Le Lavandou

I love Paris, but given the rest of my dreams, would love to be drinking champagne on the terrace of my own little villa overlooking the Mediterranean sea near Le Lavandou.  This part of the rugged cote d'Azure  appears the most beautiful to  my eyes. High cliffs , some with sheer drops to the turquoise water are dazzling.  The air is perfumed with scents of flowers and herbs intermingled with the saltiness of the sea air. White sand beaches and  small inlets dot the coast as if cut out from half a cookie cutter.
    Les Iles D,Or seem to float hazily on the horizon, like puffs of unspoiled greenery, that they are.
Le Lavandou has 12 beaches, each with slightly different colors of sand.  I am fondest of Aiguebelle.
         The wind feels fresh and cool in May, blowing in contrast to hot sun on my skin and the warmth of the sand on my feet.  Our little rented studio door opened  to the sandy beach, with lapping waves only 20 feet way.  Almost paradise views surrounded me.  We spent most sunsets sipping cremant or champagne, while firing up our trusty Cobb grill, to cook our own wonderful Provencal feasts, rather than eat out.   Though each end of Aiguebelle  garners  acclaimed restaurants, the lure of  barefoot grilling  won out.    Loup de mer and pageots, simpling grilled, and drizzled with aromatic olive oil and herbs de provence predominated our menu.  Provence is famous for their roses of course, but wonderful whites and rich reds from the area just inland are for the most part undiscovered little treasures of the surrounding vineyards of Bormes et Pierrefeu.  We will be back in the fall!!