Last night’s park-up was just a joy. It was incredibly peaceful, with just the eerie howls of the Raccoon Dogs to disturb our slumber. That, and the rain, which started pounding on the roof in the early hours and hasn’t stopped yet. We had a slow start, and after breakfast, pulled our wet-weather clothes on … More Day 28 – A stunning insight into Shingon Buddhism
The joy of cycling and also the frustration of cycling is having to deal with the weather. Two years ago, we were having to fill our water-bottles from taps in cemeteries, as it was over 35 degrees on some days. This year, we’ve hit the storms at the end of a long summer canicule (heatwave), … More Day 12 … Dramatic history & some re-planning
Four years ago, we set off from the UK to drive Fifi, our delightfully old, very characterful 2CV, home to Provence. It ended up being rather a memorable journey when her clutch collapsed at Brantome and we had to leave her in a garage there for 2 weeks, whilst we waited for her to be … More Collonges La Rouge, a very beautiful village.
Over 30 years ago, when we first visited the Luberon, we took to our bikes, cycling the back-roads to explore the beautiful, historic villages, and we remember riding over an old bridge across the Calavon river, below Bonnieux, when we were making our way to Roussillon. What we didn’t realise at the time, was that … More Exploring the History
This week has flown by, to the extent that it feels as if someone has been playing with time. Whereas last week the days slipped comfortably by, these last 7 days have hurtled past, with so much going on that it’s been hard to keep up. It’s felt as if I’ve stumbled my way through, … More A Day out in Arles
Since buying our little place over 6 years ago, we must have cycled past the huge old barrel at the entrance to the Chateau de Mille, hundreds of times and have always wondered what it is like, promising ourselves that one day, we would go and visit this ancient Domaine. This week, we finally had … More History and Wine at the Chateau de Mille
I have a confession to make….. It’s been over 30 years since we first visited the area, and over 5 years since buying the house here, yet I hadn’t visited the incredible Mines de Bruoux, at nearby Gargas, until last week. I can’t explain why I’ve never been, it’s been on the list of things … More Exploring the Mines De Bruoux
If you are a regular reader of the blog, you will know that the Boulangerie at Simiane-La-Rotonde, just across the border from us, in the neighbouring Department of Alpes de Haute Provence, is by far our favourite. The Boulangerie itself is worth the hour long uphill cycle, but it’s not the only attraction as the … More Stepping back in time at Simiane
In the centre of the pretty village of Saint Saturnin les Apt is a peaceful square (home to the vibrant Tuesday morning market), and to one side is a small garden area that sits in front of a stark stone wall, which is a memorial to the dramatic and devastating events that happened there on … More Reminders of the Resistance in Provence
I have to thank a follower on Twitter for suggesting quatre-vingt-quatre, as an option for Q, as I wanted to write about the department, but with Ventoux, Vin and a number of other options for V, I was really struggling on how to make it fit. So, quatre-vingt-quatre it is, the departmental number for the … More Quatre-Vingt-Quatre. Le Vaucluse
Vaucluse Dreamer 