Author: Emily Durand

Saint Remy de Provence bicycle outside of restaurant

How Has Provence Changed?

Written by Emily Durand on 20 March 2016. Posted in Lifestyles. 2 Comments on How Has Provence Changed?

Twenty Years Later

A look at Saint-Remy de Provence

Obviously things change in twenty years – anywhere; our house, the garden, the community, not to mention ourselves. Sometimes, we like the change, other times we wish it would go away…or come back depending on how you look at it. It’s probably a good thing I changed a bit since coming to Provence 20 years ago – my Seattle grunge attire when I first arrived didn’t set so well in the chic French attire (those dreadful looks of French woman when I entered a boutique kind of got to me).

Christmas In Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 4 December 2015. Posted in Lifestyles, Provence History. 1 Comment on Christmas In Provence

All I want for Christmas – In Provence

Next year marks my 20 years in France so now I guess I can say I have had as many American Christmases as French. In 2005 we managed to escape to Oregon as a family for an American Christmas, but those days are behind us now that the kids are in junior high, airfare is outrageous and the Pink Lady apples are being sold during the winter months (my husband’s job).

Wine in Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 26 September 2015. Posted in Food & Wine in Provence, Provence History. No Comments on Wine in Provence

Did the Popes Drink Wine?

Do we owe it to the popes in Avignon for having such great wine in the Provence today? Some may debate and they certainly weren’t the first to establish the Provencal vineyards, but there is no denying that the popes concentrated much of their time and energy into elaborating the quality and quantity of wine in Provence.

The perched villages of the Luberon

Written by Emily Durand on 21 October 2014. Posted in Off The Beaten Path, Provence History. No Comments on The perched villages of the Luberon

From valley to hilltop in the Luberon

The Autumn colors were just starting to turn when I had the privilege to take Larry and Kathy on a tour through the Luberon valleys and hilltops.

From their hotel near Gordes, we ventured to the first village just 10 minutes away. Oppede-le-Vieux. Why “Vieux” (which means “old”)? Yes, most things are “old” in France but here it is to distinguish between the newer village of Oppede, established in the valley in the early 1900’s for more space, easier access to water and to cultivate gardens. Funnily (smartly) the inhabitants took off their roofs before descending not to pay taxes on two properties.

The Best Time to See Lavender in Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 24 January 2014. Posted in Guided Travel Perks. 2 Comments on The Best Time to See Lavender in Provence

Lavender in Provence

Lavender in Provence is definitely something you want to put on your bucket list of places to go and things to see. The palette of deep purples to vibrant blues often against an 11^th or 12^th century architectural design or village is, needless to say, breath taking.

However, here’s the hitch: the four corners of the world know about it today. Each year, the Provencal lavender bloom attracts thousands, and thousands of visitors. So where does that leave you?

Slow Travel Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 29 November 2013. Posted in Guided Travel Perks. No Comments on Slow Travel Provence

Is it really possible to go somewhere and let time stand still around me. They say in Provence things move at a slower pace. I remember what Peter Mayle wrote about Provence in A Good Year:

There is nowhere else in the world where you can keep busy doing so little and enjoying it so much.