Day 9-Sunday

No cycling today, so I stayed in bed until 7:30 AM, worked on Day 8 blog, showered, dressed, and was at breakfast by 9:00.

Kevin's feature main course for today was crepes with apples, and of course the usual pastries, breads, fruits, and fruit juices.   The crepes were delicious, I'm not sure what kind of apples they were.  

After breakfast we drove to the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse which is nestled in the sharp end of a narrow valley that takes its name from the amazing and mysterious spring feed the River Sorgue. This spring comes from deep underground, nobody knows how deep and in fact Jacques Cousteau came with a submersible to explore the depths but could not find the bottom.  Since then a probe has made it to a sandy bed at a depth of 1010 feet, but the spring itself comes from somewhere even deeper!

The gorgeous waters of the Sorgue River attracts visitors from all over the world, and the tourists attract souvenir shops, but a museum dedicated to how France survived the WW II was our prime reason for visiting this village.  Joni and I have visited the museum, 

Musée d'Histoire Jean Garcin : 1939-45 L'Appel de la Liberté, several times. 

The text of Charles De Gaule's first BBC broadcast from London to the people of France. 

TO ALL FRENCH PEOPLE

France has lost a battle!

But France has not lost the war!  

Failing rulers may have capitulated, giving in to panic, forgetting honor, and delivering the country to servitude. However, nothing is lost!  Nothing is lost, because this war is a world war. In the free universe, immense forces have yet to give way. One day, these forces will crush the enemy. France must, on that day, be present at victory. Then, she will regain her freedom and her greatness. This is my goal, my only goal!  This is why I invite all French people, wherever they may be, to join me in action, in sacrifice, and in hope.

Our homeland is in mortal danger.

Let us all fight to save it!

LONG LIVE FRANCE!

Jean Moulin, leader of the Resistance.  Eventually betrayed by a countryman and executed.

One of the many propaganda posters, announcing the benefits of "volunteering" to work in Germany.

Wine corks used as tires.

These are just a few of the thousands of posters & photographs that capture life in France during the German occupation.  Everything was rationed, and in short supply.  Families were allowed two bars of soap per month.  

The museum included exhibits about the Holocaust and the Liberation in 1944.  There was so much to see...I know I will return.

Leaving the museum we briefly browsed the shops as we headed to our cars and our luncheon destination in Joucas, another hilltop village.  Our restaurant, La Terrace, provides dining with a view...an incredible view of the Luberon valley.

Modern sculptures are omnipresent in Joucs.  These are just a couple of them.

Leaving Joucas, Joni I drove to the laundromat in Apt.  After a week on the road, we need to clean our undies!  Sorry no photos available.

For our final dinner in Provence, we returned to another favorite, Restaurant Caviste La Fontaine, in the nearby village of Villars.  One of many restaurants run by a married couple where the husband is the cook, and his wife does everything else!  

Amuse bouche.

Melon - Crottin de chèvre - Pain brioché - Mûre & Cassis - Graines de moutarde -Vinaigrette citron miel & piment

Blanc de volaille fermière label rouge cuisson basse température - Aubergine - Miso -Polenta frite - Sauce citron

Poisson de ligne de Méditerranée - Bohémienne - Huile ail thym & citron -Taboulé de petit épeautre du Jas de l'agachet.

Abricot rôti au miel - Pignons & Pistache - Glace à l'huile d'olive du Jas de L'Agachet -Crème immortelle & gingembre

Gâteau tout choco - Sarrazin torréfié - Sorbet fruits rouges

Our meal was fabulous, an appropriate last summer in Provence!