Desperately Seeking a Lavender Field

Looking back three years ago,  I indulged myself by asking to be driven to one...at least one jaw-dropping sight of a lavender field in full bloom in Provence. My sweet husband happily obliged himself to drive through the South of France not with a GPS but with a trusty map. The goal was to see a place like this....and if possible to take THE Florisse's picture like this:

(this picture lifted from Google images)

So we drove to The town of Apt as we were told we'll find a lavander field somewhere there. It was the last week of July then....surely the lavender season. And we drove, a bit uncertainly through vineyards and fields.

beautiful vineyard

Then we entered the small village of Apt.

First we walked around and and went in and out of stores. We had lunch in one of the quaint town's restaurant and bought some fruit confit from the adjoining store.

We walked around some more and saw some bundles of lavender in the stores.  Took big deep sniffs...my heart a pitter-pattering with anticipation of the lavender field I am about to see in full bloom....ahhh...

Then  we asked where exactly we can find lavender fields. "No..no...lavender field...no..no..go Focalquier. Lavender there Focalquier."  the storekeeper informed us kindly. My heart sank...where in the world was Focalquier? I looked at my husband and said, "This is the end of July...lavender season, we are already here in the South of France....we are flying back to New York tomorrow...we can either   drive to Focalquier....wherever it is....or we go back to New York and you will hear no end to my rue-ing not seeing a lavender field for years  until we come back to France...which is it, Babe?

He's a real sweetheart.....

With our trusty map...off we went to Focalquier.....through vineyards and fields...and through tree-lined roads like this.  Beautiful!

I see pictures like this in magazines....only it usually has an old Frenchman on a rustic bike with a long loaf of baguette tied to it's backseat, right?

Fortunately, our little package was a bundle of joy. He really is a good traveller. He can sit for hours in his car seat and give us smiles and giggles like this: (just don't bring him to the Louvre...:-)

And so we arrived in Focalquier. What do we see first?  A flea market.

We walked around...looked at the wares. I picked up one French basket for  a mere 9 euros and regretted why I did not get 3 more to....to...I don't know what, maybe give to friends?  Then I asked another a vendor where I might find a lavander field in full bloom such as this:        

(this picture lifted from Google images)

And she sighed, feeling sorry to see my wide-eyed anticipation. "Eh, feeeneeesh. Lavander feenish. Cut. No more. "

Aaaaarrrrggggghhhh! I felt so bad, my lavander field dreams were thwarted by her voice. "Eh feenish. Feenish." was echoing in my head.  I decided to give up the "amidst-the-lavender picture" (for now....until we return sometime in the future).

We drove heading  back to our hotel....one hour....two hours....ahh disappointment....wait...STOP! STOP! PULL OVER!!! Do I see a lavender field? SCreeeeeechhhh......here we go.... a lavender field finally....ah...Not quite as thick....not quite in full bloom, BUT in bloom....here's the lavender field I saw during lavender season in the South of France....not quite like the lavender fields in the post cards....but a lavender field nevertheless.....Bon Jour!

P.S.
Getting back to the hotel,  we decided to eat a dinner picnic out in the yard sans silverware. What a day!

(uh-huh, sans silverware)