Our Place in France - Les Sardines Yeux Bleus
I can’t even tell you why it’s taken me so long to write this post. I suppose life’s been a little hectic these last few months, and well, I kind of forgot. But this magical little ‘place in France’ and the precious fortnight we spent there absolutely hold a special place in my heart. It’s a trip I want to remember.
We’re so lucky here in Blighty to have the beauty of Europe on our door step. For many many years, I think I took that for granted. Maybe it’s age, just something that goes hand in hand with that 25-35 box, but Europe really has stolen my heart.
While of course there’s a place for large, all inclusive, resorts, Colin and I love nothing more than finding a little hidden gem. A place where you really get to experience the country you’re in. Taste their wine, eat their food, enjoy their music and language and just to immerse ourselves in what is often an enviously simple culture and way of life.
If you’re looking for a place to slow right down and soak up life and each other… Les Sardines is it!
Hidden in the prettiest little French village, in Idilic countryside. A modest looking B&B on the outside, you’ll be welcomed by owner Annakarin (a tall, striking Swedish model, mother and host). She’s as warm and friendly as she is beautiful. A mum of two herself (both children, aged 8 and 15, live in the hotel) Annakarin works hard to ensure that Les Sardines is filled with families, friends and love.
She was baking a breakfast cake when we arrived, it smelled incredible. The decor inside the hotel is nothing short of magazine-worthy. Infact, this colourful, chic house has been featured in many many magazines and interior design books.
A large homely living room, filled with books and magazines a large box of toys for all ages, hand me downs from her son and daughter.
A beautiful dining room with miss-matched furniture, tables decorated with flowers and herbs from the nearby fields and gardens. Here Anna showed us where to find a little fridge, as well as all the plates, wine glasses, cutlery we were free to use during our stay.
Then to the courtyard, which really does blow you away. Filled with brightly coloured sofas, cushions, lanterns, tables and chairs, there are several little areas you can relax and chase the sun. Up a few steps to the pool area, beautifully simple, partly shaded and scattered with sun loungers. Up a few more steps to a terrace over the pool which really is a sun trap. We later learned this was not for the faint hearted…it’s boiling up there!!
Annakarin showed us where to find a stash of wine should we want any during our stay (absolutely delicious and only 5/6 euro a bottle) and left us to relax in the hotel while she busied away in the kitchen.
The next morning we woke up to the smell of pancakes and church bells in the village outside. There’s no air conditioning in the hotel, but with the thick old walls and shutters in the Windows you really don’t need it, it’s lovely and cool and we all slept soundly (almost) every night.
We headed down to breakfast to find the beautiful banquet table in the courtyard set up with colourful mis-matched crockery and a gorgeous breakfast spread. Cakes, pastries, bread, ham, cheese fruit and yogurts. Anna grabbed Ollie a high chair and we joined the other guests at the table for breakfast.
You’d think this might be a little weird, sitting down to breakfast with a group of people you don’t know, but it was absolutely lovely and we looked forward to it every day. While we were there we met a lovely English couple, our age but from London, they found the hotel on Mr and Mrs Smith and had visited every year for 5 years. We met an American family, all the way from LA, their daughter was 6. Another delightful couple from Cheshire, who we had dinner with a few nights. There was a German couple, our parents age and we also loved chatting to the two students that worked there.Alex, was a German student taking some time out and traveling the world. We adored her and all of her lovely stories. She’d been an au pair in Britain for a year and her English was perfect, Ollie loved her so much.
We spent so many days in the pool with Ollie. Swimming and splashing really wore him out and most days we were treated to a two hour nap where we got in some much needed R & R.
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We hired a car through Eurocar for the trip, it was a God send, as apart from relaxing by the pool, there really isn’t a great deal to do in the tiny village.
We spent several days in Euzes. The MOST beautiful city I’ve ever visited. Every street is like a painting. They have a markets a few times a week. Annakarin always had a suggestion of somewhere we should visit every day.
We drove to the beach at Montpellier and had a seriously delicious burger in Swanky La Pailiote Bamboo and spent the afternoon on the beach and cooling off in the sea.
As we visited with Ollie, and we didn’t want to upset his routine too much, most days we had a big lunch and a quiet dinner. We would have a big two course lunch (usually the Plat du Jour, you really can’t go wrong). Then in the evening, when Ollie was tucked up in bed, we’d light our Jo Malone Lavender and Lovage candle (the scent of our holiday) and relax in the candle lit courtyard with a bottle of wine, meats and cheese from the local market.
Some nights we visited the next pretty little village (just a 5 min drive away) where lies one restaurant Auberge d’Aigaliers. It’s nestled on a hill, overlooking the village and surrounding countryside. The owner/chef is a lovely gentlemen, he hardly speaks any English so get practicing your French. Most of the time we didn’t really know what we were ordering but it was always delicious and the most enormous portions!!
I can HIGHLY recommend this wonderful little slice of typical French Paradise. Perfect for a romantic break, a week with friends/family or even a wonderful quiet little family holiday like we had. It was a perfect first holiday for us with Ollie, everything we could’ve wished for.
In no way is this post sponsored, but when I feel like we’ve found a real gem, I just have to share it.
