Das leben ist schön: Tour de France

Where to begin?! We started planning this trip to France as soon as Les and Steve got the go-ahead from their bosses to take a vacation in Europe. For me it was Spring Break, and Matt had barely touched any of his 6 weeks (!) of vacation time. We decided Southern France would be a good option since none of us had been there, and we were all excited by the idea of delicious Provencal cuisine as well as some magnificent views of the Mediterranean and the coast. Our original plan was to spend the 6 days along the coast, hopping from town to down by train or bus. This all sounded very romantic and exciting....until I got an email back from a very distant French cousin, Stéphanie, who invited us to spend Easter weekend with her family in Ambert. Ambert, a small village north of Provence, is about a 5-hour drive from Nice, where we flew into. How could we possibly pass up this incredible opportunity to meet some of our French cousins while visiting a small French village?? From here, the plans were set: 2 days in Cote de Azur (Nice and Antibes), 1 day in Provence (Avignon), 3 days in Ambert (highlight of the trip!!) and one more night in Nice before flying home the next morning. We had so many adventures and so many laughs....we will never forget this once in a lifetime trip! It will be challenging to select the highlights of the trip (there were MANY!) but here we go....

Day 1: Monday, April 6 - Nice

Easy Jet landed us in beautiful Nice right on time. We enjoyed hiking up to Chateau Nice and taking in the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.

Overlooking the harbor atop the Chateau de Nice

We enjoyed watching the animated "Socca Lady" almost as much as we enjoyed
eating the delicious chickpea snack...

There are no sandy beaches in Nice, but this did not stop people
from laying out (sometimes topless)!

Day 2 - Antibes

After picking up "Bernard", our trusty ride for the week, we made the 30 minute drive along the coast to Antibes. Antibes is a sleepy coastal town that has a much smaller and less touristy feel than Nice. We spotted a small sandy beach and the girls enjoyed relaxing and journaling while the boys skipped rocks for a while :) We ended the evening with a delicious "Menu" dinner, which included an appetizer, fresh seafood, dessert, and a local variety of wine. As we moved along the coast, the fare just got better and better.....

Our cute little hotel in Antibes

Boys will be boys....

Walking along the quaint streets of Antibes

We counted on Bernard to take us where we needed to go, and he did not let us down!
Thanks, Steve, for being our trusty chauffeur!

Day 3 - Avignon

We said goodbye to the coast as we headed inland for Provence. As we progressed along our 3-hour drive from Antibes, the landscape changed dramatically. Rolling hills dotted with endless vineyards reminded us somewhat of our beloved Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara. No wonder SB is often referred to as the American Riviera! We reached Avignon around lunchtime and parked outside of the gated city. We loved experiencing the delicious food and wine, browsing the wonderfully fresh markets, and picnicing with fresh bread, olive tapenade and assorted cheeses while overlooking the famous Saint Benezet's Bridge. We explored the Pope's Palace and strolled along La rue des Teinturiers - a picturesque street with narrow canals and turning water wheels. Our stay in Provence was short, but what a beautiful region! We definitely hope to return someday.

A delicious restaurant recommended by our hotel hosts....Lepice and Love!

Days 4-7 - Ambert (with our French cousins!)

Butterflies grew in the pits of our stomachs as we climbed up and down the rolling hills that led the way to the tiny town of Ambert. I had met cousin Stéphanie about 10 years ago when she was traveling the east coast of the US as part of a summer exchange program. I saved the baby announcement she sent almost 2 years ago when her daughter Nikita was born, and decided to contact her when we were thinking of traveling to France. Her warm and enthusiastic invitiation was difficult to turn down, and here we were on our way to meet some new family members in a town where my great grandfather's family once lived. As we approached the town of Ambert, we quickly realized that THIS was France. Away from the tourists and sights, this off-the-beaten-track region was beyond beautiful. The family home rested in a tiny village called "Boisseyre" which consists of maybe 20 homes and acres and acres of beautiful countryside. In the car ride there, we joked about how we would get there, compare family trees, and realize that we were infact NOT related. Our fears subsided immediately when we were warmly greeted by Stéphanie and her family. We did not know what we were in for! From the MULTIPLE elaborate meals each day, to the horesback rodeo, to the nail-biting but exhilirating ride in a tiny plane, we all knew how unique and unbelievably cool this experience was. We left feeling like we had known the Chevelayres forever, and were so grateful for this opportunity to connect with our French relatives. We hope to see them again soon!

Lots of photos, I know, but sooo hard to decide!

The Chevaleyre Family home overlooking Ambert

A visit with Lyfka, the family's pregnant horse!

We visited the old factory where Stéphanie's great grandfather worked. The family owned the building until about 2 years ago when they sold it to the town of Ambert.

Stéphanie (top), Eléonore (left), Grandma, Nikita (Stephanie's adorable daughter)
and Grandma's sister. Right after we compared family trees....yes we are related! (Stephanie and her siblings are our 4th cousins...cool huh?!)