This past week has gone by in a blur, whipping by as fast as the Mistral was blowing. And it was blowing on and off all week long.
Jason arrived after a bit of a delay on Monday to gusty winds and blue skies. After unpacking, settling in, and a full night of rest, we were ready to tackle the week. I took a few days off work, and he took a few days adjusting to the time change and being back in Provence.
We started off the week with a couple lovely rides. Wednesday happened to be my birthday, so we spent the day cycling a route that is very personal to me, with such beauty around every corner. In the evening, we went out for a lovely dinner at another old classic haunt: Le Bastide Bleue. This is the first hotel/restaurant we stayed in on our first cycle tour around Provence, so it seemed rather fitting. The terrace was hopping busy, and the food was delicious. Along with a lovely local white wine, it was a perfect way to celebrate.
The following day we headed to Bonnieux in the Luberon, where my good friend Didi and her family had rented a lovely mas for the week. It was sunny and hot, with brilliant company and food. It was such a treat to spend time with friends, laughing, drinking, and eating, like pre-pandemic times. The mas was stunning, as was the view, we left after a full day with extremely full hearts.
Next up was dinner with more friends, more cycling, more wine, and more food. We haven’t been used to all this excitement and social activity and needed extra naps and long nights of sleep to get through the week. But I think we are rounding the corner and well on our way to getting used to this kind of schedule. Sadly, the first week has passed far too quickly, but we will be certain to cherish every moment we have.
