If you could be anywhere in the world right now (besides experiencing yet another round of the polar vortex), where would it be? The beaches of the Caribbean? The rolling fields of Tuscany? The French Riviera? The good news is you can be in any of these places just by parking yourself in a comfy chair and picking up one of these delightful tales that are as much about the people as they are about the warm and sunny places they discover.
In this classic travel tale, Mayle takes you into the heart of Provence, France, as he and his wife dare to leave England behind so as to wake up with the sun slanting through the bedroom window. The couple buy an 18th-century farmhouse in their own little protected slice of France. We saw it one afternoon and had mentally moved in by dinner, he says. As soon as they sign the contract, they begin to navigate the neighbors, the grapevines and the heavy wind known as the mistral.
From your armchair, enjoy breakfast in quaint cafes, fragrant blooming cherry trees, hearty Provencal fare, the warm Provencal greeting of its people and their proper table manners. The Mayles take you on a journey from their peaceful residence in the Luberon to the crowded Cote dAzur in summer, learn how to play the French game Boule and attend dinner parties where they are challenged to practice their French and its unique Provencal dialect.
While destinations like Tuscany, Provence and the Riviera are well known for their warmth and beauty, there are plenty of other places in the world to whet your wanderlust appetite. Take Portugal, a sun-baked country in spring and summer dotted with rocky beaches, majestic mountains, eucalyptus trees, vineyards and plenty of ancient structures. Its attached to Spain, but it has its own distinct culture.
A Cottage in Portugal, which you can probably find at your local library, follows a couple who trade in the gloomy winters of New England for a complete redo of a small Portuguese cottage in total disrepair. Along the way they find a new kitten to take up residence in their cottage, which is appropriately named Little Cats; they discover a thousand-year-old stone hammer head; they practice patience with local contractors; and they aim to steer clear of the perils of Portuguese drivers. Filled with a cast of colorful characters, the story will leave the patches of snow outside your door entirely forgotten.
Julia Child wrote a travel book, you say? Yes! This wonderful description of Julias early years (1948-1954) in France with the love of her life, Paul Child, places you squarely in the midst of France from Paris to the seaside Marseillaise, and even into the countryside of Provence. She describes these years as among the best of my life. The couple moved to Paris and then into Marseillaise for Pauls work with the United States Information Service.
Julia is a wonderful writer, and you can imagine yourself right there beside her as she discovers her passion cooking during the second half of her life. Read along as she chops pounds of onions to practice for her French cooking class and meets two ladies with whom she ends up collaborating for the now famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook. And experience her joy as they travel throughout Europe, discovering new places and new foods that will forever change her life.
The movie Julia & Julia pairs Julias My Life in France memories with a modern womans journey to cook through her Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year. I highly recommend reading Julias book and then spending a lazy Saturday afternoon enjoying the movie. Bon Appetit!
For a taste of the exotic, delve into this tale of the wonders of Morocco. Just as the couple in Portugal head for sunnier climes, so does the family in this book, which leaves the overcast skies of London for adventures in Casablanca. They, too, buy a mansion, also in ruins, that belonged to the citys caliph, a spiritual leader.
While Shah and his family experience the same types of construction delays as many transplants to a new country, its for an entirely different reason in Casablanca: jinns. These mostly wicked invisible spirits, it seems, like to take up residence in empty houses and cause much mischief.
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