Curious Provence Blog Anniversary
Hello, dear readers! Celebrate the Anniversary of CuriousProvence with me!
It’s been 2 years since I’ve launched Curious Provence!
A blog takes a lot of love but reading your comments and emails I must say that it’s worth it. Thank you for your support!
A Promise
I’ve been wanting to address something for a while. There’s something you may not know about me. I’m terrible at lying. I would even venture to say that I just can’t do it. This is a virtue, though, as you can imagine, has gotten me into trouble. With age, I’m learning that lying can be beneficial. Especially for employers and the elderly. Kindness and lying sometimes go hand in hand. Anyways, I digress…
What I wanted to say is that I promise that you won’t find me promoting a product or activity on my site, or Instagram, that I don’t think is worth it. I get a lot of companies asking me to advertise their products without even testing them. I find this fundamentally wrong and quite frankly, unfathomable. Thankfully, in Provence, there are so many people that take their craft, no matter if it’s wine or woodworking, very seriously.
When it comes to restaurants; I just don’t recommend the ones where I’ve had bad experiences. Eating out is soo subjective. I need to eat somewhere a couple times at least until I decide. Anything you wanted me to do a review on?
On Living in France
There’s a theory with immigrants I’ve noticed. I wish I had known it before, though it may not have improved my patience. Apparently, once you’ve been in a new country for three years, it’s only then that you start to settle and find your place. I must say, it’s true.
It hasn’t been easy.
However, now that I’m reading French books (it seems I somehow got by without reading them in French class at school?) and I’m starting to make real friends, life is finally starting to make more sense.
Is Living in Provence Really that Wonderful?
Yes. In a nutshell. The truth is, that it all depends on you. What are your priorities?
Mine, are food and way of life. Here, I get the benefit of living in the countryside, surrounded by gorgeous scenery, amazing produce as well as culture. There’s always a Roman ruin to visit, a new exposition and I’m in between the towns of Arles, Avignon and Aix en Provence.
What you give up in Provence is, if you’re not from here with a million connections and strong nepotism ties, financial stability. During the winter months, there just isn’t that much work. In an area that relies on tourism and agriculture, Provence has the highest unemployment rate in all of France. This about doubles in the winter. So, we learn to work like crazy in the summer and hibernate during the winter. It’s alright once you get used to it. Besides, in the winter, I write more articles!
Follow me and Spread the word on Social Media:
For daily photos, follow me on my very pretty Instagram.
To help spread the word about CuriousProvence, like my page on Facebook. If you’re feeling really generous, ask your friends to do this too: go to CuriousProvence Facebook page and see on the top left “invite friends to like this page”, then invite!
Salivate over dream Provencal houses and gorgeous flowers and gardens with me on Pinterest.
Some of the most popular articles from the last year to celebrate anniversary of Curious Provence:
Anything to do with our Renovation in Provence
Artist at the Provencal Market
Weekend at the Gorges du Verdon
The Abrivado-Bandido in Maussane
Renovating in France on a Budget
The Best Markets in Florence, Italy
CuriousProvence on Househunters International Show!
Book a Photo Shoot in Provence
Saint Saturnin les Apt Day Out
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- Provencal Picnic
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- Saint Saturnin
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- Romantic Photo Shoots
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- Iceland
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- Cooking Classes
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- Bonnieux
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- Pastry Making
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- House hunters Intl
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- Rustique!
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- Moroccan Pancakes
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- Fun in Florence
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- Veg Box of Champions
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- Hordes
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- Robin eating donkey…
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- Atelier Arterra
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- Tellines
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- Iceland Glaciers
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- Reno Messiness
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- St Quentin la Poterie
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- Dinner with Friends
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- Figs for lunch!
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- Reno: Day 1
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- No floor!
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- abrivado sexyness
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- Our new home
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- Gorges du Verdon
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- Tavel Wine tasting
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- The market painter
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- Sheep everywhere!
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- Curious Finds
Hello! We’re renovating a house in Bargemon and we’re at the stage of selecting bathroom vanities. We are trying to stay in the Provencal, old style but we can only find modern/ floating vanities. Any suggestions? We’ve looked at retro fitting old furniture but that won’t work in this case.
Also, if you have any recommendations for furniture and bedding, I would really appreciate it! Where did you find your metal bed?
Merci!
Hi Lisa, your best bet is trying to find something on Le Bon Coin or Troc. Otherwise, you can have things made such as a metal bed made by a ferronier. We were lucky and found ours on the bon coin. Furniture in general is tricky as everyone’s taste is so different.