Have Suitcase, Will Travel

I think you could say that “have suitcase, will travel” is a saying that I could live by. My husband says that he thinks that I could live out of a suitcase for a year and never complain. You know what…I think he is right. I enjoy reading about different destinations. I like trying to find wonderful hotels and restaurants with great food. Finally, I like the actual planning of a trip for us. Sometimes we take friends along with us and sometimes we go it alone.

For the last few weeks, I have been planning a trip to Europe for the two of us. The planning has taken me away from visiting and commenting on my favorite blogs. I have had fewer posts…I do hope that you will understand.

If you have read my profile it says… “spend a few minutes with me as I travel the back roads of New England and occasionally further. I’ll share with you great food, interesting places and enjoyable pastimes that I find along the way.”

I’m inviting you to spend a few minutes with me in the coming weeks as I travel with my husband on the back roads of Europe. We will be traveling through France, Italy, Austria and Germany before returning to our home in New Hampshire. I hope to give you a glimpse of places that you may wish to travel to in the future. If you have been to any of the lovely places where we are traveling…then I hope the blogs will bring back fond memories. What I hope most is that you will enjoy with time spent with me on this wonderful journey.

After twenty-two hours, three airports and a great amount of walking, renting a car and driving, we have finally reached our first destination on a hilltop above the town of Vence, France.

Arriving at Chateau Saint-Martin, Vence, France

View From Our Balcony

Welcome Gift of Fruit and Cookies

The Chateau Saint-Martin is between Nice and Cannes. The hotel is said to have been the former residence of the Commander of the Knights Templar. The hotel has beautiful grounds loaded with flowers, olive trees and rosemary hedges. From many spots there are wonderful views of the Riviera on a clear day.

Being jet lagged from so little sleep, our first day was spent just enjoying the hotel. The next day we spent exploring the back roads. There are many lovely small, medieval towns within an hours reach. I would say that one of the most well known is Saint Paul de Vence. It is lovely but hundreds and hundreds of tourists are dropped off by tour buses each day to visit the town, its art galleries and boutiques.

We prefer the wonderful small medieval town of Tourettes sur Loup. Walk through one of the remaining rampart gates and you step back in time. It is one of the most picturesque places that you will ever visit. There are just a few tourists walking along streets so small that cars cannot drive down.

Original Gate to Medieval Village of Tourrettes sur Loup

Narrow Street in Tourrettes sur Loup

We took many photos here but I won’t bore you with all of them. Here are a few just to give you a feel of everyday life for those that live here.

Home in Village of Tourrettes sur Loup

Cafe in Tourrettes sur Loup

Beautiful Produce

Fresh Crispy Bread and Pastries

Before returning to the hotel, we had lunch in the small village of Colle sur Loup at the Hotel and Restaurant Alain Llorca.

Lunch at Alain Llorca with View of St. Paul de Vence

Alain Llorca, is a Michelin star chef that I had the pleasure of meeting and taking a cooking class that was given by him when he visited Florida. His restaurant sits on a hilltop that looks across to the village of Saint Paul de Vence. It was a fabulous meal that will be long remembered.

Tomorrow we are off to Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera.

Until then,

Bon Jour