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hi Sugarplum!

Port of Call: Provence, France

June 13, 2016

I’m happy to say, I’m writing to you today with a much clearer head. Although, by 8pm every night, I can barely keep my head up and eyes open. Crazy how much jet lag has affected me this time around…maybe it’s a getting older thing? #yayaging

It took a full day just to sort through all our photos, and I have so many things to share with you…including the Princess cruise ports, my travel style, food, and packing tips. If there are specific requests or questions you have about the trip, cruise, countries, etc…feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll work them into future posts. Based on the response to my Instagram posts while we were there, you guys want lots of details!

It really was a spectacular trip, not just for the amazing itinerary and experiences, but for the new friendships made. Princess Cruises assembled a stellar group of bloggers, and we all immediately bonded, giving our time together a feeling reminiscent of summer camp. Today I’m excited to start things off with one of our favorite stops, the third port on our itinerary…Provence, France. (I talked about why this spot is so special to me here.)

The port is actually Marseilles, France, and we were lucky enough to book a private car and English-speaking guide through Princess Excursions…so we spent our day exploring as many of the quant villages and countryside of the Provence region as we could. Cassandra and I simply told our guide we wanted to venture far from the crowds and tourists, but stay close enough in proximity to make the most of the allotted time we had in port, and she chose St. Remy, L’Isle-Sur-Sorgue, Lourmarin and Roussillon.

The villages each had their own personality, but all were so charming and quant, they didn’t seem real. Seriously, sometimes it felt as though we were walking through a Disney park! Except everyone spoke French and the food was 1000 times better. 😉

We got lucky, and happened to be there on a Wednesday…the one day each week St. Remy has it’s celebrated market. It was hard not to spend an hour at each booth…the smells and tastes were unreal…but we had lots to see in a day, so we kept moving.

Of course I chose to wear stripes that day, because France. Another perk of having a driver, is you can store things in the car without having to haul them around all day. Even so, I still chose a small cross body bag to carry my daily things, like wallet, phone, sunglasses, and lipstick. This blush bag coordinated well with all my outfits, and held a surprising amount considering it’s small size.

Striped Tee | Favorite White Jeans (hemmed for ankle-length) | Jean Jacket
Sunglasses | Watch | Favorite Sneakers (size down half-size) | Crossbody Bag
As we wandered the quiet, spotless streets and alleyways, I couldn’t help but think about the people who call these villages home, and what their day-to-life was like. Was it as idyllic as it looked? Could they hardly believe their good fortune to wake up each day there, or was it a hardship to live so simply? 

I picked up this market bag, and filled it with soaps, creams and treats for our parents back home.

Striped Tee | Favorite White Jeans (hemmed for ankle-length) 
Sunglasses | Watch | Favorite Sneakers (size down half-size)

Striped Tee | Favorite White Jeans (hemmed for ankle-length) | Jean Jacket
Sunglasses | Watch | Favorite Sneakers (size down half-size) | Crossbody Bag

Striped Tee | Favorite White Jeans (hemmed for ankle-length) | Jean Jacket
Sunglasses | Watch | Favorite Sneakers (size down half-size) | Crossbody Bag
You could spend weeks in this region and never see it all, especially the countryside, which is just as magical as the villages. 

We couldn’t help but stop at all the poppy and lavender fields, which were still a few weeks from blooming, but still smelled incredible. I guess we’ll just have to go back for the blooms someday!

Have you been to Provence? Do you have any requests or questions regarding our trip you want me to include in future posts?

{Shop My Outfit}

 {Favorite Crossbody Bags for Travel Under $100}





*This post is created in collaboration with Nordstrom, but all clothing, ideas, and lavender-obsessing are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors.*


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by Cassie 
27 Comments
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Cruising, International, Spring & Summer, Travel

 

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previous article: Sugarplum Style, Vol. 28
next article: Five Under $50

Comments

  1. Amy says: June 13, 2016 at 10:35 am

    Such beautiful pictures! What was the weather like?

    Reply
  2. SweetandSimpleInspirations says: June 13, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Looks like a scene from a storybook! So beautiful! I would love to see a post on packing tips- you had so many cute outfits on your trip and a small suitcase. Seriously impressed! My bags always push the weight limit when I travel!

    Reply
  3. Christina says: June 13, 2016 at 11:24 am

    Just beautiful! Can't wait to see more.

    Reply
  4. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says: June 13, 2016 at 11:49 am

    Tagging along with you on this trip is going to be so much fun! Your pictures are GORGEOUS! And your little striped boatneck tee and ankle jeans were perfect for this port. I just needed to see you on a darling little bicycle with a basket on the front! So cute. So French. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Heather says: June 13, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    I cannot wait to read your trip stories and opinions. We are thinking about taking this exact cruise next summer with our 4 kids!! (Before the first one goes off to college as a big hoorah!). CANNOT wait to hear!

    Reply
  6. Sandrine says: June 13, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    Hi, I'm French, living not so far from there (in Cote d'Azur, you have to come there next time 🙂 ) and my husband is from Provence. Glad to see that you have enjoyed the area. Did you taste the olive oil from there ? It's funny to see how the stripes are associated with France because nearly no one wears stripes here 🙂 (maybe more in Brittany)

    Reply
  7. Vel Criste says: June 13, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    All your photos are amazing Cassie! Enjoyed the tour very much !!!

    Reply
  8. joen says: June 13, 2016 at 4:31 pm

    Provence – (major)sigh – beautiful!!!

    Reply
  9. Jennifer Jones says: June 13, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    Absolutely stunning photos! I can't wait to take in every last detail of the trip. I bet you could make one heck of a coffee table book from this adventure and the beautiful views!

    Reply
  10. MikiT says: June 13, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Stunning Pictures! Wish I were there.

    Reply
  11. Annemarie Byrnes says: June 13, 2016 at 10:38 pm

    Your photos are gorgeous! You captured so many details and also the overall beauty of this area. I think I would have been expecting Belle to come out of a shop, singing and with her head in a book.

    Reply
  12. kim says: June 13, 2016 at 10:40 pm

    Absolutely love following your travel posts! We are looking at a trip to Italy next fall. We aren't "Cruise Peeps" so want to go and travel via train/car. Eager to hear any and all details you can share! Know you typically pack lightly but it looks like you were able to take more options this time? Besides your fantastic boat trip, what did you do and love during your time at the Amalfi Coast? Thank you in advance for all you're able to share as I sit on the edge of me seat to hear more!! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Gwen, The Makerista says: June 14, 2016 at 12:47 am

    I mean, come on! What a dream! So much beauty…including you pretty lady. 🙂 Can't wait to see more!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says: June 14, 2016 at 1:09 am

    We are leaving on the same cruise the middle of July and can't wait! Was the weather cooler than normal? Seem to notice long sleeves and pants. I'm looking forward to your posts about the trip! ��

    Reply
  15. Brenda says: June 14, 2016 at 3:33 am

    Wow, that looks like such a beautiful place to visit with lots of fun shops to look at. Thanks for sharing the pictures. It gives me a chance to see somewhere I've never been.

    Reply
  16. Queen In Between says: June 14, 2016 at 10:45 am

    So loved following along with your snaps. I almost feel like I was there! Such a beautiful trip.

    Reply
  17. joyfuljeannie says: June 14, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  18. Alicia Davis says: June 14, 2016 at 8:22 pm

    I also loved following all the snaps and instagrams. We spent some time in Southern France a few years ago. All the pictures took me back. So beautiful! We happened to match our trip to when the sunflowers and lavender were blooming. Amazing! After following along with you, I keep looking at the Italian coast. What a fantastic trip you had!

    Reply
  19. Megan // Honey We're Home says: June 15, 2016 at 5:15 am

    What an experience! So cool to live vicariously through you!

    Reply
  20. Keisha Dawson says: June 15, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    Your pictures look like they are straight out of magazine! What an incredible experience!

    Reply
  21. Jen @ RamblingRenovators says: June 16, 2016 at 4:30 pm

    How I love France. I haven't been to Provence but your photos have me convinced I must visit!

    Reply
  22. Kimberly Youngblood says: July 11, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Hi Cassie! My hubby & I are embarking on the same cruise (same ports of call) in September on the Harmony of the Seas. I'm so excited I can hardly wait (focus…or think straight). So I purchased a pair of Converse All-Star shoes based on your recommendations. My question is, did you put an in sole in? Were they comfy enough for walking….everywhere? I know they are chic enough but I'm worried they might rub and cause blisters.

    Reply
    • hisugarplum says: July 11, 2016 at 11:44 pm

      Hi Kimberly! I wore them everywhere just as they are…no socks, no powder, no insoles! As long as you get the sizing right, there's no rubbing. Have so much fun…can I come?!?!

      Reply
  23. Kimberly Youngblood says: July 12, 2016 at 3:02 am

    Wonderful!! Thank you Cassie! Oh and I would also love to know what camera you took with you. Your pictures are amazing! And are they really that strict about not showing bare knees in Rome and Florence cathedrals? Or do skirts hitting just above the knee pass?

    Reply
    • hisugarplum says: July 12, 2016 at 4:06 pm

      I took my Canon with a wide angle lens for landscape shots, and a 50mm for closer vignettes and portraits. Honestly though, I had my phone out for most everything!! And all my skirts are around knee-length, but I even wore shorts a few days and it was a non-issue going into churches and chapels. It's more about just being quiet and respectful if there's a service going on.

      Reply
  24. Kim Haston says: April 4, 2017 at 8:55 am

    Based on your recommendations, my family of five is heading on a Mediterranean cruise this summer. Do you remember the tour name that you took in Provence. We will also be there on a Wednesday and the markets and small towns are exactly what we are looking for! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Cassie says: April 5, 2017 at 10:43 am

      Amazing!! have the very best time! We booked a private driver through the cruise ship excursion desk, and they took us to the different towns. It’s pricey, but a good way to make the most of the short day!! xo

      Reply

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