Days out from the Luberon
It’s nearly 9pm and it’s still around 30 degrees on the terrace this evening. The weather over the last couple of weeks has been bizarre, ranging from the day I got in the car at Uzès to see the display reading 47 degrees to a week ago when the temperature dropped to an unseasonable low … More A Beach, a Gorge & Waterslides – 3 cool & wet places in Provence for the summer.
Not every day starts with blue skies & sunshine in Provence and Saturday was one of those days! When we woke, the rain was drumming on the roof & the whole place just looked soggy, so any thoughts of a bike ride went out of the window & we quickly decided on Plan B, … More A Saturday hop across the Rhone
This morning I hopped in the car & headed across to Forcalquier, a short distance from us in the neighbouring Department of Alpes-De-Haute-Provence. Monday is its market day and provides the perfect excuse for a visit (if such a thing is needed?) and it is a lovely drive across along the northern flank of the … More Incredible views, a Citadelle & Art at Forcalquier
The first snow fell in the Vaucluse yesterday and Mont Ventoux started its shift from being a summer cycling venue to a winter ski resort, bringing with it thoughts of long walks across the hills that are so often out of bounds during the summer due to the fire risk and evenings spent eating rich … More Provence in Autumn is just lovely!
If Saturday is a day for the local market then Sunday has become a day to spend the morning pottering around a local Brocante market or village ‘Vide-Greniers’ event. In the summer we often found that we had to make a choice between the local events, all advertised a few weeks beforehand with large signs … More Sunday morning Antiques’ hunting.
For the last week Apt has been turning purple. Not only have the fields around the town been scenting the air with Lavender, but purple bunting has appeared, shops have had tables outside with displays of lavender flowers & plants have been appearing in the street. All a pre-cursor today’s ‘Fete de la Lavande’. I … More Lavender, Lavender everywhere….. The Apt Lavender Festival
This last week has been lovely – the house has been full (a great test of the temporary fabric walls & open plan bathroom!) Not only has my eldest son been visiting with his girlfriend, but also my mum, so all the rooms have been put to good use. Of course my son knows the … More A 3 day taster trip to the Vaucluse – where do I start?
This morning I headed out of the Vaucluse and took the relatively short drive across to Forcalquier for its superb Monday market. The drive itself is quite stunning, taking a plane-lined route along the northern edge of the Luberon, before it opens out onto a spectacular view across to the low Alps, which were still … More A market, a Citadelle & difficulties with what to wear.
As a mother of 2 rugby-loving teenage boys I know that there is potentially a very short shelf-life for any nice pieces of pottery in our house, which is such a pity. I must admit that both my hubby and I look forward to the day when we may be able to buy a nice … More P is for Pottery Markets
I can’t help it – I’m a sucker for a local Festival in France – so you can imagine I was delighted when, on a planned bike ride last week, we arrived in Saint Didier and noticed a sign for the Fig Festival taking place in Caromb that day. I feel I should explain that Caromb was … More A Fig Festival & a horse in a ‘flat-cap’
Postcards from Provence and beyond 