Romance of Provence

It’s amazing the lure that Provence has for non-residents or distant watchers. I am not undermining its charm and splendours, but some of the notions folk concoct about life in Provence are amazing.

InEvansville, USA, they imagine this: “Wouldn’t it be nice to live somewhere romantic such as Provence or Tuscany, where all you have to do is step out your back door to find tasty wild greens and herbs growing on the hillsides?”

InCanada, it’s this: “The roots of the Roman Empire run deep throughout southern France, no more so than in rural Provence. With its sunny scrublands, Riviera, vineyards, olive trees and Mediterranean cuisine, parts of Provence could pass for northern Italy. But Francophiles will find Provence also offers the best of la belle France — Sunday markets, sleepy towns where locals play petanque, fields of lavender and salade Nicoise.”

Maybe I shall compile a guide book of journalistic expressiveness about Provence.