A Move South Christopher Curtis and Laurent Nurisso closed their design boutiques, put their possessions in storage, packed-up the car and the dog, and drove from London to Provence. Their friends in England thought they were crazy. Relocating to Marseille in 2013, Christopher and Laurent felt that the gritty port …

When at home in Aix-en-Provence, we never tire of strolling the cobbled lanes, looking up and around to see what new treasures we can spy – have we noticed that fountain before? And look at that interesting frieze just below a roofline!  Looking Up in Aix We have guided our …

The development of the old SNCF railway sheds and shunting yards into LUMA Arles, a stylish arts centre, funded by Swiss industrialist and art-lover Maja Hoffman. Hopefully, the photo gives you an idea of the scale of the ‘Parc des Ateliers’ site: the large building with the blue-grey roof was …

Emily Durand, the founder of Your Private Provence, decided to turn her Covid-19 lockdown experience from lemons into lemonade. She refined her ideas for small-group tour itineraries in Provence, resulting in a delightful combination of charming villages, gardens and comfortable accommodations. Vaucluse Vineyards and Views The eight (8) night trip …

Meet the Founder Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Martine Bertin-Peterson, the founder of boutique travel company Goût et Voyage. She started the company in 2014 by creating small group tours based on her travel preferences. Her vision was to develop slow-travel experiences that feel like a journey with …

Picnic is a universal term for creating a culinary experience in nature with some of your favourite portable foods. The French, though, take the word pique-nique to an elevated culinary level! My experiences in North America pale in comparison to the memorable pique-nique outings I have experienced in Provence. Start with …

Finding a way forward while staying in place Dear Friends, During this pandemic, I find myself in my art studio sanctuary. I am using this time to reflect on my wanderlust and travels while revisiting my photo collection of times past. For now, I am enjoying Provence (virtually), reflecting on …

Sadly, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, so many travellers have had to cancel their spring and early-summer vacations to France. Although we, too, have had to cancel our Goût et Voyage May/June 2020 Taste of Provence trips, I’m spending this valuable “free time” planning for winter 2020 and spring 2021. …

Art and Travel I have always looked at my travels and lifetime of memories as the basis for artistic expression. Travel is similar to the process of creating a work of art with layers of imagery and experiences. My travel excursions have inspired me to create a new life or …

Magical Lavender Spotting a lavender field in flower for the first time is magical, but it’s the fragrance that is heavenly. The tiny plants stretch towards the horizon, like small purple streams. It’s little wonder why you see so many images of people posing against this stunning backdrop. Lavender fields, …