Expat Living: How Another Year in Provence Flies By

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer:

This time last year I was writing about our first year in Provence, borrowing the title from Peter Mayle, who so sadly died earlier this year, having fuelled the dreams of so many people over the years (ourselves included) with his wonderful stories of life in the Luberon.

It’s hard to believe now that another year has passed and all of a sudden it is two years since we collected the keys and threw open the shutters of our little place just outside Apt.

…Continue reading here for Julie’s recount of their last year living as part-time expats in Provence. The family is active. They have cycled many thousands of kilometres, hiked in the Luberon hills and discovered swimming holes to beat the heat. The Whitmarsh family have embraced Provencal life and made a significant effort to improve their French language skills with the help of a local instructor.

Expat Living in Provence:

Sometimes you wake up suddenly from a dream only for it to disappear from grasp, but in other cases, that vision becomes clearer with time. What if your dream was to live in Provence? Dreams of Expat Living in Provence Became Reality For Vaucluse Dreamer.

Surrounded by the region’s natural beauty and history, life in Provence is a kinder, slower existence. People stop for coffee and linger over lunch during which businesses close down (including many of the shops). Here priorities are different, people often have less, but they make time for what is important, one another. Building Roots in Provence Committing to Owning Property.

Via:: Vaucluse Dreamer

Julie Whitmarsh

Julie and her husband Andy started visiting the Vaucluse area 25 years ago & over the years have increased the amount of time they spend there with their growing family. She has a deep affection for the area, finding it is a great place to visit, where the whole family can relax and enjoy time together.

She longs for the day when she can ‘up-sticks’ from her home on Dartmoor & relocate to the Luberon and spend her days cycling, walking, visiting markets & brocante fairs and of course enjoying the local food and drink.

Her blog VaucluseDreamer gives her a space to highlight some of her favourite things about the area from places to visit to particular activities that she and her family all enjoy.

She hopes one day it will be a place where she can share the process of renovating a house in France, but at the moment that will have to wait.