10 Cool Things to Do in The Provence Region

One of the most idyllic area's of France, Provence is the perfect summer escape. Lavender fields, yellow stone houses, olive trees, blue mediterranean skies, wineries, culture and art, all part of the charming style of this iconic region. 

Discover with us this fantastic region, we will give you 10 Cool Things you can do when visiting Provence, so here we go: 

1) Spend one night in Aix de Provence, the main city of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France full of history and Cezanne art corners. Make a detailed daily plan and visit Cezanne's childhood home, Jas de Bouffan, and his former studio The Atelier Cézanne. Also don't forget to end your day in The white limestone Sainte-Victoire for the perfect sunset time. To complete the experience stay in Hotel Cezanne, located in the city centre, this chic and trendy property offers a four star service with 55 rooms. The terrace have a lovely and well equipped bar. The Breakfast is a must running through until noon giving you the perfect start for your day. 

2) Next stop is Gordes,  one of the most beautiful villages in the region will welcome you with unique narrow cobbled streets which thread their way through tall houses; all constructed against the rock whispering the tales of a thousand legends. Romantic balconies and the characteristic yellow rock Mediterranean houses. 

Stay in Mas de Gordes, the perfect place to enjoy the view of Provence and the rural vibe of the area. Located about 10 min walking from the entrance of Gordes, this hotel is a perfect place to relax after a long trip. Rooms have been renovated for summer, breakfast is great and the service will make you feel at home.  The beautiful shapes of the building and wonderful gardens will entice you to stay for more than one night. 

3) Enjoy a great Lunch at La Ferme de La Huppe, a wonderful old Provencal house located in Gordes. With a lovely pool-terrace this is the perfect place for a late summer lunch. Try the Pigeonne, the Cold cherry soup and the frozen chocolate mousse. Organic products, daily specials , set menus and Jazz every Friday make this place a must visit. 

4) Visit Mane, another beautiful town in the region just 3.5 km south of Forcalquier. A lovely little village with a good number of nearby sites worth visiting for their beauty and their historical interest, such as Pont Romain, Château de Sauvan and the famous Prieuré de Salagon.  Every Sunday there is a Farmers Market and on Aug 10 the famous Fête votive de la St Laurent. 

5) For a fabulous meal, try La Manne Celeste, a traditional and cosy restaurant with great local food. The menu includes French and some other international food such as great pizzas.  All prepared with local products, service is friendly. Try the Gazpacho, its great. 

6) Visit the busy and central town of Apt, a charming  town surrounded  by rising plateaus and a beautiful river that runs through the center, definitely the the gateway to Haute-Provence region. Apt has been the natural trading area of Provence. The Saturday-morning farmers market is a must. This is not a tourist town, however it will give you the feel of what  the real life in Provence is all about. 

Stay in Sainte Anne and eat in L'Intramuros, a Gault & Millau recognized restaurant with a unique charm and fantastic food. From outside it looks like a normal old restaurant but when you walk inside the charm and quirkiness will make you stay. Walls full of color and collections of vintage art. Daily menu with organic local products, a menu of beers and a fantastic service will make the experience unforgettable. Buy some sardines in the unique vintage designed cans. Fantastic place. 

7) For a more luxury experience, try La Coquillade, a exquisite retreat located about 15 min out of Apt.  The ideal place to relax and enjoy the Provence experience. Beautiful Old Building surrounded by vineyards and lavenders. From this place you will be able to explore nearby towns like Bonnieux, Saignon and Roussillon. This hotel offers bike tours, winery tours and excellent Spa experience.  if you want to treat yourself in a wonderful provence way, this is the place for you. Food is superb. 

8) Stop in the beautiful Forcalquier , the main central town of the Haute-Provence area.  From the entrance of the town to the end, you will see Mountain top, plains surroundings and wonderful valleys, a different provence landscape with abundant vegetation, aromas of lavender and olive trees.  Visit the Citadel for a wonderful view of all the valley. On sunday Mornings don't miss the beautiful sounds of the bells and music coming from the Chapelle Notre Dame de Provence. Farmers Market is on Monday with a great variety of local products, craftsmen and of course local people,  the perfect way to know more about this wonderful place. Narrow streets, shady squares, and elegant 13th century houses conform the rich arty and cultural life of Forcalquier. 

9) If a road trip is your thing, try the Napoleon Pass, starting in Grasse and all the way to Grenoble. (Over 150 km road)  tracing its way through both the Alps Maritimes and the Alps. Its have a fantastic design, with windy roads and fantastic scenery. You can find many vintage cars and bike groups doing this road. The road has a perfect smooth rhythm from beginning to end, making it a fantastic driving experience for anyone. Become one of the people that can say "I drove the Napoleon route to Grenoble". 

10) Our best Pick of a Provence Cote D'Azur experience is Cassis, an ancient fishing port that has become a cosmopolitan beach area full of great natural beaches, fantastic food and amazing views. The old village streets contain nice old buildings and  some beautiful restored houses with the colorful pastels of Provence. Visit the Old fountains and an open-air artists market, the harbor area is  the prettiest part of Cassis. Plan your day trip to  Calanques, a line of  limestone cliffs that go down into the Mediterranean and connects Marseille to Cassis with almost 20 km of marked trails.

Provence is a beautiful region full of contrasts and history. From Van Gogh to Cezanne, From Napoleon to the Pirates along the coast, plan your trip and take in all of  the charming corners of this unique region. 

Created by Huellas de Luz Blog /D.Oballos

The Power of your Mind, the motor of your Life

"Most of the people take the limits of their vision to the limits of the world. A few do not" Arthur Schopenhauer

Our present life is a consequence of our past acts but is not necessarily a statement of our future. We all have the power to shape our life by the actions we can take on a daily basis in our present. But how that can happen?

Change is a constant, we all grow daily physically and mentally; knowledge is accumulated in our mind collected from every good and bad experience that we have. This experience can be used in our favor if we pay attention to what we can do with this newly acquired knowledge. 

Our mind is a source of ideas, created by inspiration, comparison or simple logic.  This ideas are only ideas if we don't have the self believe to make then happen, and when we take control of "the making", then we can affect the present moment by creating the small steps to the future change and achievement. 

Let's take for example our health. To be healthy is not purely down to luck,accepting that somethings are out of our hands. However, in accordance withe basis of asian medicine, we all can work on preventing health diseases by taking actions today to avoid future problems.  Exercising, eating well, keeping the mind calm may sound like cliches or a very easy way to think, but when we train our body and mind, we are taking care of our future. With every healthy day that we make, we are creating a better future for our being. If we don't eat properly we are not building a solid health base of our future. So then the daily actions are creating and sharing a brighter tomorrow. 

We can talk about other examples like work, personal relationships or happiness, any of these aspects of life are all affected by today's actions. If we create the best environment around us adding great feelings, positive ideas and actions, we can start shaping the results we are looking for. 

Our mind is a powerful achiever. If we think and act negatively, the results will not match our dreams. If we don't believe in what we are doing, if we don't love or completely get involved in what we are doing, we will not be able to achieve great results, because our mind  will not create the right determination upon concrete actions.  

Take for example a sportsman participating in a hight demanding sport. Despite that all the participants have the same skills, knowledge and abilities, only the mental power will define the winner. Only those with the right mental determination will be able to compete at their best. Only the ones who will be able to adapt to the conditions of the game or race will be able to achieve their goal.  Only those prepared to win will win.

We are all sportsman in the same sport: Life; and our most important skill should be our mind and it's power to achieve actions. Because we can all dream and dream about our future, but those prepared to take steps and actions are the ones who will cross the line of achievements. 

We want to leave you with three important points that will help you to focus the power of your mind in tune to your dreams: 

1) Visualize your Dream:  Our mind works better when it can read our dreams, so place your dreams on paper, write what you want and how you think you can achieve it. Visualize the steps and the short term actions. If you want to climb a mountain start training yourself, knowing everything about that mountain and visualizing your climbing success. Small steps will make the climb easier and more achievable. 

2) Stay in the Present Moment: To stay in the present is crucial for the achievement of your dreams. If you expend all of your time in the past or in the future, you will never be able to complete the necessary actions toward your dreams. Training your mind with Mindfulness or Meditation practices can help you to stay and enjoy each moment, allowing you to use all available knowledge you can collect in your daily observations. When we are completely focused in our present, we are able to build the steps to reaching our goals.

3) Believe in yourself: Knowing who you are, where you are in your life and where you want to be is very important for any goal achievement. Its not valid to keep saying to yourself " I don't know who I am".  We may never be able to completely understand the total of our mind, but we need to take a step forward and  and believe in the person we want to be. 

We create our being and our future by our own actions, habits, ideas and beliefs.

From this base we can look forwards and start writing our future, don't wait until the moment comes to you, create it from the bases of your own believe, of your own dreams  but more importantly of your own actions and the power of your mind. Believe in you :) 

Created by D.Oballos / Huellas de Luz Blog

10 Cool Things to Do in Formentera

There is nothing more romantic than the blue colors of the Mediterranean, the sweet breeze of the sunny days and the warm water of the sea to help you fall in love with life. There are many gems in the Balearic Islands, special places full of character, tradition and natural beauty.  We are going to take you to Formentera, the smallest and most southeast  island in this mediterranean area. Located about 6 kilometers south from Ibiza, is a natural paradise for relaxation but also water sports.  

We want to show you 10 cool things to do in this small but stunning island: 

1) Depending on your budget, we would like to suggest two options:  Es Ram Resort, a rustic luxe-retreat offering a unique experience. Located in an ecological region of the island, privacy and silence are the main components of this amazing property. Beautifully decorated rooms and villas will connect you with the natural calm of this place. The blues of the ocean, the sound of the waves and the smell of the sea will make you feel in love again.  Delicious  buffet breakfast served in a cozy and beautiful dining room with views of the forest. The main menu is full of flavors of the Mediterranean, fresh fish and local products. Beautiful outdoor areas with sofas, tents and amazing beach facilities. Its indeed a paradise in a paradisiac island. Prices range  from 210 euros B&B depending on seasons.

2) A second option for accommodation in a lower budget range will be La Formentera, a beachside bohemian little hotel with lots of character and colors. Located in Playa de Migjorn, this place is perfect for a romantic weekend escape. Hammocks, rustic beach facilities, communal dinner and and outside bar areas. You can rent suites or private chalets, Home cooked meals with organic products, fish and seafood. You can also find Yoga classes, massage and meditation classes. So if you are looking for a retreat for your soul and your mind, with lot of character and bohemian glamour, this is the place for you. Price starts from 90 euros B&B, depending on the season. 

3) Rent a vespa and drive to Faro De La Mola, a Lighthouse located in the east of the island. A perfect day out and enjoy the views around the island. This Lighthouse stills works during the night for all the navigation of the island, but during the day, the views are stunning from this point. Be ready to stop and take a swim in some of the beaches around this area, so pack a picnic basket and lots of drinks. 

Photo from Formentera Channel Net

4) Coming back to Migjorn Beach, try Pirata Bus, a chiringuito (small beach restaurants) located in the heart of the beach. The  meeting-point for locals and visitors. You can spend the day enjoying sun, ice-cold drinks and delicious tapas, always with good music, and beautiful sunsets. One of the special places that you can't miss. As for special parties at night, locals always organize events in this place, so be ready to enjoy a local adventure.

5) For a great lunch experience, try Can Dani, A seasonal restaurant that already has 1michelin star. A menu configured only with local and mediterranean ingredients, a great combination of flavors and textures  referred to as "Cocina de Raiz", food that combines original recipes from Formentera with experimental cuisine and the usage of seasonal products. Its a perfect place for a unforgettable Sunday lunch experience. 

6) For a romantic dinner, try Can Carlos, a restaurant with one of the most beautiful terraces you will ever see. Located in the heart of the island, this place combines the glamour of a dinner in a illuminated garden with the simplicity and delicacy of excellent food. From tapas to seafood, artisanal ice creams, this place has a personal touch that you will remember for ever. Simple ingredients making exceptional food, a perfect combination of Spanish tradition with the brushes of Mediterranean magic. Homemade pasta, Grilled octopus, Tuna, Salmorejo and  much more, you will need more than one night to enjoy the quality and exquisite taste of their dishes. An experience you can't miss.

7) If you are a Beach Club fanatic, try Beso Beach, a trendy beach bar and restaurant with great music and super vibes. You can enjoy all day, have fabulous drinks and get into the big party mood of the island with live events and music.  Paella is their speciality, why not can enjoy a beach day, followed by a paella and a late after hours party. The perfect place to dance until the sun goes down. 

8) If you are looking for an other beach to enjoy, try Illetes Beach, a idilic beach of white sands and incredibly clear waters, where locals and visitors can meet. During the weekend, boats from ibiza drop anchor and enjoy the day there. There are lots of activities, aquatic sport and a great beach vibe to enjoy.  You can find fish restaurants and small bars. If you want to enjoy more tranquility walk to the northeast side of the beach. Be aware that there is a nudist area at the end of this beach. 

9) Please visit San Ferran, a small and quite town in the heart of the island, charming with a rural vibe, you can walk narrow streets, enjoy the unique town style. From there you can visit the saltwater lagoon of Estany Pudent, a perfect spot for photography or just to enjoy a quite time. In San Ferran you can find charming places like Fonda Pepe, a beautiful sandy coloured Church, also there are several small market shops. 

10) If you are looking to discover the real deal of Formentera, you need to visit this place, Tanga Restaurant the food is delicious, the ambience is casual and rustic, you can enjoy the food, music and a beautiful view of Levante beach, the ultimate experience, a restaurant full of personality open since 1978.  Try this local treasure, we guarantee you a great time. 

Formentera is an small island, but the experience makes it seem bigger and unforgettable. We recommend that you plan your next escape and head for this magical place as soon as possible. 

Created by D.Oballos /Huellas de Luz Blog.

Photography from Websites of places.