Judy B - The Travelling Eye's photostream  

Hard at work capturing the abundant sunshine, the lush Spring growth of this vineyard almost glows in the mid-day sun. Oliver (and Osoyoos) are part of a pocket desert tucked into the southernmost corner of British Columbia's beautiful Okanagan Valley

This particular vineyard was along Oliver's Black Sage Road - a bench laid down by a glacial-era lake - a location that produces some of the best wine grapes in Canada.
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The Okanagan Valley's Naramata bench is a fortunate place, indeed : glaciers, geology and time have formed a near-perfect place to grow wine, fruit and happiness.

Long a sleepy backwater near Penticton, in the mid-1990's a dramatic switch from fruit to grapes & wineries in Naramata has translated into an economic engine that's transformed the place. If you haven't visited Naramata wineries, you must - including this gorgeous property - Soaring Eagle Winery.
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The 12-century medieval Sénanque abbey is one of France's classic sights, and one of the finest places to experience Provence's famed lavender fields. Despite seeing it in photos, you're unprepared for how breathtaking this Cistercian property is ... how beautifully austere the weathered stone is, how harmonious the proportions of it's Romanesque architecture.

This is one of the last functioning Cistercian abbeys in Western Europe. As with all such abbeys, income here is derived from agriculture (lavender, olives, honey & wheat) and tourist revenue (donations, entrance fees, gift shop sales). And - sometimes - lodgers. People wanting a quiet, spiritual retreat come stay here (up to 8 days) at a modest price of €30/day. This means sharing meals in silence with the Cistercian brothers, and any services conducted throughout the day. Since it's all in silence, language isn't a barrier.
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From the chickens at Le Vieux Pin winery, Oliver BC
www.levieuxpin.ca
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From the chickens at Le Vieux Pin winery, Oliver BC
www.levieuxpin.ca
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