Places that we have come to love over the years
Deciding where to start with this A to Z wasn’t as easy as I imagined it would be, so why start with Avignon instead of perhaps Aix or Apt ….. Especially as we live so close to Apt and it is such a fascinating place too. In the end, it was quite a simple choice, … More Let’s start with Avignon
Missing The Vaucluse and watching any programmes we can find that mention Provence. Everything seems focused on Marseille and The Camargue, so we’ve started thinking about where we would go and what we would see instead … More Pottering in Provence #1
It’s probably hard to believe, but despite visiting Provence for so many years, I have only been into Aix-en-Provence a handful of times. So when my friend Marina (who runs her local French Language School Learn French In Provence) suggested an afternoon out in the town, I leaped at the chance as she knows it … More Afternoon Tea (french-style) & Japanese old masters in Aix
Sometimes it takes me a while to get round to doing something and this week I finally decided I would go and try out the Spa at Montbrun Les Bains. I say finally as our lovely neighbour had mentioned it to me 3 years ago, just after we bought the house, saying it was a … More An afternoon at The Thermal Spa in Montbrun Les Bains
After a great day in Portobello Road, we arrived in Paris to a dramatic downpour, with the roads and pavements turning into rivers as we walked to our hotel in Montmartre. Hardly the balmy, sunlit stroll along the Parisian streets that we had hoped for…. More a saturating dash, ending with us wringing the water … More Day 2 & 3.. 24 hours in Paris…. Footsore, but what a day!
I honestly thought we’d tried all possible options to get back to Provence, but it appears now that we may have found another route that is a bit bonkers, but seems (so far) to have been quite fun. This time we have incorporated a couple of market visits into the trip, which has not only … More Back to Provence…. Day 1… Exeter to Paris via Portobello Road Market
It’s always good to finally tick something off the list of things you have wanted to do for a while – last year it was finally getting to see the Fête du Citron (now to be an annual event for us) and yesterday I got round to seeing the immersive multimedia show in the Carrières … More Vincent Van Gogh – Les Carrières de Lumières.
I have always loved gardens, although I have to admit to not being a great gardener myself. A summer garden with deep herbaceous borders, filled with the scent and colour of roses is always a delight and we have some delightful ones around us in the UK, such as this one at Coombe Trenchard just … More The incredible gardens at Valsaintes Abbey
Having arrived back in Provence a few of days ago I’ve been really surprised at how much things have changed in the last 5 weeks. First, and probably the biggest surprise, is that everything is looking incredibly lush and green. This a such a stark contrast to the bleached colours and dry fields and verges … More Poppies & Cherries – Provence has turned red.
Yesterday morning I cycled up to Roussillon for the weekly market and to sit on the wall enjoying the view and the vivid colours of the Ochre cliffs that define the village. When I arrived it was lovely & quiet and I popped into the Boulangerie to buy breakfast, where I ended up chatting to … More The Legend of Roussillon – a tale of illicit love and a tragic end!
Vaucluse Dreamer 