A WEEK IN PROVENCE
The South of France was calling, and I happily answered with a trip to Provence, a region where beauty seems to be multiplied without effort. It’s no wonder these sun-drenched lands with fields of lavender, olive groves and the bluest skies have been the inspiration to so many artists. Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso. They have expressed the soul of Provence on canvas so exquisitely and movingly. Many other creatives have followed in their footsteps, and rightly so. I believe there’s beauty in everything if we only choose to see it, but the splendor here is almost overwhelming. In fact, as I drove here yesterday, it was.
We still haven’t explored much. Not only did we arrive in the late afternoon, but I simply needed to take in as much of this house as possible. Breathe in its soul. The terracotta floors and collection of antiques in the living room armoire. Every piece intriguing me with a story I’ll never know. The handsome collection of art books and cookbooks. The bedroom with its canopy bed, walls lined with linen toile de jouy and paintings in golden gilded frames. The sweet, little desk next to the fireplace – a magical place where early morning work will be a delight. The quaint kitchen, where I am now writing these quick words and trying to capture what I’ve experienced in the past 24 hours. To my left, the tall windows are flung wide open, and even the cool, crisp air smells beautiful as it mingles with the scent of my morning coffee and a basket of ripe peaches in front of me.
Vaison-la-Romaine in the Vaucluse will be my home for the next few days, but that last hour’s drive as we made our way here yesterday made it clear as always that though I am not French by birth, my heart belongs to this country. Leaving the highway, we took a detour that led us through a landscape of vineyards, old tortuous olive trees, rows of lavender and pretty towns with ancient churches and empty squares. The air was heavy with summer and the loud song of the cicadas, so melodious to my ears, had me weeping. I cried for that whole hour. A flood of emotions brought on by the overwhelming magnificence of this corner of the world, my deep love for this country and the many questions in my mind. Questions and profound desires that only time will answer.