Personal Provence

Salut! From Your Hosts

 
 

In the year 2000, we left our homes and work in Washington DC for France and the medieval village of Saignon, which we’d found in our travels. It was a huge leap, as we would be crossing not only the ocean, but also the generation of years between us, to set up a life together. Although we didn’t really know what we were looking for, what we found was a culture that takes the time to encourage knowledge, treasure beauty, and honor art and the artists who make it. Not to mention the best food and wine we’d ever tasted! We invite you to come have fun with that kind of time, and rediscover in your play the powerful learning and growing you did as a child.
 

Marcia and Andrew

Marcia Mitchell is a California-born writer from the Washington DC area.  She writes on Provençal food, history and culture, and is currently at work on a book set in the Luberon.  Her passions are literature, art and cuisine, and her guiding principle is "fun". 

http://ladamesansmerci.blogspot.com/

Andrew

Andrew Petrov is an artist-painter from the Washington DC area.  He works in oil and plays in other media, depicting the local landscape, scenes based on the open-air markets of Provence.  Currently, he's working on a series of paintings featuring people using portable phones.
Andrew is also a chess player, a sports fiend with an impressive memory for stats, and a skilled hand in the kitchen.

Click here to see Andrew’s paintings

Our Guests Say:

It is said:  “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”. You have both been the perfect teachers for me at this wonderful time in my life. I will never forget you and the experiences of each day with you!  -Joani, Elk Rapids, MI, USA

Being at your place was far more like visiting friends than staying at an inn. It was a growth experience.  -Stan, Little Rock, AK, USA

Andrew is not only a talented artist but an incredible teacher. Marcia, your cooking stirs all the senses. Thank you for passing on your wisdom, life experiences and stories of history.  -Jenny, Janice and Mickey, Branson, MO, USA

Thank you both for setting up the incredible expo, which allowed me to display my work for the first time. -Tony, San Francisco, CA, USA

Our apartment was charming, alive with history and so comfortable to come home to each night. Best of all was meeting you—the warmth and friendliness goes beyond hospitality. (Is it really time to go?)  -Diana & Greg, Portland, OR, USA

How wonderful to be treated like royalty in a magical land of history and natural beauty.  -Randy and Deborah, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Thanks for proving to me once again that we all can continually learn and evolve; that we can constantly live surprising ourselves! -Adam, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Good times, good friends, good food---I mean GREAT! -Kim & Greg, Houston, TX, USA 

We weren’t expecting to fall in love with this spot, which makes it all the more sweet. Thanks for making us feel like old friends, and thank you Andrew for the painting lessons—I’ve learned so much from you. -Michele and Jerry, Dallas, TX, USA 

The amazing food…the cooking class…the great conversations; it was all very magical for us. -Nina and Dan, Los Angeles, CA 

Thank you for making this part of France ‘home’ for us for a week. We are returning to Canada more creative in cooking, art and thought. -Bob and Juli, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Every day was like being with family. Marcia, I can still smell the loving aroma of your kitchen. You
proved that cooking is an art. Andrew is a true artist, and inspiring coach. He re-introduced me to
color, and helped me create a new dialogue with it. It has been an enriching experience and inspiring trip.  -Abir and Fadi, Dubai, UAE
 

To learn more about the charm of Provence and all it has to offer, check out
PROVENCEBEYOND.COM