St. Felix-Lauragais

I’m sitting at an old French farm table in the kitchen of the most charming cottage I could have ever imagined. The white candles are lit on the table, the girls are listening to the Beatles in the other room and Matt is, again, cooking us a fabulous dinner with fresh food he picked up at the market today. Life came together when we arrived in St. Felix, a very tiny town in the south of France, half-way between Toulouse and Carcassonne. St. Felix is a heavenly little town perched atop a hill, accented by a beautiful old cathedral and surrounded by green fields of grass that have finally given me the true meaning of green. There is a country path, a two mile loop, which takes you out of town, down a grassy road specked with little white flowers and up to a ridge that has a panoramic view of St. Felix on the left and an infinite view of French countryside on the right. The four of us walked the loop yesterday and we were thoroughly consumed with the scenery. This is the kind of place that you might read about in a great novel or poem, but never expect that it might actually exist. St. Felix is bucolic and all four of us have been immediately captured by its simplicity, beauty and French country pace.

We are staying at the cottage for five days. We are doing nothing! The girls spend their days playing with the kitty in the backyard, making fairy houses, watching the Aristocats in French, helping Daddy cook and taking pictures. Matt and I are soaking up the chance to move around in the lovely surroundings so we run, hike and kiss a lot. After traveling for two months and visiting some of the most important sites, museums and monuments in Europe, we are relishing our time to chill and do nothing. Alex has befriended Madame Chicco, a sweet, local woman who watches after the cottage. They speak in French and English and neither understands the other, but they have become fast friends. We are definitely loving the chance to cook, drink tea, play cards, be silly and relaxed, and away from the daily bustle of life with people.

Last night, at about 9:00, we decided to venture out from the cottage for something to eat. We drove to the small town of Revel and had a nice meal and a good time with the friendly local people. Everyone is so kind and we feel so welcomed as travelers. Today we’re leaving St. Felix and I think if we took a family poll, everyone would vote to stay a little longer, but we have hotel plans at Aix au Provence and two nights in Monaco at our friend, Gerard Fossali’s hotel, The Vista. We are renewed, reenergized and forever humbled and enhanced by our trip to St. Felix. We send a warm thank you to Lisa and David for sharing their cottage, and lovely town with us! St. Felix is at the top of our “Return To…” list.

Off to Provence, Monaco and then to Cinque Terra, Italy. Life is good.
p.s. Check out Alex’s photos from St. Felix on the Picasa link. They are so creative and beautiful and she really captures the sprit of the entire experience.