Lavender season

From fields to markets, right now Provence is brimming with lavender.

PARIS - AIX-EN-PROVENCE (via TGV fast train) 2 hrs 53 mn 

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Can you guess?

A Greek island village? Somewhere off the coast of Sicily?

Neither. It's Cadaqués Spain, Mediterranean fishing village of surrealist Salvador Dalí that I once called home, an hour drive into France.

 Below: nightfall w/view of bay and church; cat relaxes on friends' veranda

Recommended: fly/drive

PARIS - PERPIGNAN (France)
Direct flight (1-hr 30 min) + car rental (1-hr 20 min drive to Cadaqués)

 

PARIS - GIRONA

Direct flight (1-hr 45 min) + car rental (1-hr drive to Cadaqués)


Where to eat:

Compartir
(means "to share" in Spanish - see video in link)
Riera de Sant Vicenç s/n 17488 Cadaqués

 We couldn't get enough of this gem launched by sous chefs of Ferran Adrià of mythic El Bulli (named "best restaurant on the planet" five times) after its closure.

- inventive cocktails / ultra tapas -

(click photos to enlarge)

Just married

Summer sees newlywed couples posing for photos all around the city.

Lane remnant

Besides buildings untold numbers of tiny lanes went the way of the horse-drawn carriage during the 19th century Haussmann Renovation.

Daily breads

Some crunchy reasons to get going in the morning.

Reception

A small wedding party gathers at the foot of a Montmartre stairway.

Sacré blanc!

On the steps of the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur a statue-mime works the crowds.