Itinerary

Monday	Upon arrival at the Marseille Provence Airport, after clearing immigration, meet group leader Carla Woody, and guides Marlène Boyer and Claire Turquin Silhouette. Transfer to our accommodation in Arles. Free time. Late afternoon meet with for our opening circle. Dinner included.
Tuesday	This morning we undertake a half-day walking experience through the old city of Arles and enjoy the charm of its narrow streets, ancient Roman Ampitheatre and Antique Theatre. In Arles, we first attune to Vincent Van Gogh and places that inspired his artistic genius. After lunch we travel through the Camargue region, another world with its famous white horses, cowboys and flamingoes, and arrive on the coast. Here we visit the site where "The Marys" landed and begin our homage to The Magdalen. We spend time in the Church Stes. Maries and the shrine to Black Sarah where countless healings have been documented — and make our private offerings. Breakfast included.
Wednesday	We begin the day exploring the colorful St. Remy market, replete with foods that call out to be sampled and Provençal goods to take home. But our primary destination is the St. Paul Monastery and the sanatorium where Van Gogh voluntarily committed himself, remaining until shortly before his death. In this poignant place, we get a real sense of this tragic master and appreciate the beauty in which he sought to surrender himself. Enroute to the medieval village of Les Baux we stop at a family-run goat farm for a cheese tasting before we further immerse in the art spawned in French lands. At the cavernous Carrieres de Lumieres we are treated to an almost indescribable 3-D experience, akin to physically entering art works by Renoir, Monet, and Chagall. Transfer to lodging in Aix-en-Provence in the evening. Breakfast included.
Thursday	This day is dedicated to The Magdalen and her continuing presence that permeates this area. In the picturesque village of St. Maximin, we take our meditation in the basilica whose crypt contains an important relic of Mary's. Then a short distance away, we come to the most hallowed of sites, near Sainte-Baume, the grotto in which The Magdalen lived and taught during her remaining years. Here we will immerse ourselves in the energy, so prevalent and strong that the last king passed a law forbidding the villagers to embrace the trees in the surrounding forest. We will disobey. Breakfast/lunch included.
Friday	We journey into the Provençal countryside for a visit to the Soeurs Cooperatrices Maison St. Joseph, a small convent in Valensole known for their medicinal-quality lavender and hospitality. An opportunity to spend time with them and learn their age-old ways of lavender distilling is a delight. Following our visit, we travel on to the southern Luberon for a wine and olive oil tasting at Château Val Joanis, also known for their exquisite 19th century gardens. Our hosts convey the true meaning of Terroir and love for the fine art of winemaking. Before returning to our lodging, we will stop by the Liquoristerie de Provence, located in the nearby town of Venelles, where owner Pascal Rolland offers us a traditional absinthe ceremony. Pascal was instrumental in getting it legalized once again. Absinthe was a favored drink in French art and literary circles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We see first-hand how he uses local botanicals, herbs and fruits to distill absinthe, liquors and perfumes. Breakfast/dinner included.
Saturday	In the morning we gather for a circle to share our personal experiences and the effect of the journey thus far. Aix-en-Provence is known for its cathedral, many markets, fountains, and shopping opportunities. There is free time to explore this engaging city on your own. Aix, as it's called by the locals, was the birthplace and beloved home of the artist Paul Cézanne. Late afternoon we enter his atelier, or studio, and get the feeling that he just stepped out for a moment. For an artist, it's like a religious experience. Breakfast included.
Sunday	Returning to nature and the Provençal countryside, we experience the Luberon and Monts de Vaucluse areas with hilltop villages. Following our visit, we continue on to the picturesque Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque, a Cistercian Monastery since 1148, where we join the monks for vespers — taking this time to send our prayers ahead to meet us as we re-enter our home environments. Breakfast included.
Monday	Cézanne chose Mt. Saint-Victoire as a consistent inspiration. Between 1902 and 1906 he completed eleven oil paintings and the seventeen watercolors from this site, most preserved in major museums or in private collections. Today we hike the very paths he took up to his refuge so that we, too, can take in the power of this mountain... directly across the valley from the grotto of Mary Magdalen... and picnic where Cézanne likely took his own meals. This evening we gather for our farewell dinner and closing circle. Breakfast/lunch included.
Tuesday	Transfer to airport this morning to fly home. Breakfast included.
	Note: We build flexibility into the schedule. Activities may be adjusted to accommodate the weather, if required.