Time takes a different shape when your travels take you often to the same place and you have the luxury of staying for several weeks. There’s no sense of urgency to get out every day, to follow a guidebook, to check sights and activities off a list, to make sure you don’t leave some wonderful place undiscovered. You can have a special time just having a quiet day at home. We’ve already had several of these.
We do actually have a list of places to go and things to do, but considering we’re here for five weeks, our list this summer isn’t terribly long, and we’re happy to pursue just two or three items on that list each week. It helps to be staying in such a pretty and comfortable house where we can spend relaxing and very enjoyable days, and it also helps that we all love to read. Our friends have a large and interesting library and DVD collection. Last week we went to the Bonnieux biblioteque and signed up for a temporary family card; there’s a surprisingly extensive collection of books in English. (And Kelly and I both checked our books in French.)
The back terrace where we spend much of our time
We have individual projects too. Charley has the big lawn and empty fields to mow and a few home improvement projects he’s offered to do for our friends—like new shelving for their pantry. Kelly has some summer reading for 9th grade, her IPOD, and a fat book of Sudoku puzzles. At least once a day she manages to persuade Charley into the pool or to play a game involving small hand-held nets and a tennis ball. For me, there’s this blog and my pictures, e-mailing with friends and Luberon Experience travelers… perhaps this week I’ll even get motivated to start working on a few consulting projects and my classes for the fall.
Playing the net and ball game
And we always have the distraction of sunbathing, a dip in the pool to cool off, a cat that needs to be petted, the potted plants to water, some lavender that needs tending…
Most important, there are the activities that involve food: shopping at the big Leclerc in Apt, choosing fresh fruit and vegetables at the Friday morning market in the village, visiting Henri Tomas’ boulangerie every morning to buy the daily croissants and baguettes, eating out a few times a week (especially at the places where we’re greeted as friends), preparing meals for ourselves, having friends over. On a slow vacation like this, cooking and eating add an important rhythm to our days.
“Why is preparing a meal so much more fun here?” I asked Charley the other day. “Is it because the food is better, or the setting is more beautiful, or just because we’re on vacation?” Somehow even a simple lunch takes on a new meaning, like the local melon (from Saignon) and ham I had for lunch today, along with a glass of rosé from the Bonnieux cave cooperative. Even setting the table and cleaning up are somehow more enjoyable.
A simple lunch-- but absolutely perfect
I awake in the morning, no alarm clock needed… just the sun streaming in the windows. From the little second floor terrace there’s a beautiful view across the valley—a compelling reason to get out of bed and experience the day. I’ve visited and enjoyed so many places, especially here in Europe. Knoxville, Tennessee is my home and our family and friends there are very important to us. But here in the Luberon my heart fills. I look up at Bonnieux or across the vineyards to Mont Ventoux in the distance… that amazing view that explodes almost everywhere on this side of the Luberon… and I’m happy just to be.
The view from the second floor terrace (looking toward Mont Ventoux)
