Our Vaucluse Dream – 5 years on
April 23, 2021
five years ago today, we loaded the car and started our journey to buy our house in France… has it lived up to the dream? … More Our Vaucluse Dream – 5 years on
Tag: provence
Watching The Tour de France
February 24, 2021
We are so lucky, living where we do, as the roads around us are often used for professional cycle races, including the Tour de France. Since buying the house here, it has passed close by twice and we have taken every opportunity we can to watch the professional riders race along some of our favourite … More Watching The Tour de France
Mont Ventoux and an unplanned ride
February 23, 2021
Sitting in the north of the Vaucluse, on the border with the Drome, Mont Ventoux dominates the sky-line. This mountain, with its white-scree summit, is an iconic landmark and its profile is instantly recognisable from afar, even as far away as The Camargue. The Giant of Provence rises to over 1900 metres, (it’s been as … More Mont Ventoux and an unplanned ride
Up, Up and Away
February 22, 2021
Cycling along the Veloroute du Calavon in the cool of the early mornings, in summer, I often catch sight of a hot air balloon, floating gently above the vines, near Pont Julien. It is always such a tranquil sight, just the calm, still air, with the soundtrack of the dawn chorus, starting to settle down … More Up, Up and Away
The tranquil Toulourenc
February 21, 2021
We love the long, hot summer days here, getting up early and heading off on the bikes, arriving home before lunch time, then spending the afternoon in the shade, relaxing, or just pottering gently with jobs that need to be done. We never tire of the heat, in fact it was one of the things … More The tranquil Toulourenc
Stepping back in time at Simiane
February 20, 2021
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
Reminders of the Resistance in Provence
February 19, 2021
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
Quatre-Vingt-Quatre. Le Vaucluse
February 18, 2021
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
Watching the Tour de France on Mont Ventoux – What a day
February 17, 2021
For 3 weeks each year everything in our house slows down, the TV is on all afternoon as we all get our annual hit of two of our favourite things – France & cycling. For us the Tour de France is just compulsive viewing, not only is it fantastic to watch, but it’s an incredibly … More Watching the Tour de France on Mont Ventoux – What a day
Purple Provence. Lavender Season in the Vaucluse
February 17, 2021
I love our little corner of Provence, all year round, but there is something incredibly special about the time of year, when the area turns purple, with the Lavender fields exploding with colour, filling the air with scent as the flowers gently brush against each other in the breeze. The fields look beautiful, even in … More Purple Provence. Lavender Season in the Vaucluse
Postcards from Provence and beyond 