What is the Mistral Wind? Most of us who have lived or even visited Provence have experienced the mistral, that riotous and mysterious wind that blows down the Rhône Valley, usually without warning. Think back to the opening scene of the movie “Chocolat,” watching the wind move the mother and …

This really is a Côte d’Azur heartache. When their fig tree produced fruit in huge quantities the whole family indulged in the bounty. Sadly, Jemma found out the hard way that too many figs, fig jam, fig tarts are not a good thing, in her case. The summer Philippe decided …

French Riviera Hikes Hikes near Saint-Raphael: There are many reasons why we love the Cote d’Azur. One of them is because of the hiking possibilities. Part of our family loves the mountains, and part of our family loves the sea. On the French Rivièra, and particularly near Saint-Raphael, these two are …

“I was born in the town of Aubagne, under the Garlaban crowned with goats, in the days of the last goatherds.” ~ Marcel Pagnol Writer Marcel Pagnol So begins the memoir of Marcel Pagnol, the master storyteller of Provence. If you ask someone which author comes to mind when they …

Who is the Provence Guru? During their honeymoon, Jamie Ivey announced to his bride that it was time for a career change. Thankless legal deals and long hours related to corporate mergers were not how he envisioned spending his life. He wanted to become a writer. Ivey proposed a somewhat …

Yoga in Provence La Belle Vie yoga retreat was in my calendar, but when the weekend finally arrived I was rushed, juggling life. As Pradeep Teotia began his class with his signature “Welcome Home,” all thoughts of my to-do list fell away. The warmth in the room embraced my soul, …

I love Mary Stewart’s romantic suspense novels: their sense of adventure and intriguing storylines, their strong-willed heroines, and most of all, their transporting settings. Her first, published in 1955, was Madam, Will You Talk?. Book Review The narrative takes place around 1950, in a hot, dusty Provence where Roman ruins …

It is impossible to visit a market in Provence without seeing sellers of tablecloths, napkins, and other items for home decor. As a word of warning, beware of quality and place of origin as you may not be buying made-in-Provence products. The original printed Provencal fabrics were called les Indiennes. …

Bien sûr! Well, it might not seem that obvious. When I was trying to think what I should make to pair with today’s wine – an un-oaked Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc from Château des Fines Roches – I looked at a list of suggested foods and nothing felt right. Pork. Chicken. Seafood. …

Wine Trip You like LOVE French wine and want to increase your understanding of wines of Provence and the Rhône Valley. If so, then Ken Jourdan has the answer, book his Romancing the Rhône Wine Tour. This trip provides a comprehensive wine tour of the Côtes du Rhône wine region …