I have been traveling to France for more than 20 years, starting as a student and continuing for work or vacations ever since.

There is a lot to appreciate about France and the French, but out of everything there is to appreciate my favorites are the food and the vacations.

Eating well and vacationing in France is an art and being equipped with the right team to relax, enjoy and profiter des bons endroits (to take full advantage of the right places) is key.

I am very lucky, I have a great team.  For the past 8 years Claudine, Marie-Pierre (better known as Mapi) and I have been vacationing together in France.

Coordinated by Claudine, the initial goal of the vacation was to help me discover more of France and depayser (submerge) me in diverse regions of France and French culture.

Today our trips are about eating, relaxing, laughing, gossiping and enjoying our time together in a region of France where we are almost certain there will be few clouds and a minimum temperature of 80F.

This year the team and I returned to the south, to the region of Provence, for a few perfect days of culture, relaxation, laughter and pure enjoyment.

If you have never visited the south of France I hope these pictures help transport you for a little escape of your own.

Enjoy!