The year 2015 is nearly over and with all the recent events on our planet it feels like it was not a very good one for humanity. However, this year was also filled with personal moments of happiness and joy, wonderful new discoveries, many trips and moments of peace and beauty. And I am very thankful for all of it. One of my personal highlights was my birthday trip to the little wine village Saint-Émilion in the Bordeaux region of southwest France.
Visiting Saint-Émilion was magic – this wine producing village worldwide known for its excellent wines feels like the epitome of a peaceful French countryside life. Saying that the village has lots of history is almost an understatement – it dates back to prehistoric times and is nowadays a UNESCO World Heritage Site with wonderful Romanesque churches, building and ruins all around the cobbled streets. The entire village is surrounded by wavy vineyards and a lush, green nature. And the narrow, cobbled alleys are lined with blooming flowers of all colours. It feels like a piece of heaven on earth.
While in Saint-Émilion I was staying in a charming little guest house in the village’s center named La Maison de la Commanderie. I had a room named ‘The Commander’s Suite’ and it was on the top floor with a private balcony overlooking the vineyards beyond the village’s limits, the tiled roofs and the amazing monolithic church of Saint-Émilion. Even though my birthday and this trip were back in May, I still recall one observation: I walked around the cobbled streets and noticed lots of wine bars and good restaurants, but hardly any cafés. But then I told myself when you’re in Saint-Émilion you just skip your afternoon coffee and replace it with a glass of good red wine from the village itself. And you also buy one, two or three bottles to take back home. And a box of the famous Macarons of Saint-Émilion. Of course I turned the idea into practice.
My trip to Saint-Émilion was in combination with my visit to Bordeaux, so I only stayed one night in the village but in hindsight I’d have loved to stay longer. So maybe I will return one day and stay a few nights, probably during autumn to enjoy the vineyards laden with juicy and ripe grapes and observing the wine harvest, or better yet, participate in the wine harvest. With all the insanity on our planet it feels like an escape to an idyllic better and simpler life. But for the time being I will hope for a better 2016 and more peace for all of us.
Photography by Igor Josifovic
9 Comments
C’est marrant, je suis aussi allée à St Emilion pour fêter mon anniversaire.
http://lesflaneriesdaurelie.com/st-emilion/
Très jolies photos en tout cas ! Normalement je te suis sur IG mais je viens aujourd’hui pour la première fois sur ton blog et je l’aime tout autant.
Oh merci Aurélie et bienvenue sur Happy Interior Blog!! Évidemment Saint-Émilion est un bon choix pour fêter l’anniversaire:-) J’ai adoré! Et là je file pour lire ton blog post!
Hey Igor,
very wonderful pictures of Saint- Émilion.
I really like your blog.
Lovely wishes,
Lina
Thank you very much Lina! Lieben Gruß aus München!
Hii.. Igor i’m fans with u, i see u post on instagram anytime i love it. Eveything the pict i love it. Beautiful place at everywhere u take the pict. I love it . I never see before in my country .. . My hobby is travelling , if i see u post on instagram like feels traveling . I hope u wanna be reply my email. I want be u friend. Thx u
I am very happy you enjoy the virtual trips here on Happy Interior Blog, Esti! You are always welcome to join me on the blog!
Hi my dear,
Your photography is so beautiful that the first thing that comes to mind is, “It’s all in the eye of the beholder” You are willing to see the beauty of the World, and that in times as they are and as you mention is a true privilege. One to cherish like a true treasure.
Thank you for this virtual trip. I will love being there I know… I almost saw me wandering the streets, looking at the beauty of every corner through my lens…. I hope to be there with the person I love. And would be great to meet you, too, while you’ll be on yet another visit there.
As for the traditional macaroons, I have tasted something similar and they are my absolute favorite!
Kisses & warm hugs,
Iro xoxo
Thank you my friend! It would be yet another privilege to share a glass of good red wine with you in Saint-Émilion! Who knows, one day we might laugh over a glass right there! Life is unexpected! Hugs my dear!
Oh yes, my dear, life is unexpected & I am thankful for that! Laughing while drinking wine in Saint-Emilion… I’ll drink to that my friend, even if it is just a cup of ginger tea in hand right now ; ) Hugs & gute nacht, xo { smile }