In Europe cars are typically manual and automatics are reserved for old ladies. Ashley not liking that stereotype, wanted to learn to drive a manual car. To start with, she had to learn where the gears were. So as I drove, she was doing the shifting. Having mastered that pretty well and almost back to the bed and breakfast I finally decided it was time, the stars had aligned, Ashley was as ready as she could be and taking out full insurance on the car, no worries of what might happen to the transmission, we got her behind the wheel.
Me, being the great teacher I am, set the car facing downhill to make it as easy as possible for the first shift. After reviewing many many times how to stop the car, the middle pedal not the far left. I took the emergency break off and allowed Ashley her first chance with the clutch and shifting.
First Gear went as expected but didn't kill the engine. Getting up to speed Ashley readied for second and passed with flying colors. The next true test came as we pulled onto the road of our B&B, a long, windy, and uphill road. Ashley was still doing amazing! She was cruising along in second gear as we slowly come to a little turn and meet another car. A french couple sees us and instantly realizes whats happening. Ashley being put on the spot freezes and slams on the break killing the engine.
Facing up hill near another car and very close to a huge stone wall, Ashley needs to smoothly shift into first gear. With the odds stacked against her the car hops, jumps, and finally dies. As Ashley starts to feel the pressure, heavy on her shoulders, I tell her to relax and give it one more try.
Another attempt with similar results.
Ashley getting frustrated, flustered, and freaking out is ready to call it quits. I look across and see the French lady who is shaking her hands and giving Ashley two thumbs up for encouragement. Ashley gets it on her third try! Happy the French couple wasn't annoyed and way too busy shifting to stop to say "Merci" she slowly cruises the rest of the way to the bed and breakfast.
She finally finishes her first lesson of driving a stick and is ready to be out of the driver's seat.
We spent the rest of the day traveling to Switzerland, anxiously anticipaiting the Swiss Alps!
We headed up and down the street filled with vendors from all over the area. After getting some souvenirs for family and friends we headed to Fountain de Vaucluse. Home of one of the largest natural springs in the world.
The next spot on the list was the hill top village of Gordes.
Last village of the day was Roussillon, the small village we had dinner at the night before. The view from Restaurant David was amazing but we did not have our cameras with us so I grabbed a couple of pictures from the hillside showing the place where the restaurant sat atop the red ochre cliffs (its on the far right).
Ochre is the color of the pigment that dyes the dirt red, not the plant you fry. Seeing some of the children leaving the ochre woods looking like Oompa Loompas caused some hesitation on my part, not knowing if we were fully prepared for what lurked ahead. Sentier de Ocre was a small walk we took through the surrounding ochre woods and cliffs near Roussillon. You can see the dust of the ochre dirt has stained the trees' trunks. 
We headed back to enjoy our B&B before dinner. Ashley and I took some pictures and enjoyed an apéritif. 
Naturally, with a ping pong table in sight the two of us could not resist a friendly match. I won like always.
Then we headed to our B&B. Provence is gorgeous there are vineyards and orchards everywhere admist rolling hills. We got to our B&B frenchly late. It was absolutely gorgeous we were both blown away. 