Saint Paul de Vence

10-13-2007. Stopped for the night in Vence en route from Cinque Terre to Provence...mostly so we could hit the tiny hilltown of Saint Paul de Vence in the morning. Vence itself turned out to be a great stopping point - the highlight being (of course) food! Had an amazing dinner in a tiny restaurant "Le Passe Muraille" including fois, some of the best snails in garlic butter to date, duck and boeuf (for Jeff of course).

So at the recommendation of NHdad and NHmom, we headed to St Paul in the morning. Arrived at just the right time to explore this quaint art-filled town as stores were opening....and got out just as the tourist busses began to swarm.

And in the interim, Melissa fell in love. No - not with the guy in the photo below - he's the artist/gallery owner. With his painting. And so now we have the perfect souvenir of our honeymoon, which will hang above the dining table in a spot that's been waiting for this exact painting for a long time.

After a lovely morning in St. Paul, we got on the (side) road toward our little cottage outside of Gordes. Along the way, we spotted a festival - so stopped to check it out. Turns out it was Rains' annual Fete de Courge. That's pumpkin-fest to you. A total blast to wander through - pumpkins everywhere, wine, cheese, a marching band....and more pumpkins.