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…
Just as I look forward to learning about yours, Loree!!!
Underexposed how, Suze? I know that I would love to see your corner of the world–one that I don't know at all!
I think that list is beginning to get mighty long, J. 😉
Happy trails!
Heather….we really need to meet one day. I just love the way you look at life…with such a curious eye. Your images are wondeful…they just make me smile for I think if we were side by side…we would be pointing in the same direction with our cameras. I have never been to Luberon…I have never been to many of the places you have shown us…I feel especially lucky to have found your blog Heather…oh, the places we go!
Warm wishes from Saigon….
Jeanne xx
You've captured this place so well with your photos. It reminds me of some of the Tuscan villages we've visited this week. Will put this one on our next time list for sure. xoxo J.
I love what Wyn says here. He is right! You have brought us all together with your posts.
Oh thank you so much and welcome!! Now, I don't want to start trouble with your other half but I really don't agree!!! Because in Provence and especially the Luberon, it is different each and every time I go–and I mean drastically different based on the season, the weather, the light. And it is such a rich region for discovery too.
How right you are about the scents–we were so crazy for the lavender that still hung in the air even though it had already been harvested!
Oh how I enjoyed your tour around the tiny streets in Luberon. Although I live in France, my few days visit to the Luberon area will always stay in my mind. The strong colours & the perfume of the wild herbs growing on the side of the roads, I will return if I can persuade my other half to re-visit, which is not on his list of to do things. He always says we should never go back, & I should always keep in my memory the things I loved about each place we visit. I will now follow your blog & enjoy all the places you visit.
Unfortunately, I can't Wyn. That is a place that you have been to that I haven't! One of these days though…
Ah, who knows–maybe we DID pass through the original LPV. I am far, far from finished with my photos (unless everyone gets too tired of them). Viens, Vacheres, Sault…