The easy part is saying that our time at l’Oulivastre was the experience of a lifetime for my wife, couple friends, and myself. Explaining how, without getting carried away, is a challenge, but here goes.
Since you have probably read some details, let me give our personal impressions starting with the most obvious. Yes, the panoramic view from the deck is breathtaking, the starlit sky (shooting stars thrown-in) is skin-tingling, the pool a perfect complement to the warm dry weather, the house is delightful and offers a consistently cool respite from the heat outside without the necessity of A.C. and it makes one feel immediately at home because everything you need is right there. A bonus is the layout, which offers, effectively, two suites so that our friends felt as cozy as we did.
The settling-in period is instantaneous, so you can relax and start having fun right away, whether it’s swimming, barbecuing, eating al-fresco, or even drying clothes on an outside line (and pressing them into your face to make sure they’re as warm and dry as they look). As comfortable as we felt on the beautiful property (fig trees and rose bushes included), passing through the iron gates led to more pleasures.
The village of Lauris is majestic in its setting – high on a ridge – but truly modest in a charming way with plenty of visitors, but no tourists that we met, making us a pleasant diversion to shopkeepers as we fumbled with our fractured French. To be able to jog down to the local patisserie to pick up fresh croissants and to marvel at the fresh fruit, peppers, and other vegetables at the Épicerie next door was invigorating as were the markets that would appear for the morning in the town square. We recommend Thursday’s fish-market and seeing what catches your eyes. For us it was the calamari that became mouth-watering after a little time on the outdoor grill.
Of course, you may have other ideas. Maybe you’re looking for the renowned Provence cuisine, or to visit wineries and be wowed by the quality and the commitment, or drive to villages in the sky (Bonnieux, Roussillon, and Gordes) so you can feel on top of the world, and only spend an hour getting there? Remarkably, that all comes with the territory.
There, I’ve done it. I have gone on too long. Still, I saved the best for last. Sophie and Olivier (et famille) are natural hosts, proud of what they found and wanting to share. With them, your comfort at l’Oulivastre is guaranteed.
Enjoy.
Paul