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Happy Face Travel Place

A Travel Blog

Two wine glasses sit on a dining table in a restaurant. Other patrons are visible, their forms distorted, through the glass.

Two wine glasses sit on a dining table in a restaurant. Other patrons are visible, their forms distorted, through the glass.

Provence and Occitanie: Fin

La Sainte Trinite

Jan 1813 min read

Château d'eau du Peyrou, an arched and columned stone structure overlooking a pond on a plaza. People sit nearby and walk by. Mountains are on the distant horizon.

Château d'eau du Peyrou, an arched and columned stone structure overlooking a pond on a plaza. People sit nearby and walk by. Mountains are on the distant horizon.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 12

Promenade, Dancers and Prancers, Cannonball Wall, and Joy, Joy, Joyeux!

Dec 7, 20255 min read

A plaza with a lot of fenced in foliage, a tree and a statue. The plaza is lined with old French buildings, and the sun is very bright in the blue sky.

A plaza with a lot of fenced in foliage, a tree and a statue. The plaza is lined with old French buildings, and the sun is very bright in the blue sky.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 11

Montpellier: A Pouty Server, a Creepy Magician, an Expelled Nostradamus, and a Unicorn…

Oct 17, 202514 min read

A wetland with shallow water and rough vegetation covered shoreline. Large groups of pink flamingos stand in the water.

A wetland with shallow water and rough vegetation covered shoreline. Large groups of pink flamingos stand in the water.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 10

A Walled City, Salted Corpses, Two Marys in a Boat, Sainte Sara in a Basement, and a Grain Factory…

Aug 18, 202516 min read

Provence and Occitanie: Day 9

Provence and Occitanie: Day 9

Provence and Occitanie: Day 9

Pont du Gard and Nimes: Roman Ruins, Crocodiles, Naming Nimes Cheeses, and the Best Park Ever!

Jul 19, 202513 min read

A panorama of the ruins of an ancient city. The ruins are in a small valley between tree-filled hills. The sky is mostly cloudy.

A panorama of the ruins of an ancient city. The ruins are in a small valley between tree-filled hills. The sky is mostly cloudy.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 8

Les Baux-de-Provence and Saint-Remy-de-Provence: Ruins, Ruins, Ruins, Candy Scam, Santons, and Nostradamus…

Jun 29, 202515 min read

Provence and Occitanie: Day 7

Provence and Occitanie: Day 7

Provence and Occitanie: Day 7

Arles: Roman Remains, Van Gogh Visions, Crypts and Cloisters…

Jun 19, 202512 min read

A panorama of a plaza outside of a palace. The buildings are all "classic" French renaissance-era and the plaza is cobblestone. The sky is grey cloudy and threatening rain.

A panorama of a plaza outside of a palace. The buildings are all "classic" French renaissance-era and the plaza is cobblestone. The sky is grey cloudy and threatening rain.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 6

Avignon: A Palace for Pontiffs, a Bridge Dance, and Water Wheels…

Jun 5, 202513 min read

A clock tower with many decorative items on the facade, including gargoyles, bas reliefs and statues that look as if they may rotate.

A clock tower with many decorative items on the facade, including gargoyles, bas reliefs and statues that look as if they may rotate.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 5

Aix-en-Provence: Cezanne and a Mountain, Two Men and Fountains…

May 18, 20259 min read

A sea port with many personal vessels and a few larger passenger ferries and tour boats. There is a road curving around the port and buildings ringing the water. Vehicles are on the street.

A sea port with many personal vessels and a few larger passenger ferries and tour boats. There is a road curving around the port and buildings ringing the water. Vehicles are on the street.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 4

Aix-en-Provence: Art, Fountains, Rain Train Rain, and Whence I Ate Pigeon…

May 3, 202513 min read

An outdoor stairway, covered in art, including small photographs affixed to the stairs and graffiti. There is graffiti on the building next to the stairs as well.

An outdoor stairway, covered in art, including small photographs affixed to the stairs and graffiti. There is graffiti on the building next to the stairs as well.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 3, Part 2

Marseille: Brass Bands, Mass Protest, Sea Crossing, and My Cheese…

May 2, 20259 min read

A large, two-winged, 19 century building with a huge water fall/fountain in the center. It's on an urban street.

A large, two-winged, 19 century building with a huge water fall/fountain in the center. It's on an urban street.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 3, Part 1

Marseille: Sea Crossing, Brass Band, and a Massive Fountain…

Apr 26, 20257 min read

A small cove at night, photographed from above. There are small boats tied up and small buildings around the cove.

A small cove at night, photographed from above. There are small boats tied up and small buildings around the cove.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 2, Part 2

Marseille: Navettes, An Arc, Soap, and Bouillabaisse…

Apr 19, 20258 min read

Buildings in the foreground, the see in the background with islands in the sea. Sailboats dot the sea and there is a castle on the nearest island.

Buildings in the foreground, the see in the background with islands in the sea. Sailboats dot the sea and there is a castle on the nearest island.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 2, Part 1

Marseille: Bus Ride, Ex-Votos, and a Really Old Abbey…

Apr 19, 20259 min read

A panorama of the Vieux Port in Marseille. There are boats moored in the harbor, the street stretches in the foreground and there are buildings ringing the port. There is a church on a hill in the middle of the picture, way off in the distance. The sun is setting to the right side, at the mouth of the port.

A panorama of the Vieux Port in Marseille. There are boats moored in the harbor, the street stretches in the foreground and there are buildings ringing the port. There is a church on a hill in the middle of the picture, way off in the distance. The sun is setting to the right side, at the mouth of the port.

Provence and Occitanie: Day 1

Marseille: Arrival, Panier, Pastis, and Recreating a Painting…

Apr 18, 20259 min read

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