France's Provence for Travel in 2009

Despite these troubled financial times, France still hopes that summer 2009 will be a successful travel time, especially in Provence.

Picasso is their special draw.  Many celebrations of the life of the famous painter will be held in 2009.  His life in Provence and the Cote d’Azur is the focus.

The leaders of French tourism recently passed through San Francisco to communicate their dreams to me and a few other travel journalists.

Looking ahead, Marseille will be the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2013.  This honor is passed around the continent on an annual basis.  There is already momentum building.

The French are always quite thorough in their planning, and the Picasso emphasis in Provence is an example.  Much of this can be seen at www.guideriviera.com and www.franceguide.com.

Major exhibits, places where you can see Picasso’s works in Provence, sources of his inspiration from Avignon to Arles, and various itineraries can all be perused.

For a book to put you in the mood, consider Life With Picasso by his love companion, Francoise Gilot, assisted in the writing by Carlton Lake.  The paperback from Anchor Books/Random House is a lively read.

Many rave about the light, the climate, the cuisine, and the Mediterranean coast when talking of Provence.

It is on my future travel list.  Some day I will experience it and make an assessment about whether it lives up to its fabled reputation.