I know this isn’t a proper saying in French, just a direct translation of “social butterfly.” And it’s how I’ve been behaving since arriving here a month and a half ago. For a person who requires a great deal of alone time and mostly identifies as a hermit, being social isn’t my usual state of being. But it seems every year it’s busier and busier while in Provence.
It’s been so busy I’ve not been able to keep up with my writing, skipping multiple weeks already. But what can you do? I’ve been enjoying these social activities as they’ve been varied and different. For the average extrovert, they’d consider this amount of socializing hilariously minute, but for me, I need time in between to recover. So, I think I’ve struck a decent balance.
I’ve never had so many bike rides with friends in such a short time. I’ve been out multiple times with one friend or another or a group of friends. We’ve seen all kinds of lavender before it was gone, new routes, and had multiple post-ride beers, pizzas, and lunches. Katie and I just tried a charming new spot for lunch with a spectacular view in Crillon-la-Brave after our Sunday morning jaunt, and it was a lovely treat.
This year I’ve been to two live music events, which I’ve never done while here. The first was in the Roman Amphitheatre of Vaison-la-Romaine, and was a fun evening out. The amphitheatre was built in the first century, abandoned, then used as a quarry, with restoration and historic classification starting in the 19th century. The audience really seemed to enjoy themselves. They were boisterous and it was a super cool experience to be in such an ancient site. The next soirée was a jazz concert in a vineyard on a slightly mistral-y evening. The musicians were very talented, and it was a full-house. Listening to music surrounded by vines and olive trees, with the Dentelles de Montmirail in the background, wasn’t too shabby a way to spend a night out with friends.
Who knows if this flurry of birthdays, aperos, meals, wine tastings, cultural activities, and social bike rides will carry on, or if I have the fortitude to carry on with them. But I certainly can’t complain. It has been lovely to be included in this eclectic and interesting group of people and to have built such a fun little life here in Provence.
