous folks all the time.. and just like you I never say a word.. lol I make Ashley do it hahaha. Thanks for the tour.. Happy Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Debbie
Oh Debbie, How breath taking. I would like to travel to each of these places, I could not pick just one. The resturaunt with the little bike is just beautiful. It looks so romantic. Thanks for sharing. Country Hugs, Sherry
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic cyber tour of France. Lovely photographs!
Joyce M
Your mosaic is so pretty, and so are all of your other photos (my fav, of course, is the one with Russell-so cute!) laurie
ReplyDeleteWow, Debbie. Beautiful pictures of that wonderful French place. Isn't the Provence awesome? I love it.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy your photos ....I soo want to visit France.
ReplyDeleteYour picture w/ Russell is very cute. ;o)
Debbie, I always enjoy seeing your pictures of France. It's not likely I'll ever get there, so I enjoy living through your beautiful pictures.. hugs ~lynne~
ReplyDeleteSuch a tease to see these beautiful photos and Russell too:)
ReplyDeleteJoyce
Hi Bebbie,
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning photos, especially the one at the restaurant. Thank you for sharing.
Sue
Hi Debbbie,
ReplyDelete100% gorgeous!!!!!!
Barb
Your photographs are gorgeous. I feel as though I've been touring this beautiful spot with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "trip" through your photos! Just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Blessings,
Lisa
Thank you for taking us to France. You must have a wonderfull tme overthere.
ReplyDeletehave a nice outdoor wednesday, Annemieke
What a beautiful little spot! How did you find it? I loved all the pictures, especially the dog drinking from the fountain. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place and post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Regina
Beautiful photos, Debbie! Such a lovely restaurant and interesting trivia. I enjoy your commentary and that picture of you is too cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking us to France!
Tina
What dreamy landscapes! I love your photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...I have never been there..so thanks for the trip!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I've never been to Gordes but have been to a few other towns in Provence that are built into the side of a mountain and they are just so charming! I can just imagine the scent of that lavender field when it's all in bloom - oh, my but it must be heaven. And I love the name of that restaurant!
ReplyDeleteHappy Outdoor Wednesday!
Robin@Miscellaneous Thoughts
Hi Debbie....one of my all time favorite movies...very cool that you ate at that cafe....the movie put Russell Crowe in a whole new light....I thought he was great in that part....very charming...
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are fantastic! The places you visited look gorgeous. Sounds like you had a great trip.
ReplyDeleteI wish someone like you had been my French teacher. You bring it to life with your passion and photographs of your trips. It's so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHappy Twirls