I am fortunate to have quite a lovely group of friends in Provence. Of course, I’ve been coming here for part of the year for almost 20 years now, and even for this introvert, that is enough time to make some lasting connections. As such, I am lucky enough to house-sit, dog-sit, or simply stay at several of their homes while here.
But I also like to try different places. Each time I go somewhere new, I learn what I love, what I don’t, what I can live with, and what I can’t. I also discovered how much I prefer certain areas. Further away from the Vaucluse into the Drôme, there tend to be fewer people, cars, and mistral. Cycling is a dream; it’s stunningly beautiful. And depending on where you are, it’s very convenient for errands, supplies, and other necessities.
I’ve spent most of my life living in cities, so I am used to neighbours and lots of people. But as I get older, I find the noise and the stress harder to manage. So here, I learned that village life isn’t for me. While it’s far less crazy than a big city, it’s still rather noisy. And much hotter than if you are in the countryside with lots of space and trees for shade. And if you’re going to be in a village, it needs to be a functional one at the very least. There are many beautiful, ancient villages here, but often they have nothing but a restaurant and a church. You have to drive to get the basics, and that seems like a crime to me. If you have to put up with the negatives of being in a village, at least you should have some conveniences to offset them.
This past week, I decided to try out a new place around Crestet. It’s about 700 meters off the main road, but it is a tucked-away piece of paradise. So convenient, yet so quiet. The heat seemed much easier to manage with all the shade and, of course, a pool certainly helps.
The owners here are an adorable couple. They make their own honey and apricot jam. There are chickens. They even offer a selection of homemade Vietnamese dishes delivered right to your gite door. I tried the Bún (one of my all-time favourite foods), and it was amazing. They are friendly, kind, and gentle. The small studio is newly renovated and has been very well thought through. Nothing is missing. I noticed how much more relaxed I feel in this kind of environment, even if there’s a bit of gravel to traverse when getting in and out on the bike. And so close to either Vaison or Malaucène. It’s cute, practical, and peaceful.
It’s wonderful to have these unexpected, delightful experiences. It’s just one of the many things that make me love it here so much.
