Monet has had a long-standing place of delight in my life. Since I have been young, his paintings have inspired and delighted me. As long as I can remember his work has been in my room then homes. Over the years more and more of his work has found places in my life...bringing windows of beauty to the blank walls of my home. What a thrill it was to visit his home, gardens and studio. I got to see many places his art was inspired by. Just having the opportunity to glimpse into this master’s life will always thrill me. His gardens, vast, and eclectic were charming and seemed to be taken from a long ago world left only to our imaginations. After my walks through Monet’s garden I carry a much stronger desire to have my own country home with gardens of fragrant beauty. And I concluded that if God were to have given me a special gift I would have wanted it to be the gift of being and artist.

Surprisingly perfect. I have avoided Disney most of my life thinking it would be a bit fabricated for me...I have been won over; the sparks of enchantment in Marion’s eyes were priceless. The girls were in wonder. Marion’s favourite ride was Small World, in which she identified almost every country, geography whiz! We went on that ride three times. Disney was so much fun, a perfect place for children and a wonderful memory.

Today in despair we blew kisses to the villa in Provence. I know slivers of our hearts full of treasured memories will linger there for some time! We were on the way to Paris, taking a two-day stop in Burgundy, wine country! I really should not have to say more then ‘France-Burgundy-Wine Country’! As we drove off the highway the rows of delicately organised grapevines stretched as far as the horizon. Every vineyard held a cave advertising family traditions in wine making, each one inviting us to wine taste. And for sure we did!

Our B&B was lost in a maze of vine rows. The first morning in our tiny village of Aloxe-Corton called me up and out; early enough to witness the sun and mist, mixing its art over the valley. The morning set me walking, I reluctantly returned when the seven am church bells broke through the morning clear. The day stretched long and exciting before us eager tourist. We saw and tasted much! It was a wonderful area of France. And one I am sure to return to.

The sun has finished setting over the Luberon Valley, ending our fifth day with beautiful twilight. We have endeavoured to see as much of Provence as we can. Roger and I are extremely ambitious and are generally ‘see as much as we can see’ type of people. So far we have been to an Abby, an ancient Roman aqueduct, the French Riviera, seven hill towns, a couple castles, half-a-dozen churches, and many miles of country roadside drives, not to mention the abundance of restaurants! We have seen, smelled, heard and tasted the beauties of Provence.

The French Riviera was interesting...we went to a family beach and was shocked (modest Canadians) to see all the ‘in-the-nudes’ bathing in the sun! The girls loved the warm salt water with stunning Cassis in the view (the rest of us barely could handle the other views...)

I have loved the hill top towns and all the charm they elude, but for me nothing is quite like quiet country solitude. Our Villa is stunning and has an ethos of summer days of rest and rejuvenation. I cannot hear the buzz of a city or feel the ache of business. I can hear the birds and taste the fresh breeze. I can see the farmers harvesting the grapes in their vineyards. The early fall sun has graced our holiday! The girls are lost to the forest and the secret passageways; their sweet cheeks rosie with play. To me nothing is more perfect then days like these!







Avignon




Pont Du Gard Aqueduct


Cassis




Around Provence