Chateauneuf du Pape

I'm back!! 

Another long break from the blog

but this time back with LOTS of photos. 

I was gone for nearly a month

mostly in France

two weeks of which were spent in Provence. 

This first blog/set of photos 

are from the charmingly sweet town of Chateauneuf du Pape

which means New Castle of the Pope. 

You've no doubt heard of it 

because it's famous for its red wines. 

It sits about 12 kilometers from Avignon

and its castle was begun in the 14th century for one of the popes

who lived in Avignon. 

But the very first mention of it 

is in the 11th century

so lots of medieval remnants. 

Flowers everywhere

and a medieval street that leads to the castle ruin at the top. 

Lots of eateries and tasting rooms

And as with most of these little medieval towns,

the view at the top is spectacular. 

There was construction going on at the top

so didn't get photos of the castle ruins. 

After lunch in town, 

we visited a chocolaterie just outside of town

where we paired a few red wines with chocolate. 

And visited the Musee du Vin

which will be included in another post. 

But the biggest news about my trip

was my visit to the cave of Mary Magdalene

(said to have spent the last 30 years of her life 

in a cave in Provence.) 

That will be a big post of its own as well. 

Some of you know that I've included Mary Magdalene in my novel

so to visit her cave was a remarkable research trip for me

as well as my own personal pilgrimage

(both to honor the Divine Feminine.) 

Needless to say,

I'm very excited to have been there

and am still processing my experience.

But I'll be sharing more France and Greece photos

before that blog post arrives. 

Till then, happy summer! 

(All photos copyright Kirsten Steen)