village of Cucuron, south Luberon

 Yesterday I went to the village of Cucuron, nestled under the south face of the Luberon mountains. I even took part in a guided tour of the village (turning the tables for once), heading above the rooftops, and exploring the nooks and crannies of a village that remains authentic, and lives year-round.

Yesterday's hike at the foot of Mont Ventoux

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Mimosa: behind the French Riviera, in the village of Tanneron

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Hiking with the boss...

 Yann Delord, our company director, accompanied me on my last reconnaissance hike for our new self-guided holiday in the Calanques of Marseille and Cassis.

We began our walk in the centre of Cassis, climbing high above the coastline to Cap Canaille, which at 400m is the highest sea-cliff in France...

Once above the cliffs a magnificent cliff-edge path hovers above the coastline:

 Yann is ahead of me along the path, as always, and although he's blown out a few more candles than me he's difficult to keep up with:

The path remains high above the coastline before beginning a descent atop a rounded crest, to the village of La Ciotat, seen below:

Entering the outskirts of La Ciotat, with the fragrance of mimosa intense in a warm winter's sun.

A few specimens in the old port of La Ciotat:

Returning to Avignon's magnificent TGV station at the end of the day.

For more information about this new self-guided walking holiday: Calanques of Marseille and Cassis