Getting Lost to Provence

Friday, June 6

We get checked out of our Avignon hotel, get into our rented car, and head out 
to the Luberon area of Provence!  I can almost smell the lavender already!  Here 
we go!

But we are in Avignon and John and Jacque haven't seen this city. Although we 
didn't much care for Avignon the last time we were in this vicinity, the 
medieval walls surrounding the historical city center are pretty cool to see. So 
we take a short venture to drive around the city walls before heading out. Using 
hind sight...bad idea!

The drive from our hotel to the farmhouse where we are going to stay is supposed 
to be less than a half hour's drive away. But...after driving around the Avignon 
city walls we get disoriented. So we drive, do a u-turn and drive some more, do 
another u-turn and drive some more. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. At least we got to 
see the city walls...about fifteen times!  We finally get completely out of 
Avignon, but we're also completely lost. Larry's been driving for quite a few 
hours and is getting edgy. (Can't blame him!). So he decides we're stopping 
somewhere to ask for directions. 

But where to stop?? We're out in the middle of nowhere!!  We see a little 
restaurant and pull over. We decide that it's literally a truck stop...told ya 
we were in the middle of nowhere. But we're hoping that if we eat there, they 
may be helpful and lead us in the right direction. I can't say that this was our 
best meal. We weren't even sure how to order, they just kept saying, "Buffet!"  
So we headed to the salad bar and tried to find something to eat. There's 
anchovies in the green salad, so I know Jacque is going to be happy. Not!

Then they give us two choices. Aioli (which turns out to be fish) or Couscous 
(which turns out to be a stew like concoction over couscous). We take two of 
each. It's o.k., but far from outstanding. But....they are wonderful about 
giving directions. So kind and so helpful...but one problem...we don't understand 
a word she's saying. Luckily, among the four of us, we're able to figure out the 
general direction of where we should be headed. 

And following her advice, we finally find the road we've been looking for.

I love different kinds of accommodations.  On this trip we will have stayed in a 
hotel, an antique residence/palazzo, an affita camere/room for rent, a 
farmhouse, and a boutique hotel. My kind of places!!  But I'm getting a bit 
nervous as we are approaching the farmhouse. What if this isn't the Riellas' cup 
of tea?

part of the patio of this farmhouse; Carole's (Julien and Carole are our hosts) wedding dress is on display






The place smells a bit musty...after all parts of it were built in the 1600's. 
It's at the end of a dusty road and surrounded by farms. The pool water is not a 
brilliant blue. What if this was a mistake?!

Our host, Julien, offers dinner meals for his guests desiring to purchase them. 
We are eating here tonight. During dinner the place turns magical. Candlelight 
and conversation with guests from different countries. And the food!!  The FOOD!  
Julienne is a gourmet chef trained by one of the famous chefs of France. And 
our food exceeds excellent!!  We have fresh baked bread (still steaming!), salad, 
a cheese gratin, zucchini in a béchamel sauce, leg of lamb with stock gravy, 
cheeses, and a vanilla custard...with all the wine you can drink. I'm no longer 
concerned. No one could help but love this place!

our host, Julien, in the blue t-shirt, serves 

aperitifs before dinner

all I can say is....Deeeeeeeelicious!

Our room is so quaint. It is a garden room, with French doors leading out to the 
garden. It has a rugged stone floor.  It is so charming!  Since this is a 
country farmhouse with limited guests (which we have met at dinner), there is no 
need to lock up. We leave the French doors open and enjoy the view. Ahhhh!