We Are Life Styles
  • Home
  • Renovation
  • Interiors
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Design
Select Page

getting the keys

by Helen | Dec 7, 2016 | Lifestyle

So, on Monday 5th December 2016, *this* happened. Meaning, it’s now all very real, indeed…

← flights booked the move : how we did it... →

Property for sale in Istria

advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement

Eye spy with my Instagram eye

Even in driving rain, this country road in #langue Even in driving rain, this country road in #languedocroussillon, was just beautiful. Silver birches lining the road. #Roadtripping in #France is pretty spectacular, whatever the weather.
Our very pretty chambre d’hote find in #caunesmi Our very pretty chambre d’hote find in #caunesminervois. Located on the smallest cobbled street in a town of small cobbled streets. If I’d have been driving, I would have been crying. Luckily, I was the navigator. Who, to be fair, did get us onto the smallest cobbled street…

But once inside, driving trauma was forgotten as we were lulled with French music and surrounded by the most gorgeous #brocante furnishings. A cliche, but beautiful. 

#chambredhote #lancienneboulangerie #frenchroadtrip #brocantetreasures #frenchlife #roadtrip #workingthingsout #newadventures
Another lovely petit dejeuner, at #hotelroyal in # Another lovely petit dejeuner, at #hotelroyal in #nîmes which set us up for the day. French bread, croissants, pancakes, jams, chocolate spread, juice, coffee, natural yoghurt, muesli & fruit. Optional breakfast, but definitely worth €12. Fuelled up for drive across to #caunesminervois & #carcassonne on next leg of French adventure.
#roadtrip #occitanie #herault #languedoc #southoffrance
Statue of French #matador, Nimeno II, outside #Nî Statue of French #matador, Nimeno II, outside #Nîmes Arena. We had no idea that bullfighting was even a thing here, but apparently it is. The #Roman #amphitheatre (or arena) in Nîmes is the best-conserved of the Roman world. It was used for hunting wild animals and for gladiatorial combats from the end of the first century AD onwards. A pretty stunning sight in the middle of a stunning city.
#romanhistory #southoffrance #roadtrip #livinghistory
Well, haven’t we just arrived after the party? A Well, haven’t we just arrived after the party? A huge #fiesta in #Nîmes, lasting four days & the Roman Forum being granted #unescoworldheritage status. Tonight, they rested. Thankfully, we did find an amazing Italian restaurant which was open. Maybe one of the only ones in the city. But we don’t mind, because Nîmes is STUNNING. Oh, just so stunning. Why have we never visited this part of the south of #France before? #maisoncarrée #occitanie #emperorauguste #france #unesco #septemberinfrance
Le #Camargue, #France. White horses and flamingoes Le #Camargue, #France. White horses and flamingoes 🦩Somewhere I’ve wanted to see for years, and it hasn’t disappointed. So breathtakingly beautiful.

#parcnatural #mediterranean #iledecamargue #provence
Bonjour. Le petit dejeuner. #goodstarttotheday # Bonjour. Le petit dejeuner. 

#goodstarttotheday #frenchcountryside #anightinprovence #provence #arles #france
As pretty as a picture. After a long’s day drivi As pretty as a picture. After a long’s day driving, this was very welcome. Bats were whirling as the sun was setting, but sadly, the mosquitoes were out in force and the French ones are much harder than their Istrian relatives, and we had to retreat indoors. 

Refreshed after a very good night’s sleep, so off to investigate #Arles and then to #Nîmes for the next part of the adventure.
#roadtrip #southoffrance #locationlocationlocation #ontheroad
Coucher de soleil à la française en Provence. #r Coucher de soleil à la française en Provence. #roadtrip #fromistristofrance #arles #ournextadventure #sunset #septemberevenings
A very cute French rural retreat, on a working far A very cute French rural retreat, on a working farm, just outside of #Arles. It’s been a long day, taking the scenic route from #Parma. Plans to live it up with jet set were scuppered when the road kept taking us away from #Cannes & #MonteCarlo & #Monaco. Did end up in #Nice. In the airport though, so no good to us as we were driving. Think we’re happier in the French countryside with a bottle of wine and a big bag of Italian crisps for dinner 😍
#roadtrip #provence #countrylife #awayfromitall #francia #france
Just an unbelievably amazing walled medieval city Just an unbelievably amazing walled medieval city that we drove around, off the beaten track, between #Venice & #Parma. Once past Venice we avoided toll roads & motorways, and saw a part of the #Veneto we’ve never seen before, as it gives way to #EmiliaRomagna. What a beautiful drive 🇮🇹
Road trip to #France has started. Motorway drive t Road trip to #France has started. Motorway drive to #Venice, then south to avoid tolls and traffic. This gave an opportunity to drive through the beautifully baroque town of #Dolo. By mid afternoon, it was 30* and sweltering- summer is staying longer up north, as it started so late. Further south, and through towns and villages we’ve never visited before, as we got closer to #emiliaromagna and onwards to #Parma. Not investigating city tonight, as shattered, so hotel meal, post obvious #Everton defeat, is what we’ve opted for before heading down to #cinqueterre tomorrow and onto #arles for our next stopover. Love a #roadtrip!
#croatia #slovenia #italy #france #newadventure #ontheroad
Saturday brunch, route planning. #Roadtrip to #Fra Saturday brunch, route planning. #Roadtrip to #France starting tomorrow, with stopover in #Parma. An adventure awaits…
Gathering clouds, after last night’s sunset. The Gathering clouds, after last night’s sunset. The light was beautiful as the sky was still glowing over the #Adriatic. It was warm enough to sit outside as the solar lights started to flicker into life. Our garden is our pride & joy.

#houseforsale #renivatedhoyse #stonehouse #summerevenings #istria #istrialife #renovatedgarden #gardendesign #fadinglightofday #cloudlovers
Water butts are a bit of a necessity here. In the Water butts are a bit of a necessity here. In the summer, we can get *huge* downpours and then nothing, for weeks. So saving the rainwater to water the garden, during dry spells, makes sense. Only water butts are generally just very functional plastic containers and we wanted something a bit different and more in keeping with the house & garden.

Finally found 300 litre, grey, urn-style butts online, although at nearly 400 euros, they were just far too expensive to justify. So, imagine my happiness when we popped over to #Obi (like B&Q) in #Koper and spotted these! Bigger capacity - 360 litres - and at just over 100 euros, we definitely could justify two, given the amount of #rainwater we now can collect. And look at those colours! Perfect butts 💦💦

#waterbutts #rainwaterharvesting #nowaste #preservingwater #gardenlife #ourgardeninistria #greekurnstyle #loveourgarden #istria #oprtalj #istrialife #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedhouseforsale #houseforsale
Load More

Recent thoughts…

  • structural gardens
  • bacon and brie bake
  • cheesy irish soda bread
  • the redipuglia war memorial
  • Šibenik : dalmatia coast : croatia
  • garden vision realised…
  • art hotel tartini, piran, slovenia
  • construction continues…
  • creamy mushroom stroganoff
  • secret garden progress

Search

  • Twitter
  • Instagram

helen@wearelifestyles.com

© We Are Life Styles 2020-22 - all rights reserved
Website design by We Are Life Design