We're on a tour organized by a company called "Europe Through the Back Door," and they make a point of taking us to out-of-the-way places that show us a side of the "real" Europe that most American tourists don't see.
In sunny southern Provence, our guide, Arnaud, took us to a tiny town called Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. That means 'Island on the Sorgue River,' and this town is like a little Venice, with rivers and canals everywhere. The views are lovely, since the water in the canals are crystal clear.
Once, this was a mill town, with more than 70 water wheels supplying water power to mills grinding flour and making paper, textiles, silk, and wool. Today, you can still see many big water wheels scattered through the town. The running water in the rivers and canals keep them moving. Most of them are covered in moss, and none are used any more.
It was wonderful to visit this little town. We had a picnic dinner in a park alongside the river here and had fun wandering around the town.
This is truly Europe through the back door!
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