Wednesday 8 July 2015

OUR FAMILY HOLIDAY IN PROVENCE

Our Family holiday in Provence



No matter how much research is done, there is always nervous anticipation when one arrives at a new hotel not visited before and more so at a house or villa not previously experienced.

Our little house in Boussac, is not big enough to accommodate the whole family.  As a result,  we have in the past, rented a house near Lacoste in  Provence which is big enough for the whole family.    Unfortunately,  the owners of this villa  informed us at the last minute that they were unable to rent it out this year!  This gave us very little time to find another house.   After searching,   we found a house on the outskirts of Gordes.  Unfortunately, the nervous anticipation turned into grim reality when  we arrived.  There were significant damp/mould issues in some of the downstairs bedrooms and there were literally 80+ stairs and down to the pool.  The kitchen was very small and dark.    We love cooking and preparing local produce while in France and large cheerful kitchen is essential.  These issues,  coupled with the fact that my granddaughter suffers from asthma meant that this house was simply not an option.  

Fortunately,  the rental company found us a charming, rambling house on five acres,  close to Gordes. This beautiful old house had extremely thick walls,  huge bedrooms and bathrooms and the most beautiful gardens and trees.   The pale blue French windows and shutters were surrounded by  pale pink, pigmented walls and the northern side of the house was completely covered in Boston Ivy.  The interiors were both sophisticated and laid back.  Huge artworks and photography hung on the walls,  and there was an unusual eclectic collection of lamps,  furniture and objet d'art  throughout.     A big pool and a tennis completed the picture. 

We love visiting Provence.  The men enjoy their cycling and the girls and children love visiting different markets each day.  The pool kept the little girls very happy and as the heat wave built up,  evening swims became the norm.  I hope you enjoy my photos of our experience below.  


























One whole wall was covered in these interesting black and white photographs of houses or barns.  My lens could not fit in the whole wall of photographs!!

This huge artwork hung in one of the bedrooms.














Annabelle hydrangeas 
























Late evening walks after the heat of the day.  This photo taken just after 9.00pm




My visit to Apt and this studio were the highlight of my holiday. To read about my visit and the Aptware, read here








34 comments:

  1. How lovely your photos are. Sometimes surprises are the very best part of a vacation.

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    1. This was indeed such a lovely surprise! Thanks so much for dropping by!

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  2. I do like France but sometimes I forget its charm and also the proximity to England makes me a bit nonchalant about it but your pictures remind me why people love it so much. I have never rented a house but I think one of these days it might be a nice idea to just nest and almost live like a local and potter around. I would go there for the tomatoes alone because they look soo good!! xx

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    1. You should really considering it Naomi... It's really great living a simple French life for a little while! xx

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  3. What a wonderful find after a difficult start, it appears that the house had everything needed and more.
    The weather here has been the complete opposite so it has been lovely to read your blog and enjoy your photos on Instagram,safe travels for your return

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    1. Thanks so much Kim! I'm so pleased you have enjoyed the blog and pics! I'm really looking forward to getting home and having a winter!

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  4. How lucky to have found this beautiful house and garden! Perfect for a family! We love this part of Provence but have never been there at lavender time. So many wonderful places and markets to visit. So glad you were able to stay here after the first place was such a disappointment. Best wishes for the rest of your holiday! Pammie

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    1. Thank you Pammie ... the house and garden were blissful and it was such a happy holiday. Your comments are so appreciated and encouraging! xx

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  5. Oh that house and garden look so idyllic. Lovely to have the family all together - such special and precious times to cherish in such beautiful surroundings. Enjoy the heat. Tonkath x

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    1. We were incredibly lucky Tonkath and I still dream of that house and garden! Fortunately, the heat wave has broken and it is quite chilly this morning here in Boussac! xx

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  7. What a wonderful holiday - thanks for sharing your beautiful photos with us.

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    1. Thank you so much - it really has been a pleasure going through my pics and posting! xx

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  10. What a charming rental! It looks so personal, and the collections and art are just lovely. Always so nice when you find somewhere so good, especially after a few angst ridden moments such as the mouldy place! I've been enjoying my vicarious trip through provence through your photos Jenny - the lavender is so beautiful! You're not missing much this weekend too - a record cold snap is about to sweep Oz, and Bowral will no doubt get some snow. xx

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    1. Thanks so much Heidi. The house and holiday really was such a treat! Starting to wind down now here in Boussac. Lots of washing, tidying etc. as we leave in 10 days! xxx

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  11. What a beautiful find and the perfect place for the family to gather. I'm a little envious of those frequent visits to the local markets, the food looks amazing. I'm loving your holiday photos as the cold weather sets in here in Melbourne.

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    1. Hi Nanette! It's a different world when one is ensconced in winter and hard for me to believe I will soon be back in warm clothes and turning the heating up! I do love winter though - especially the cold nights! Thanks so much for commenting and stopping by! xx

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  12. This is pure bliss, Jenny!! That house is divine - beautifully appointed! Thanks for sharing the sunshine from Provence :)
    Cheers from Maine,
    Loi

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    1. Thank you so much Loi!... it certainly was the most blissful stay - we were incredibly lucky to stay there. Enjoy your summer in Maine! Hoping for a post or two? xx

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    2. I came back to enjoy your photos again. My friend is going to Provence, and I shared with her your post on the pottery from Apt. She rents the same house each year, and Apt is not far. Cheers
      L
      PS - Yes, working on a couple Maine posts :)

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    3. So pleased you shared the post. I am really happy to share any information she may need! Cheers Loi!

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  13. How utterly divine!! Everything is truly pitch perfect. The most lovely melding of old and new. As you say, simple yet sophisticated. I can smell the flowers and taste your delicious meals. Thank you Jenny for such a beautiful vicarious visit!

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    1. Thank you Stacey for stopping by and so pleased you enjoyed the photos. I would love to return there one day as it was truly blissful!

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  14. Hello there Jenny! I found your beautiful post thanks to Stacey's recommendation and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. Because I live in Provence, I will admit that I can be slightly snobby about home rentals - especially as the interior decor is often so frightening - but this was a true find for your family. Thank you for sharing it with us...

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    1. Hello Heather! Thanks so much for following and stopping by! Having looked through hundreds of rentals I totally get what you are saying. The interiors are mostly soo horrendous! We adored this house and loved every minute of being in Provence Lucky lucky you!! xx

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  15. Beautiful photos of one of my favourite places to visit Jenny. What a stylish and interesting house this is...a real find. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

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    1. Hi Sophia! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. We adored this house and our time in Provence. But reality checks in now that I am back home and listening to the icy winds outside! xx

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  16. Wonderful Villa & gardens Jenny. I have always been lucky with our villa & apartment rentals in France & Italy however I Rented a truly dreadful apartment in Paris this year! I ended up leaving early & although the rental company tried to help there is not a lot that can be done about filthy furniture & badly maintained fixtures. I won't bore you with the details but I will be extra careful in future! So glad yours worked out in the end.

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    1. Hi Lee... Great to see you here! Sorry about your Paris experience.. it's just awful going through something like this and in Paris! There is definitely a risk in renting apartments/villas and thankfully ours turned out well in the end. Thanks so much for the visit and for commenting! xx

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  17. The collection of B&W photographs are by Bernd and Hiller Becher, a German husband and wife team who have constructed their remarkable career by undertaking "objective" photography of similar manmade structures all over Europe, including coking ovens, steel smelters, and radio towers. Their work is the photographer's equivalent of "scientific", seeking to document, rather than prettify. Yet, like a 19th century cabinet of curiosities, their individual photographs take on a remarkable beauty and fascination when placed side by side, perhaps akin to a display of preserved butterflies. The Becher's work has become highly valued by connoisseurs and collectors: you were very privileged to have enjoyed their amazing images on the walls of your holiday villa!

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