I'm baaaack..

[BigFuzzy]

Ok, just back from nearly two weeks in the Provence region of France and I'm fully charged and ready .... so beware!

Statistics from my awesome and highly recommended trip to Provence (I actually stayed in Velleron):

Bottles of wine bought and brought back in car - 24
Bottles drank in said 11 days - about the same.
Scorpions found in bed - 2
Broken fingers - 1
Photos taken - 500 (just under actually)
How many of those images are standard crapp tourist shots - Shamelessly, most of 'em
highest speed on A7 - 200kp/h
New favorite French wine - Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Castles visited - 4
Castle walls fallen off from trying to get good image : 1 (see Broken Fingers stat)
Roman ruins visited - 3
Roman ruins kicked out of for trying to climb stuff for "better images" - 2 (Glanum in St. Remy and the Roman Theater in Orange)
Times lied when asked if I was a "real photographer" (ie pro) - many
Women I found that I want to marry - about 50
How many of those I photographed properly - 6
Dijonnaise mustard eaten - All of it.

All-in-all, a great energizing trip. Highly recommended to anyone who likes good wine, great scenery (both natural and man made), attractive people, good food, nice drives, good weather.
So, starting in a bit, it's time to hit to Critique section!

[RichardTaylor]

It sounds like you had a great vacation and I am in envy!
+ smile

[AnonymousKiwi1]

I hope it wasn't your shutter finger that you broke

Sounds like blast. I too am envious. Waiting on those pics...

[candidrachel]

You are a man of my own heart Châteauneuf-du-Pape is my all time FAVOURITE wine!! mmmmmmm!! Went on a trip to France one October to get all stocked up on wine, pate, chocs and cheese for Christmas but it all got either eaten or drunk by the end of November lol! Needless to say the saying "he who shops early shops twice" was very true!!

Glad you had a great time!!

I've missed your witty comments so much recently!

[SwissJon]

Sounds good (except the broken finger).. I'm planning a Provence trip this summer with Mrs Swiss and the motorbike.. Which wall did you fall off? I'll try not to do the same.

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by AnonymousKiwi1

I hope it wasn't your shutter finger that you broke

Sounds like blast. I too am envious. Waiting on those pics...

Nah, it was my right ring finger which still hurt holding my camera, but didn't go to dr until i got back, didn't want splint on it which affects both camera work and driving!

Originally Posted by candidrachel

You are a man of my own heart Châteauneuf-du-Pape is my all time FAVOURITE wine!! mmmmmmm!! Went on a trip to France one October to get all stocked up on wine, pate, chocs and cheese for Christmas but it all got either eaten or drunk by the end of November lol! Needless to say the saying "he who shops early shops twice" was very true!!

Glad you had a great time!!

I've missed your witty comments so much recently!

"witty"? Damn, I just thought I was being an ass. Mmm.. came back with about 15 tins of pate I got from a local farmer, mostly because he was nice and probably needed the sale. I think i single handedly kept about 15 people in business this year haha!

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Sounds good (except the broken finger).. I'm planning a Provence trip this summer with Mrs Swiss and the motorbike.. Which wall did you fall off? I'll try not to do the same.

It was at the Les Baux castle.. which rocks. I broke it while falling backwards after a misstep (about 25 meters up, doh!) reaching for something to break my fall. Epic fail. Saved both the camera and the bottle of wine in my Crumpler back. Tuck and roll, tuck and roll!
I think you'll have a blast.. kept thinking how the region and the roads were made for a motorcycle.. But then, in the summer it's MUCH more crowded, so don't expect nice empty roads like I had. I was able to pretty much drive right up to the closest possible parking to most sites and all the others I said "Screw it, they can throw me out if they don't want me here". You should do the drive that goes around the mountains west of the Vontoux that includes Vaison la Romaine, Gigondas, Segurate, etc.. it's a nice circle around really cool mountains (Dentelles)

[BuddhaPi]

and here I thought you were out hunting bad guys! welcome back!

[dvtldav]

I agree that except for the broken finger sounds like a great time.

Dave

[zona5101]

welcome back - sounds like a fun trip....except for the scorpions. Unless you mean one of these Scorpions was in your bed and then I'd cut back in #2 from your list...

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by BuddhaPi

and here I thought you were out hunting bad guys! welcome back!

Conveniently, I come back the day after Bin Laden was killed.
Hmmm?