So it is now two weeks since we arrived in Provence,
and tomorrow we leave to wend our way slowly back to Scarborough. The time in
Provence seems to have gone very quickly and it is probably right to reflect on
our experience here.
It is a very beautiful part of the world; we have
discovered many new gorges and mountains for the first time this year. The
villages are exquisite perched, as they are on mountainsides accessible only
through small alleys. This time of year is great because it is not the peak season
of summer tourism and temperatures are more moderate while still being hot. A
rider would be that in the first week of our stay here we were plagued by quite
high winds from a northerly direction.
The house that we have rented is well situated, particularly
for the nearby village of Villedieu that is only a five-minute walk away. The
village has three cafes all well worth patronising, all of which you sit in a
typical Provencal square amongst both tourists and locals.
There is only a very small mini market in the village
but there is a good boulangerie only 4 kilometres away, and the town of Viason
has all the facilities that you could want, as well as a fantastic market on a
Tuesday.
The cottage had a few teething problems but has been
an excellent base and has proved very comfortable. The swimming pool is
excellent and has been heating up nicely over the two weeks.
We have thoroughly enjoyed driving out for lunch, particularly
eating on terraces over looking Mount Ventoux. The cuisine has been rustic but
full of taste with lots of use of olives and olive oil as well as the local
vegetables and fruit that are abundant at this time of the year.
So we leave with regret, but it is truism that if
life were all holidays you would not enjoy them so much when they occur. I am
sure that we shall be back in the near future. Tomorrow we move onto the
Vercours, and area near Grenoble that is rich in history and is also a region
of great natural beauty. More will follow over the weekend.
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