~ blog ~

What I love about renting an apartment in Paris and "staying put" for long periods of time when travelling these days is developing a natural routine.  I'm a Taurean - I love my routines!

Here is sneak peak at our daily morning Parisian routine.

I seriously can't think of anything better.  Wouldn't you agree?

Our local cheese lady (madam fromage) makes the BEST damn yoghurt ever!

It's our breakfast choice most mornings.

Sometimes a sneaky little pain au chocolat creeps up to the terrace too.  

Not sure how that happens?

We're back and there are streets to be walked, shops to be looked at, treasures to be bought and of course, food to be eaten.

Time is limited and we're on a mission.

I remember vivid conversations with people about how this trip was not about "buying memories" but just to experience everything French......yep, who was I kidding....that plan has flown well and truly out the window and now panic is starting to set in.  

"30kg luggage limit!" 

I keep hearing in my head.

Crap!

Bonjour Paris!

We're back again for another fun-filled food adventure.

Check out the view from our roof-top terrace....jealous?!

It seems so long ago since we said "good-bye" to Paris and boarded the train south to Provence.

Now it's time to say au revoir to this beautiful part of the world.  

To say that I am sad is an understatement.  I'm sad to leave our beautiful home.  I'm sad to leave the amazing people we've met, and I'm sad to leave the utter peace and tranquility of La Roque Alric.

But, there is so much I will remember - like our fresh country eggs eaten for breakfast in the sunshine on our terrace....

Take two hungry ladies and send them into the village on a beautiful sunny Provincial day to get coffee and baguette.

Add an impromptu town market.

What do you end up with.......you end up with two squealing little piglets skipping up and down the street, buying way too much food and annoying way too many locals.

We like to believe they love us.  

We're very positive ladies!

We're back on the road and we're tres excited.

It's marche day in Le Barroux!

The streets are blocked, the market signs are up and we have our extra bags to carry all of our goodies back home with us.  Along the way we discuss the need to "only buy essentials", as we both have a bad habit of "over shopping".  This bad habit is highlighted when hungry or after a vino or two. 

"I want lots of photos of the fresh produce...perhaps cherry tomatoes photographed against my white top.  Aubergines would work too....."

.....and then we arrived.....

Today we headed home to Gordes.

I think, one of the most beautiful French villages in all of Provence, and the special place we called "home" back in 2012.

The sun was out, the shops were buzzing, the wind was in full force (which is how Gordes greeted us last time), and our friends were waiting with lots of amazing food, delicious wine, big smiles and of course huge hugs.

For me, no trip to Provence would be the same without these special moments and memories.

mwah

We were told, by the weather channel, that Provence was experiencing weather in the high 20's.  

So of course I packed my trusty thongs and my favourite stripped Summer dress.

The weather channel forget to mention the wind over here, which can drop the temperature in a split second.  Needless to say, my dress was staying in my suitcase........until today.....

Basically, we needed food and coffee!

There was a moment there when visiting the little town of Beaumes de Venise, that we didn't think this would happen.  The lady (and I use the term loosely)  standing guard behind the counter at the lovely looking boulangerie, stood between us and our daily baguette and pain au chocolat order.  She wasn't budging.  What was the problem?  Were we not smiling sweetly?  Were we not speaking French?  If there is one thing we know, it's how to order food in French!  

Finally after a lot of pointing, frowning and pfft's she finally, begrudgingly, handed over the goods.

As always, I have a hard time saying good-bye to Paris, but the time had sadly come to say au revoir (for now) and board the train south.  

With baguette in hand and a paper bag full of berries (we never go anywhere empty handed since "the day we nearly died" on our last trip - see here), we whizzed through the French country side reading, napping and of course, eating.  Three hours later, Paris was a distant memory as we stepped out into the warm country air of Provence.

Into the village of La Roque Alric, to be precise.

I was in giddy, head over heels, love.

I was tres happy.

I was home!