Pernes les Fontaines

Sally picked this village because of its description in the guide book.
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of driving into the walled centre-ville looking for a hotel recommended by the tourist office. I shouldn't have done it. The streets were incredibly narrow and had it not been for the sensors on the bumpers I would have surely scratched the car. Eventually we drove outside the walls and walked back in. When we found the hotel it seemed closed.

While we were at the hotel, the sky suddenly darkened and it started to rain. Now I understand why we often see photos of flooded out villages around Europe. It really rains!

So we went to our second choice, #1 on TripAdvisor L'Hermitage, and it was absolutely wonderful. A charming place on a couple of acres with an assortment of guests from Australia to Belgium. Some French people too.

In the middle of the town was this elementary school. Somehow it seemed out of place. What were kids doing living here?

The small town is famous for its fountains...some quite substantial, others quite modest. We did the tour, looking down the charming streets. We had good meals, which were far less expensive than what Pete McMartin encountered in Paris as described in his column today. http://www.vancouversun.com/Pete+McMartin+Paris+springtime/9879415/story.html

We stayed two nights and would have liked to stay longer. But so many things to do...so little time left to do it. But here are some more pictures of a very picturesque place.