Falling in love can be so easy, can’t it?
Sometimes you just know. I had a hunch from the first moment that the village of Simiane la Rotonde would be the real thing and my instinct didn’t let me down.
Patina, time pushing up against each other at odd angles and solitude. Simiane checks the boxes of more than a few of my favorite things. Remi and I eventually stopped talking as we wound our way up and around, delighting in suspended gardens and ornate gates leading to forgotten bastides.
A bird is free now to make his nest in the curlicues of a Renaissance manor but Simiane was once quite wealthy, quite populated. While 1,157 people strolled its cobble stone streets in 1753, there are 30-70 residents living in the village year-round, depending on who you ask.
The 16th century covered market hall opens out onto the lavender fields below and is a simple token of the village’s more glorious past.
But touches of gentility remain…
I’ll be quiet now and let you wander…
…take your time…
…because as Diana Vreeland so wisely commanded “The eye must travel”…
But what, you might ask, is that large sugar lump of stone? More of that in the next post…for there is still much to share…
When we fall in love it is hard not to be exuberant, n’est-ce pas?
What a place! What a history. It looks like it's been there for centuries and will be there after we are all gone. For lack of better words, I'm bowled over by it's beauty and charms. Somehow Heather, you're able to convey not only the beauty but the spirit of the place. I want to move in to one of those charming old stone houses.
OMG you have captured it all Heather!! Just awesome – are you tempted to make this a permanent address? I so would _ Cheers keep these wonderful moments coming!!
Wander I did!!!!!!!!!Absolutely,perfect!I would like to wrap it all up and take it back with me!I leave tomorrow for your neck of the world!Just a tad excited!
xoxoxo
It is indeed quite beautiful. Appearing to levitate, even!
As for the strawberry ghost, I was thinking, how do you describe that surprising faint sweetness of lips? And there you go.
Oh, Heather….I hope you don't worry too much….Peter's a long-renowned asshole; you're a nice person.
—uncle david
Absolutely Loree. But with something of the French romance thrown in too (not that the Italians don't have Romance! You know what I mean!!)…I so loved your last post…
PS. The photo that you liked is of hmmm…how do I say this in English?…the thing that holds a shutter closed! But isn't it beautiful?
My dear Greet, I would love for you to see all of this area the next time you are in Provence–I think that you will find it very inspiring!
xo,
H
Francine, so really THIS is where you went after Avignon?!? How do you even know of it? The locals said that it can dip well below zero on such days…
Still sad we didn't meet, my fault for not knowing how to drive!
Welcome, NN. I hope you will bear with me as there are many such photos to come…yikes!