Daydream Destination: Lourmarin

Today I've been editing photos of Lourmarin for the next Get Inspired section of the website. If you've never heard of Lourmarin, it's a small village in the Vaucluse department of Provence. It's (officially) one of the most beautiful villages in France and is still one of my favorite places we've ever stayed. The town is small and cozy but it has plenty of cafés, great restaurants, a fantastic market, a castle to explore, and it makes a great home base for day-trips throughout Provence. 

Here's a couple of my favorite shots so far to tide you over. 

In 2009, my family rented a gorgeous apartment for a week. We had lazy breakfasts on the beautiful little covered balcony. We toured around the countryside. We ate and ate and ate everywhere we went.

Each day we came back to Lourmarin and people watched at the little triangle of cafes on the main street. We learned about the village day by day.

On those balmy summer nights, I slept in French linen sheets with the wide-shuttered windows open listening to rhythm of the of the town. It was the first time that I got a sense of how staying in a village for awhile lets you scratch below the surface, if only just a little bit.

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Friday 10: Fall Books and Nooks

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A couple of weeks ago I updated my reading list and started thinking about how great it is to read a book set in the place you're visiting.

This week's Friday 10 is about just that: five autumn-worthy books paired with five dreamy nooks to read them in.

Rebecca & Cornwall

Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca is an atmospheric, suspenseful, gothic tale of love and fear. The narrator, the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter, is newly married when her widower husband takes her to his grand estate, Manderlay, on the Cornish coast. She is young, timid, and quickly becomes overwhelmed by the house. She is also haunted by the spectre of Rebecca, Maxim's first wife. I won't give much more away, but it is one of those books that sucked me from the first line: "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderlay again." And it didn't let me go for weeks after I finished reading it. 

There is no other place to stay when reading Rebecca than Polridmouth cottage on the Menabilly Estate. It's tucked away between the south coast of Cornwall, a freshwater lake, and private woodland.

Menabilly was one of Du Maurier's favorite places. She lived there with her family from 1943 to 1969. Although Milton Hall was the model for Manderlay, Menabilly was the inspiration for the estate's setting.

The Thirteenth Tale & Yorkshire

We're staying in England for our second pairing. Diane Setterfield's novel The Thirteenth Tale is about a young biographer, Margaret Lea, who is chosen to write the biography of ailing reclusive novelist, Vida Winter. Lea is confused as to why she was chosen, especially since she has never read Winter's work before. Since her father owns an antique book shop, she is able to get her hands on a rare copy of Winter's Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. When Lea realizes there are only twelve tales in the book, she become increasingly interested in unraveling the mysteries surrounding Winter's life. 

The Thirteenth Tale takes place on the Yorkshire moors, so I thought Unique Home Stay's Bramblewick would be the perfect place to get cozy with the book. It has just about everything I could ask for in an English cottage: stunning views, a wood fireplace, numerous comfy places to hunker down with a book, and lots of walking trails from the house through the North York Moors National Park or around the Robin Hood's Bay (to fish and chips!). 

Imagine spending an afternoon walking the beautiful, wild moors and coming back to a hot tea, a view of the sea, and a gothic tale.

 

The Shadow of the Wind & Barcelona

We're off to post-war Barcelona now with Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind. The book begins with Daniel and his father walking through the streets of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Daniel's father owns shop full of used and rare books. He is also one of the few people in the city who knows about and cares for the labyrinthine Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which keeps out of print books from being lost forever. Tradition dictates that when someone visits the cemetery for the first time, they must choose one book to keep and watch over. Daniel chooses (or does the book choose him?) a novel entitled The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. As soon as he starts reading it, he becomes enthralled with the story and wants to find more from the author. 

Soon afterward, Daniel learns that all of Carax's books have been destroyed except for his copy, but someone is bound and determined to destroy it, too. While trying to protect the book, Daniel stirs up--and puts himself in the middle--of an old, dangerous unsolved mystery. 

The city itself is like a character in The Shadow on the Wind. My copy of the book even includes a walking tour of the important spots, which you can also find here. So the place I chose is a luxurious boutique hotel in the Barri Gòtic/Gothic Quarter called the Mercer Barcelona. I didn't go with a rental here because they tended to be very modern inside. I wanted something that seemed rooted in the past while still feeling luxe. It looks like the Mercer does that beautifully with its stone walls and exposed beams. It's also located within a short 10 minute walk to most of the major spots in the book. You'd be right in the middle of it all, but have easy access to the rest of the city. 

The Lantern & Provence

Deborah Lawrenson's The Lantern is a lush, modern gothic tale reminiscent of Du Maurier's Rebecca. It's the story of couple, Eve and Dom, who have a whirlwind romance and then fall in love with a dilapidated house with a beautiful garden in Provence called Les Genévriers. As the seasons turn and the relationship cools, Eve becomes suspicious of Dom's past. Meanwhile, Les Genévriers begins to reveal that it has its own mysteries. The book switches back and forth between two time periods, slowly revealing secrets and unraveling the stories along the way.

I chose Le Mas de Belleroche for where I'd want to stay while reading The Lantern. It's a private, sprawling farmhouse perched on a rocky hill within walking distance village of Les Baux de Provence. It's also a short drive to the beautiful St. Rémy de Provence. The house has a gorgeous garden, plentiful outdoor spaces, an inviting pool, and lots of typically Provençal rooms. I can imagine spending hours relaxing and reading about Les Genévriers here after touring around Provence for the day. Add in some wine, some fresh melon, and charcuterie platter. . .well, I don't think I'd ever want to leave.

Neverwhere & London

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman is something a little different from the rest of the books I chose. It tells the story of Richard Mayhew, your average, everyday good guy businessman living in London. His life changes in an instant when he stops to help a peculiar young girl who has been injured. Suddenly, Richard is part of the strange, magical subterranean world of London Below.

I downloaded the audiobook version of Neverwhere for the Audible free trial a few months ago. I've only listened to a bit, so I can't tell you how I feel about the whole thing, yet. I've loved every moment of it so far, though. The story is unique, magical and makes me feel like I'm listening to a fairytale for adults. I usually hate audio books but Gaiman does the reading and he has a way of making everything come alive. I only wish I had picked up the book before our trip to London last year. I think it would have been fun to imagine it coming alive around (and below) me. 

Naturally, I had to choose an interesting London flat for Neverwhere. When I stumbled across the Salisbury on London Perfect, I knew I'd found one! It's located in Kensington, close to the Tube and within walking distance to Museum Row and lots of shopping. The furnishings are opulent and modern--oh how I wish I could lazily read on that red leather couch right now--and there's a lovely little terrace overlooking a garden.  

That's it for this week! I hope these ideas stir up some fall reading and travel inspiration for you. It was fun to put together! I might have to do more of these. 

Do you have any book recommendations? I'm always open to ideas!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Making the Most of Fall

I know it's technically summer for a few more days, but the weather is undoubtedly fall here. I'm currently sitting at my desk with camp socks, cozy pants, a sweatshirt and a down throw over my legs. Tea's a'brewin' on the counter. Fall doesn't care about the days on the calendar. It's here now and it's time to enjoy it! 

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At the start of summer I posted a few goals and ended up liking it so much that I thought I'd do it for fall, too.  

I think the keys to goal setting are being very specific while also holding back a bit. I could write out a list of a zillion things I want to do before winter comes, but time is limited. My main goal is to enjoy the season while being productive and healthy, so I'm focusing on 4-5 goals within each category. 

GO

  • To a dark sky park and see the Milky Way before it gets frigid. We're looking at maybe trying the Torrence Barrens in Muskoka.
  • To a pumpkin patch and drink hot cider. Lots and lots of hot cider. 
  • To an apple orchard, get a giant bag of apples, and make pie (see below).
  • On a Sunday drive through the country to see the fall colors. 
  • On one more hike. I've been looking at maybe Mount Nemo or Spencer Gorge near Hamilton, Ontario for beautiful vistas and dramatic waterfalls.
  • To Muskoka for Canadian Thanksgiving. Oh yes, I get two Thanksgivings!
  • To Niagara for a family visit and maybe to wander into some wineries for tastings.

Ok, so maybe I'll allow 7 goals in this category because I make the rules on this blog and all of these things are fun!

DO

  • Start adding more destinations to the Get Inspired section
  • Finish planning our honeymoon and start a series about how to plan a honeymoon and not go crazy. 
  • Finish the design and layout for the Versailles Vignette Guide PDF (ooh yes!).
  • Practice calligraphy!
  • Start a good bedtime routine. No screens after 9. Have a tisane, decaf tea, or warm almond milk. Maybe do a little yoga or stretching to unwind. Read in bed. Sleep like a champ!

MAKE

  • This Pumpkin Chili - I made it last year with way more than the recommended amount of chili powder--I am New Mexican, ya know. It's healthy and delicious!
  • This Real Pumpkin Spice Steamer/Latte for at-home, non-dairy, spicy pumpkin goodness to go with my reading list.
  • These Apple Pie Tartlets - Because if I can't have diary, I'm bound an determined to have delicious desserts options anyway. 
  • This Butternut Squash Risotto - I might mix it up and add a little Thai green curry and coconut milk instead of cream.  
  • These oven roasted ribs - I might have to make them this week, we just got a giant package of ribs at Costco. They are calling my name from inside the fridge.
  • Pumpkin Pie, of course! What's fall without it?

READ

I have a couple of carry-overs from my summer list and some gothic, mysterious reads that I can't wait to get cozy with. 

  • #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso - This book's been on my list for months and I'm keeping my fingers crossed my number comes up at the library soon. 
  • The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - From the description on Goodreads: "A foundling, an old book of dark fairy tales, a secret garden, an aristocratic family, a love denied, and a mystery." Sounds like my kinda book. I can't wait to read it!
  • Blood Work by Holly Tucker - A non-fiction tale of science and murder in 17th century Europe. In 1667 a physician named Jean Denis transfused the blood of a calf into a notorious Parisian madman in hopes of curing his madness. Instead, the madman ended up dead and Denis was framed for his murder. The book unravels how intense rivalries and heated debates surrounding the burgeoning science of transfusion led to this peculiar case. 
  • The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - Two friends recommended this Pulitzer Prize winner to me and I keep seeing it everywhere, so I figured it's time to give it a read. From Amazon:
“Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don’t know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love—and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.”
— http://www.amazon.com/The-Goldfinch-Pulitzer-National-Finalists/dp/0316055433

So there you have it. My goals for making the most of fall. I might revisit them throughout the season, but I think they're going to stick. 

What about you? Are you setting goals for the fall? Do you have any must-reads or favorite recipes you can't wait to make. I'd love to hear about how you make the most of the season.