As we headed into the village of Oppedette, I heard the pop of a wine cork followed by a gale of collective laughter behind a garden wall. It was Sunday, somewhere between noon and 1pm and clearly a group of friends were making the most of each other’s company. My heart gave a little tug.
For nomads like myself, as much as we love the hunt, there are moments when it would be wonderful to be settled, to be a part of the casual gathering rather than always looking on from just outside. Such occasions are rare but they do arrive from time to time. When those feelings stir, I focus all the harder on seeing and remembering how lucky I am to be discovering something new.
A heavy iron cross marks the entry to Oppedette. A tiny one-car only lane separates it from the former village café…
…where a sundial continues to capture the slow passing of the Provençal sun…
…one that is burning away the last traces of the sign above the entry. How many men had gathered here for their daily pastis…
…while the women gossiped over the washing in the lavoir…
…raising their voices to be heard over the chimes of the bells in the main square?
But as I turned a corner, I was snapped back into the present. For unlike the other villages of the Luberon that I had seen so far, something modern was clearly a foot. Here, was a renovation in many of the homes that used traditional materials in a very contemporary way. Such as steel casings for the windows…
…wide wooden beams as the stairway to a front entry…
…and iron to create one of the more gorgeous terrace railings that I have ever seen.
And yet the charming spirit of the village remained palpable…
…and behind every other corner…
…were glorious traces of the past…
…and of all of the possibilities that are still to come.
As we prepared to take our leave and prepare a Sunday lunch of our own, I was attracted to a beautiful home on a slight rise over-looking the valley. Doesn’t it deserve to be loved?
If only I had the means, I would bring it back with care and make its garden grow.
Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead filled with hope and a fair smattering of joy…
Yippeeeeee!!!!! You registered! Oh this made my day, my beautiful Son. Although please don't feel pressure to respond all the time. I know that we are in your thoughts, just like you are in ours.
With so much Love,
H
Merci beaucoup, Ann! Et oui, je suis d'accord–Oppedette, ça sonne bien, non? (I am trying to keep up your French for when you come back 🙂
Oooh! If you do come over, I would love to meet if you are interested, Stacey. And please let me at least send you my generic list of suggestions if you do come, no matter what. I have been chiding Tracey at French Larkspur for being literally in my neighborhood without letting me help…
Jeanne, how I have missed your wise words and always spot on perspective! Thank you for this. For sure our lives are still a Work in Progress…
Bisous,
H
Absolutely, Barbara–and they make it look so effortless too! That blue door that you mentioned was no accident, that patina had been worked on to be achieved… 😉
Oh dear Heather,
Thanks for taking me along on this lovely visit….
I would like to be with you for the lunch too!
Love from Sonny
Oh, beautiful town — and I love its name, too! Thank you for sharing your wonderful, brilliant, bright and sunny afternoon.
What a beautiful town full of charm of the past and promise of the future. I love the collision of past and present in design – the window and terrace railings are wonderful examples!! I was just speaking yesterday to a friend who just returned from a wonderful 10 day trip to Provence – hopefully sometime in the not too distant future for me!!
Such a lovely walk through a charmingly unique village – love the blend of past and present. I think that sometimes the most amazing experiences come with some of toughest trade offs. Now is your time for amazing adventures and someday the road will turn a bit and it will be time for roots and community. The trick is to love what you have when you have it – which is not always easy! The next time we pop a cork out of a bottle of wine, I'll raise a glass to you, Heather and to the beautiful life you are creating! XO
What a lovely, lovely town! Thanks so much for the tour – my favorites were the sundial and that blue door but it's all gorgeous and so delicately charming – what they do best!