Provence

Ode to Lizzie Napoli

4 November 2019 by Ivan Seymus

Créatrice of Carnets de Voyages avant la lettre.

Lizzie Napoli should not be missing in my series about following in the footsteps of famous carnettistes.

Napoli was born in Paris (°1924), but her roots are in Palermo.
She loses her sight at the age of 6 and that will draw her future life. After she regained sight, she decides to dedicate her life to observing and telling stories with images. At the age of 20, she starts travelling.

In 1940 Napoli ended up in the Luberon and in 1979 she bought a gypsy roulotte. Since then, she spends her summers in Oppède.

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Roadsigns as a peoples heritage

31 May 2019 by Ivan Seymus

It has been a long time since I wanted to write a piece about the mythical borne d’angle of Michelin. You can still find them here and there along French roads. At first, I thought it was a simple painted concrete structure. The signs actually look like tiles from inside a car. Upon closer investigation, it appears that Michelin used an ingenious technique.

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The navel of the South of France

3 May 2017 by Ivan Seymus

In anticipation of the French presidential elections on April 23 and May 7, 2017, I browse one of my old notebooks seeking comments on the previous electoral duel. Not so difficult, the presidency in France is valid for five years, sometimes to the disappointment of many.

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Strolling through Ménerbes

19 April 2017 by Ivan Seymus

Whenever we are in the Luberon region in Provence, we visit one of our favorite perched villages: Ménerbes. Together with Bonnieux, Lacoste and Oppède-le-Vieux Ménerbes sits on the north face of the Luberon Mountain.

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The colours of Velleron

5 April 2017 by Ivan Seymus

Urban sketch of a Trabant in Velleron, Provence

Provence is well known for its bright-coloured markets. Apt, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Carpentras, and Coustellet are among the most famous. Velleron adds one extra colour.

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