Earlier this summer, I visited my eldest brother in the south of France where he has retired and rediscovered the fine art of living. Here’s the early-morning view from his front terrace. 

Claviers is a village nestled between the foothills of the Alps and the Mediterranean sea-coast (“Cote d’Azur”). It boasts the usual assortment of French village establishments—the bakery, the delicatessen, the village square, the central café, and “le club” where drinks are served from breakfast to bed-time.

Life is good here as long you can speak French (my brother is learning, his wife is fluent). You are quickly welcomed into the thick of village life.  Vegetables are dropped off on your doorstep; Sunday lunch invitations frequently come your way; and free drinks are made available at “le club” on Saturdays.

Touring around the local villages by bike is a must! My brother invited me for a “gentle 15-mile” loop, including several steep climbs and hair-raising descents.

In the evenings, we settled into our long and leisurely dinners, accompanied by multiple dishes of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, fish, and cheeses. Local wine flowed freely.

My brother has reinvented himself in Claviers. Like Peter Mayle (author of the best-selling A Year in Provence), he has learned to slow down, sip the heavenly nectar, and live mindfully once again.

Of course, there’s no reason why we can’t live like this all the time. But, occasionally, it’s important to be reminded of such a simple truth while visiting an elder brother for a summer vacation.  

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