De-stressing amongst the Lavender Fields in Provence

 One of my favorite books is “A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle. I read it in my early 20s and at the time, decided I would move to Provence at the age 35 and open up a little bistro from my home that overlooked my imaginary vineyard. As a back up plan, I would paint ceiling murals in homes (apparently, that trend only caught on in my dreams).

My 35th birthday has long come and gone, and I’m still working full time. My dream of a bistro has now evolved to opening a wine bar in my 50s (destination still unknown). In the meantime, I am continuing and quite enjoying my worldwide research on where their amazing wine bar will be.

But I still love Provence -- especially when the lavender is in bloom.

 My favorite part is rolling down the windows of the car and letting the smell waif in as you drive past the fields. It puts me immediately at ease and I forget all the pressures I have. For those few minutes, I am completely in the moment and at the disposal of those purple blooms.

Did someone say road trip?

One of perks of living in Switzerland is that Provence is no longer a once in a lifetime trip. It’s a 5 hour road trip, and sometimes driving 5 hours through the French countryside along really small and winding roads to meet two friends for a girls’ weekend is just what this adventurer’s soul needs.

The destination of this weekend: La Lauren Bed and Breakfast, which is located in the heart of France’s lavender area.

La Lauren is not your average bed and breakfast. It’s a 17th century farm house located right beside a field of lavender. The closest village is Ferrassières and the house is waaaay up a hill so your take in the whole Plateau de Sault. Basically, you get a spectacular view of the country and lavender fields in the distance.

Frankly, it’s magical.

I met my girlfriend and her sister there, and was blown away.

 Immediately, I decided I needed to come back and do weekend of intensive writing or hold a yoga/creative retreat at this house. But a part of me wanted to be selfish and not tell you about it so that I could have it all to myself. Really. This place was better than having champagne and chocolate cake for breakfast. It was decadent.

There’s not much to do in the area, but sometimes that’s the point of a girls’ weekend. We drank French wine, took photos with the lavender (warning….the fields are full of bees and they don’t like you hanging out there), ate amazing food and talked until sunrise.

Because that’s what girls do.