Living in Vivid Colors

Provence.

Land of lavender fields. Traditional farmer's market abundant with fresh produce. Rustic brick castles and houses. Freshly baked bread and pastries. Olive groves and vineyards. Long lunch and lazy afternoons. Home of L'Occitane en Provence, one of my favorite brand.

I fell in love with Provence after I read an article of the area in a magazine and saw a short feature of it on TV one day. It was (I think) just a mere 10-15 seconds slot, showing the gorgeous lavender fields with clear blue sky and rustic houses on its background. But that was enough -- I was instantly smitten.

Ever since that day, I've dreamed of one day being able to walk under that blue sky. To smell the sweet scent from those lavender fields - even though I'm not much of a big fan of the scent, but the idea is just so dreamy. To explore the villages, scour the market, and greet the people. To sit in a small rustic restaurant, eating whatever pleasant surprises the chef would provide us that day. Indulging in long lunches consisted of a generous 5-course meal, with a bottle of wine on the side of course.

But daydreaming aside, there's no way I'll be anywhere near Provence somewhere somehow in the near future. Yeah, real world sucks. sigh... Then one day, I came across this book. I was first drawn into its beautiful illustrated cover. Then I saw the title and I knew I just had to covet this book.

As a girl with small pockets and big dreams (of traveling), I often turn to books (and movies) to take me away from the real world. That's why I love reading travel literatures. It allows me to take a glimpse or even be inside the culture.

Mayle's book on Provence is actually his journal of living in the area - on adapting into the idyllic Provence. Part memoir, and part travelogue, the book is divided into twelve chapters that start in January and go linearly through to December.

On each month, Mayle invites us to experience Provence with him. From the fierce Mistral wind in January, tourists attack in the summer, wine harvesting in September, to truffle hunting in November.

He also describes each character he got in touch with, vividly - his neighbors, the butcher, the farmer, etc. - often intertwined with gentle jokes in a warm and heartfelt way. And of course we must not forget one of the most important thing for French people - food. Mayle retold many of his gastronomical adventures (though not as elaborate as the ones in French Lessons), which often made me want to be on the same table, sharing the meals and wine with him.

It's a very good read. I find it difficult to put down the book for too long. And before I knew it, I've experienced a year of Provencal living in just a few days - well, maybe just a small bit. But it's enough to satisfy my thirst for traveling, at least for a while.

Note: After A Year In Provence's success, Mayle continued to deliver his Provencal experiences into a trilogy with the publication of Toujours Provence and Encore Provence - both also a satisfying read.