HALLOWEEN DREAMIN' ON SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PROVENCAL DAY

 

A series of essays.....

GIANT TURQUOISE GATE BECKONING US INSIDE
SAINT VEREDEME CEMETERY, EYGUIERES, FRANCE

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

It's difficult to imagine asking a tour bus driver to stop the vehicle each time you'd like to create a photo-op in a lonely, out of the way cemetery. That's not in their contract! Nor would you expect this to happen for anyone else on the tour. This is one reason why we drive ourselves through Europe....

Renting a car in France is one of our 'treats' and it isn't as overwhelming or expensive as you might think.

We surf through as many companies as we can, read all of the fine print (very important), and decide what size of car we require each time around. Then, we pre-order our selection, knowing that we have the flexibility of changing it or dropping it altogether, if need be, right before the trip.

RENAULT CAPTUR

All Rental Car Companies vary with regard to how large of a deposit is required once the car is picked-up. They say it is to make sure that funds are available when you eventually pay for your rental car. The amount can range anywhere from $200 to $1,000 on your credit card and, even though this deposit is taken off within two to three days of your total rental period, it can and does tie-up your spending money right off the start!

As my husband will attest to, I am notorious for having him bring our car to a complete stop in a matter of a few seconds if I see a possible photo worth taking. And, while traveling through Europe, this action could add up to numerous stops very quickly. So, just a couple of weeks ago......

......as we were leaving our friends, Nadine and Jean-Michel, in Eygalieres after a memorable evening of good friendship, wine, delicious Provençal fare, and lively conversations regarding the local art culture and the Exposition they were both involved in as local artists themselves, we headed south.

We were navigating the small roads that wind through the Chaine des Alpilles, a small range of low mountains in Provence located about twelve miles south of Avignon, when we found ourselves entering the village of Eyguieres on the Avenue Saint Veredeme.

"Please stop!" I asked as one of the most beautiful areas popped up  before our eyes while rounding a curve in the road heading into the small town. The large, multi-tiered area, appropriately entitled 'Saint Veredeme Cemetery,' was uncannily situated next to a small arena which featured local bullfighting.

GATE OF BULLFIGHTING ARENA

PEEKING INSIDE

ARENA AS SEEN FROM TOP
TERRACE OF CEMETERY

BILLBOARD OUTSIDE
OF THE ARENA

Parking our car, we initially scrutinized the arena taking several great shots. Then, we walked across the road to the cemetery where the large, turquoise gates invited us in. After entering, I did look back over my shoulder several times to see if the single, open gate was going to creak shut and lock behind us.

French cemeteries always intrigue me and we never fail to capture at least one each visit there. For the most part, they are beautiful, well kept, and steeped in the history of the people who inhabit them. Their living relatives and friends do everything they can to keep the legacy of the local departed very much alive! They were parents, young children, teachers, shop keepers, grandparents, and farmers who worked the soil nearby that we were so blessed to drive through that day.

VIEW OF THE TOWN OF EYGUIERES
AS SEEN FROM TOP OF CEMETERY

ANCIENT AQUEDUCT

AMAZING PROVENCE COLOR

Intricately terraced and bathed in the intense glow of the early afternoon sunlight, I could almost imagine being in Paris and winding my way through Pere Lachaise Cemetery which contains the graves of the notable and famous. In this area of the country, I am certain that everyone buried in this cemetery was notable and famous in his or her own right.

Even though we knew we were expected at Le Verger, Chambres d'Hotes en Provence in the Luberon area near the town of Gordes that afternoon, we must have been in the cemetery for at least an hour. It was so large that we still hadn't walked its entire area before passing back out of the blue iron gate.

Wind tossed and warm from the sun, we slowly marched back in front of the arena and wondered how many bullfighters had taken up residence next door throughout the years.

With the Halloween holiday looming around the corner, our escapade through Saint Veredeme Cemetery recharged our feelings for excitement and adventure. It was only our second day in the beautiful south of France and, following many, "Please stops!" along the road that day, we pulled into Le Verger with the smiling faces of our dear friends, Daniele and Jean-Philippe Rossi greeting  us...


Views of our trek through the Saint Veredeme Cemetery.....















Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
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