A full house.....

Yes, a full house around here lately with Alicia's mom visiting from Peru and her daughter & family from northern France spending some vacation time here as well. It has given us the opportunity to show them some of the places we've already visited which is good as there are always things to do and see that we didn't experience during our previous trips.

Saturday they wanted to take in the market in Apt and then tour what's called the Provencal Colorado which is an old mining area of ochre near the village of Rustrel. The ochre here was mined above and below ground. The colors here go from white to brick red and I've read that there are actually 25 different shades of color in the hardened clay. The ochre is a very soft clay type of rock that is eroded by rain, wind and the elements that take their toll very quickly.

What is left from all that erosion is multi colored sand dunes, rocks and cliffs. The last century saw a steep decline in the use of ochre due to the use of chemicals to color paint and textiles. Ochre is still used to some extent to color paint and plaster and can also be found in cosmetic powders and pastes.
Anyone who visits the area knows that you'll need to wash your clothes after a hike there as those 25 different shades of colors seem to be attracted to clothes....and skin.

I continue to be amazed with all these chunks of cheese. This vendor had cheese and some sausage to the left. 

Different vendor....more cheese. 

Provencal Colorado near Rustrel

Just like walking on a sandy beach except with more color...but not a drop of water to be found. 

Just about in the center of the photo you can see where the eroded clay turns into that colored sand.

Vedene Carnival Saturday night. This was my favorite ride....well, it would have been but they said I was over the weight limit.....just slightly though. 

Yes, they do have cotton candy in France too.