Vicki Zimmerman
There is something magical about a trip to the land of Van Gogh and
Cezanne in the south of France in late spring.
Then again, there's something magical about participating in a
trip that is planned by one seasoned traveler for 12 friends and
acquaintances that includes two personal bilingual guides who live in
the area and joyfully drive us to the special little towns and
favorite restaurants they've come to enjoy by living in the region.
Picture-perfect open-air markets filled with beautiful fabrics and
unique finds, cooking school in a French chef's home, garden visits,
and then wine tasting and lunch -- what a pleasurable (and luxurious)
week it was for our small group to discover the magic of Provence in
a leisurely, unhurried fashion at the end of May.
Having someone in our group arrange for our private tour and
extracurricular activities gave us the freedom to simply pack and
study up on the area.
Additionally, when one's vacation time is limited, being driven in
a private vehicle and lunching and dining in restaurants held in high
regard by the locals makes experiencing foreign travel in this
fashion so much nicer. After seeing a country this way, it is going
to be hard to travel any other way.
Could it get any better than this? Mais oui (But, of course). It
was simply that after these lovely daytrips, we would unwind in our
own beautiful garden at Le Moulin des Vignes Vieilles, our "home away
from home," nestling in at our bed and breakfast inn that was at once
restful and regal.
Our preparation for Provence started early in the year. After two
spring planning meetings -- at which we discussed packing and travel
tips over a fitting meal that began with a champagne aperitif (meant
to stimulate the appetite before a meal), quiche, ratatouille, salad
and meringue pastries -- our plan was to rendezvous for this one-week
trip at the Avignon TGV train station (some of us enjoyed a few days
in Paris earlier in the week).
In Avignon, we were met by Jim Sanders and Dominique Parisot, the
two innkeepers of Le Moulin, a restored, stately 18th-century manor
house and lovely bed and breakfast inn, in Eyguieres, France.
This would be our home from Saturday to Saturday, and they would
be our charming English-speaking tour guides, along with their
equally charming golden retriever, Bud, who endeared himself to each
one of us, including this cat lover. In fact, Jim had originally
lived in the northwestern United States.
