playing favorites

good morning dear friends! i hope all is well with you. it feels like eternity since i’ve been able to sit and write. for the past week my family and i have been in provence on a trip my sister in law arranged. it’s the first time we’ve ever all gone away together and it was pure bliss. usually we get together once or twice a year on holidays but not since we were kids did we all live ensemble cooking, having breakfast and traveling.

the house was incredible, set on 17 acres of what’s supposed to be the best soil on earth, surrounded by flowers, mountains and ruins.

i got to be friends with the caretaker who actually did the renovations and says it was mainly a stall for horses and cows with just a little building for the proprietor. now it’s got too many beds and baths to really even count and looks completely authentic. we even thought the kitchen may have been original because they added a professional cuisine on to the back of a very country looking salle a manger.

last night was my brother’s birthday and we celebrated with a chef who jean found. after shopping the markets for fruit, cheese, fish, vegetables and wine, it all came to the house and they prepared it and even served and cleaned up. it was a feast and i doubt we’ll ever forget it!

each person was taught how to prepare french cuisine with a decorative flair. it was another late night (they all have been)! and this morning i just had to get here before this all becomes a distant memory.

the rest of the week was spent of course trying to get a little of the flea markets in…

(my nieces even got into it)!

but each day we spent in one or two little towns in the region. it’s a place i haven’t been in many years but now that i’ve touched down again, don’t think i’ll ever be able to give up.

it’s one of those incomprehensibly beautiful spots where history is still thriving.

a place that  can never really be understood.

but it’s definitely one i’ll be back to explore

between the aquaducts, arenas, stone huts and sole buildings on mountains, it’s mysterious and magical.

even though we missed the lavender fields the colors of everyday life were more vibrant than anywhere i’ve ever been.

needless to say we all had a ball

and this morning we’re packing and getting ready to catch the TGV to paris.

for more years than i can remember i haven’t been able to tear myself away from the city of lights and most of my trips overseas center around it. now that had a taste of provence there may be a bit of a personal struggle as to which is my new favorite. well luckily they’re both just a plane ride away and hopefully this time next year will be a whirlwind trip again. this time with a small group who wants to join me and explore this spectacular site. oh and shop the markets too of course! ok off we go. more from paris i promise!

ps here is the rental info: http://www.onlyprovence.com/villas/platanes