We all like to have our wonder worlds to dip our toes into now again, more refreshing than any summer slip of a pool. Just as the emptier the belly, the bigger the imagined feast, so it is perfect timing to get lost in a dream.
Utterly hidden in the elbow of a hill is a chapel built one thousand years ago. It is on a true no where land, far from the glamourous corners of Provence, up a track so difficult to trace that each time we visit, we drive past it blindly a few times before saying with a sigh “there.”
We climb up slowly, stepping over spent bullets on this terrain de chasse or hunting grounds. As it is not the season, Ben can bounce ahead doing his bunny best to beat us, with his nose low and sniffing.
So would you like to hear our little bit of wishing? Of the drop a coin in the fountain kind?
We love the idea of reclaiming the chapel and making it into a home. We would clear the blocked out arches and replace the random rocks with steel-framed glass doors or add an extension, une véranda in which the modern conveniences could be housed.
There is plenty of room inside to build a sleeping loft above the nave, to lay out carpets and stack up books.
It would be a wonderful place to be quiet, to be forgotten.
And so we did our best to make it ours, just for an hour or so.
Ever the explorer, Remi can run on the fumes of discovery. I need more substantial fare and happily we had stopped off at a roadside bakery for our improvised picnic.
Backs resting against the solid stone, we let our minds stop doing the talking and walking.
Quiet and happiness amidst the cigales singing.
It is one of those places that puts me at ease. Maybe those prayers of so long, long ago are still hovering, protecting. But I look forward to going back. It is our little secret.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
This is fabulous! I can't believe I missed this post somehow! This sounds like something I would love to do as well! Thanks for sharing it!
What a lovely little spot you've shared with us. Yes, I think it would made a perfect home! Stacks of books and candles partout! Sounds just lovely.
I love fantasizing about how I would convert a place into a home. Several years ago, I was at L'Espadon at The Ritz in Paris and was imaging it being the world's most fabulous studio apartment! Ah yes, perchance to dream. : )
Oh Leslie, isn't it funny? The grass is always greener because your life is so amazing to me! I hope Henry will be ok though…? That sounds like a big surgery indeed. Will be sending good thoughts!
I think it will most likely remain a dream but who knows? And yes, we think a like–I am always entranced by the same questions!
Franchement pas mal de tout! I love the Languedoc. So beautiful and I have to admit less crowded than here in Provence…
And Barcelona, you are so close to us yet so far! I would really like to get there soon. Everyone says it is just an amazing city…
We were ordered to stay away from the water for the last two weekends, as Henry had stitches that couldn't get wet or pulled. (He had oral and multi-site skin surgery on July 20.) Fortunately, it hasn't been hot since then, but… yesterday was so beautiful that we fudged and boated over to our favorite beach with the dogs. After a couple of hours of "gentle" tennis ball chasing in the sand (Henry has taught Bob to retrieve) and a bit of swimming, we had to leave to host a friend for dinner, but it was so great to romp a bit. The dogs relaxed well between forest walks today, while I read your wonderful post about Winjand and worked. XOaussi, Leslie
Merci Chris, I should have known that you would have liked this. Hope all is well with you, Captain's Daughter…
My dear Helen, thank you for your last post! We watched the opening ceremonies with Wijnand and were a little too caught up in our discussion to appreciate it all, I think. I will look forward to seeing it again as certainly, at least the beginning was indeniably great!
In our travels, we have often felt the power of a sacred ground. Perhaps you have known the same. Isn't it wonderful that such places still exist?
Merci tellement, BLW. On a tous besoin d'un rêve, non?
Gros bisous,
H
Hello Leslie! Why aren't you out on your boat? Or maybe you are but with WiFi? Jealous me! The chapel has been identified historically and was something that Remi found a while ago as part of a beautiful project that he has been working on. I will ask him if he has further info about it! And I think that YOUR team are wonderful explorers too!
xo,
h