one picnic evening in Geneva, July 25, 2010

We were invited to a Sunday picnic by 2 of my husband's high school friends, it was my first time to a real picnic, we walked along the Lake Lamen (Lake Geneva to most people) and got to the park, blue skies, breezy, daylight till 9pm, overlooking the water, it was wonderful!

I met 3 good friends of my husband's, 2 from Geneva, 1 from Pakinstan, a total international crowd! Kids had so much fun running around the park, playing hide and seek, soccer, munching on food and chips! I felt very comfortable with them and of course they tried to convince me to move to Geneva, I have to admit that I am thinking about it. It is definitely an option! I dont resist it anymore like I used to.....

All I want to say is that I had a fabulous evening and I felt Geneva in a very different way and see it from a very different perspective. Perhaps, Geneva is our next destination!

Our summer in Provence, July 10 - 24, 2010

Provence is divided into 5 major areas, we were near the Cote D'azur last year but this year we chose to be more inland in the Var! Feels more idyllic and more "French" being here.

The major city here is Draguignan, the former capital, our little village is Villcroze. We visited nearby villages such as Lorgues, Aups, Toutour, Aiguines and the beautiful Gorges du Verdon, drove to Monte Carlo via Nice.

We visited Arles, Roman capital and a major religious center in the middle ages.
Van Gogh came to Arles in Feb, 1888. He painted many of his prominent work here, he painted some 300 canvases here because his creativity was bursting here but sadly this also lead to his madness, he cut off his ear....it was so wonderful to be there, I could feel his presence by reminiscing those art pieces done in Arles. I found my love of art history back while being there.

We also went to the beautiful St. Paul de Vence, a tiny medival village surrounded by thick walls and covered with cobblestones. We ended up stay in Provence by visiting Avignon, a city of art and culture which stretches along the river Rhone, well known for its Palais des Papes from the early 14 to 15 centuries.

Provence

Provence, the land for all the senses they say!

Lavender fields, olive trees, fresh herbs, perched villages, the Roman ruins, the remnants of past artists.......

We are in the region Var, rolling lands, rocky hills, thick forests and isles of vineyards. Provencal villages are scattered throughout the mountain, each elegant in its very own way!

In our rental villa, kids enjoy running around this big house, hubby enjoys reading and piping in the garden, a short walk to the hammock in the backyard, we drenched in the sunshine, dipped in the water, listen to the symphony of nature, the chirping of birds, the cascading water in the forest, how I wish these moments stay forever..........