Sometimes a landscape is so painterly that it can make up for a technical screw-up on the camera front.
I was initially horrified to see that I had accidentally enabled a cheap camera effect on the day we finally brought our boys to one of our favourite landscapes in Provence – the dizzying Route de Crêtes between Cassis and La Ciotat.
Funny thing is, the landscape is so dramatic that it kind of worked.
The Route de Cretes is a “must do” in this region. For the serious day-trip you can hike up from Cassis and follow the goat track cliff-side all the way to La Ciotat.
Our preferred option during the school term is to drive up to the carpark high above Cassis and walk for a couple of hours to the lighthouse overlooking Ciotat, then back to the car. That’s around four hours and you’re well-placed for a seaside, seafood lunch at Cassis.
We did a short-version of the walk with the boys when an old friend was visiting from New Zealand in the peak of summer – as he and Sabbatical man had already climbed a mountain that morning.
I was not enthusiastic about going into Cassis in the peak of summer – having loved the peace and charm of the place out of season. It turned out to be merely busy and buzzy -and the gelato at Amorino a most excellent reward.


Stunning
Reminds me so much of the time when I lived in Cassis. We walked along the cliff tops most days. It was so beautiful – the colours are so intense. You are going to find this all very hard to leave!! Xx
Reminds me so much of the time when I lived in cassis. We walked along the cliff tops most days. It was so beautiful – the colours were so intense. You are going to find this very hard to leave!! X
Yes I always think of you when we go – it’s a lovely place. It will be hard to leave but a new adventure awaits and Steve has been well and truly bitten by the travelling bug so we will doing plenty more from nz – not to mention the fabulous walks we can do in nz now that the boys are all old enough!