Question for PB regarding Provence
 

PB,<BR><BR>My wife and I spent 10 days last September in Provence and loved it. Like many places we visit while on vacation we wonder what it would be like to live there. <BR><BR>Since you live in Provence, is it just another place to live and work, like Austin, Texas or Orange County, California or is there something special that transcends the normal everday work and home life?<BR><BR>If so, what might it be?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>US

well, for starters, it is a whole lot prettier...<BR><BR>I'm not PB though, sorry.

Uncle Sam,<BR><BR>&lt;&lt;is there something special that transcends the normal everday work and home life?&gt;&gt;<BR>This will have to be a rather brief answer this evening since I have company but, <BR> I think that what is special about living here is that we really can "live" here. What I mean by that is that we're part of the village community, life is slower paced and as someone else said - it's pretty. There are days when I actually pull over the car and just look at the Alpilles with the neighbor's huge flock of sheep in the foreground. Shopping and cooking here are two things that I love in particular - everything is fresh, and if I can't find it, I just hop across the road and dig it up out of my neighbor's garden.<BR>I've almost always lived in cities (Sao Paulo, Paris, Brussels, Geneva) so living in the country took some getting used to....now I'm not sure I could live full time in a city again. <BR><BR>I imagine that you could find the same in some parts of the States... but you might have to look harder.<BR><BR>Patricia<BR><BR><BR>

PB,<BR><BR>Thank you for your comments. You are correct, there are places in the US that are similar and very comforting to the eye. <BR><BR>It is said, however that the grass is often greener on the other side of the fence. <BR><BR>And besides, I know of no place in the US where I can purchase a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape at the grocery store for as litle as $10.<BR><BR>Now that makes the difference!<BR><BR>US

&lt;&lt;And besides, I know of no place in the US where I can purchase a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape at the grocery store for as litle as $10.<BR><BR>Now that makes the difference!&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>Yes, that's very true. And here you can sip it under a sky full of stars - that you can see ! because there are no bright lights to obscure them.<BR><BR>You can also drive short distances and dine on totally different fare... and taste different wines as well.<BR><BR>Patricia<BR>