Picking up the lease car at Marseille airport proved to be quick and uncomplicated and by late morning we were on the road toward Merindol. This is the third Citroen Grand Picasso we have leased (therefore christened Pablo the Third) and perhaps the best yet – very pleasant cruising and comfortably familiar.
Russell and I were very excited about returning to Merindol and staying in “our villa” – which we had previously rented in 2005 – henceforth setting the standard for all subsequent rentals. Sam was keen to see if all of the Provençal hype was justified.
We were not disappointed. The pool was sparkling, the pots a profusion of colour and the typically Provençal blue shutters were closed against the midday sun. If anything, it was better than we remembered .
Everything we could possibly need had been thought of by our wonderful hostess – including local honey, olive tapenade and a chilled bottle of local rosé.
After a somewhat one sided conversation with the local caretaker ( who spoke no English) we were unpacking and planning a visit to the nearest super marché to stock up for our stay.
Merindol is a small village in the Vaucluse department of France and has a population of only 1900 residents. It is not on the ‘tourist map’ as such and therefore is a quiet and typically Provençal village, going about it’s daily business much as it ever has. The commercial standings include two butchers ( both open on different days), two bakeries, a small fruit and veg, a small Tabac (bar) and about four restaurants – two more than last time we were here! A stroll around town also revealed a trendy new addition to the local scene – a combination wine bar and bottle shop, only open for one month and run by an enterprising young man called Jeremy.
He told us that he had spent some time in Australia but didn’t know our wine region because when he was there he had concentrated on “the beer and the girls” – wine clearly a passion that develops with age and maturity.
The nearby town of Mallemort houses a large supermarket chain and it was there that we stocked up for our subsequently long afternoon of grazing and gazing at the view from the balcony. This is the life.