Well, not too much to write about the morning (accidental pun). I woke up about 7:30 and spent 6 hours bringing the blog up to date, then headed to internet cafe to upload a bunch of pictures. Hope you enjoy the fruits of my labors!
Around 2, Matt and I finally head out to Lourmarin, our last visit to the Luberon. First stop is the Chateau, where I purchase two tickets to see the piano performance at 6 pm by David Propper. Then we head over to the children’s park, and have a picnic. We wander around the beautiful town (my second favorite in the Luberon) and enjoy its less touristy nature and the variety of artisan shops. I am chatting with a silversmith )about 28 years old) and cock my head and ask “Is that Feist you’re listening to?” He smiles and says yes and we chat about music – a universal connector (all in french, of course).
With an hour left until the concert, we decide to take an hour walk. We check the town map and head out down a road, through more vineyards (they’re just everywhere). Chatting, enjoying the scenery, and marveling at how much more beautiful fallow fields are when there’s a stone cottage covered in vines plopped in the middle of it.
Time to turn around, but wait, there are olive trees at the end of the road. We decide to pick and try one, and maaan, are they bitter! Def not ripe any time soon.
Back in time for me to change in the car, then take our seats in what was the dining hall of the Chateau. About 50 people attending and Matt comments that he’s one of the 3 youngest by about 10 years in the audience. Mr. Propper comes out and sits at the grand piano. What a performance! Schubert, Liszt, Beethoven and more Liszt. Incredible to watch his hands dance, pound and tickle their way up and down those ivories. His whole body moves into the music and it’s so wonderful.
Particularly when I look out the window and there are the green and orange hills covered in trees and vines.
A break in the action allows me to take some photos of the chateau, built in the 16th century:
and the village, before the concert starts:
and then by the moon during our break:
Concert ended with two delightful, short encores, and we are off in the dark to drive home. Wouldn’t have the confidence to do it without my man Jeeves. Park the car overnight in the garage and walk straight into town for dinner at a wonderfully French-looking bistro, Le Zinc d’Hugo. A wrought iron open gate surrounded by stonework leads into a small room filled with dark wooden tables for two, couples huddled deep in conversation, and a large stone fireplace at the back filled with white coals and a rack, where a gentleman is cooking steaks and other goodies. No, it’s not Amir! We take our seats and have a fine dinner together and talk for hours (although my lids are getting very sleepy). Head home and then I must pack. Always easier along the way than when leaving home, that’s for sure. Go to get my passport out of the safe, and the safe won’t open. Should I freak out now or in the morning? Matt and I decide to wait for that until the morning. Hit the hay, but wake a couple times in the night to try the safe again. No luck.