My Wild and Precious Friend

Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

         --From “The Summer Day“ by Mary Oliver (1935 - 2019)

One of the many things I've loved about living in Provence is how it attracts a steady stream of fascinating, accomplished people from all over the world. If you're here for any reasonable amount of time and open to it, you can have the most-wonderful experiences with a whole gamut of humans, with experiences vastly different from your own.

Susie Rheault and her husband Gil Williams are a perfect example. I have no idea how we first met but we bonded instantly. With their kids grown and having families of their own, Susie (now 70) and Gil (81) were splitting their time between Boston, Martha's Vineyard, Provence and Africa. Susie was still working and Gil was theoretically retired (his field was organizational development after many years as an elementary school principal), and together they were involved  in various projects on three continents.

Besides their gentle warmth and general adorableness, one of the many things that drew me to Susie and Gil was their devotion to do-gooding. They seemed to be continuously nurturing a large group of people including friends, family, clients, neighbors, colleagues and more. But the thing that really got me were the stories they told about Tanzania and the work they were doing there with extremely vulnerable children.

The short version is, they had found a small "desperately grim" orphanage that needed help...and they had jumped in.  

If you want the longer version you're in luck because Susie tells the whole remarkable story in her just-published book, My Wild and Precious Life: A Memoir of Africa (Bush Baby Press, September 2019).

A psychologist with a specialization in organizational development, Susie has spent her 30-plus year career working globally, with senior execs across the private and public sectors. Since 2007, she'd been a Special Advisor for the Clinton Foundation Health Access Initiative supporting field offices in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Lesotho and Swaziland. In each of these countries, she trained local staff to accelerate HIV testing and treatment using a grassroots team-based approach.

The years Susie spent working in sub-Saharan Africa with the Clinton Foundation had made her even more hungry to help others. She had been longing for a long-term project, something where she could see real sustainable results over time.

"I started in Africa in '07," she recalls in a podcast here. "I worked for the Clinton Foundation off and on for the next five years. I'd bounce back and forth on these trips that were pretty exhausting, on flights of 16 hours or so. The more I traveled to other countries, the more I missed Gil who was keeping the home fires burning. And I was...tired of trying to learn a different African language with each visit. I started to say to myself, what if we could find a smaller project where they need us, where we could stay put and see what noodles stick on the wall?"

And then one day in tiny, rural Nshupu, Tanzania, she and Gil stumbled on the Precious Orphan's Childrens Home: two small, very-spare concrete buildings that was home to nine kids, all of whom had been orphaned or abandoned. "There were no toys, no books, no blankets," Susie remembers, "nothing except these kids bouncing around on a bunk bed. We were just stunned. We couldn't believe they were as animated as they were, living under such dire circumstances. There were dirt floors...there was no running water...nothing!"

A local school teacher named William Modest had started the orphanage after having watched his own mother die of AIDS when he was a teen. He and his wife Sarah--also a teacher--were running it single handedly, having given up their other jobs. "All they had for funds were handouts from the local church," Susie continues, "which meant a bag of maize every so often but nothing like a predictable meal plan."  Susie and Gil formed an alliance with William and Sarah in 2011 and launched the Precious Project.

What's been accomplished there in just eight years is astounding and deeply inspiring. "Precious" has grown to include a new home for 21 children, a 10-room primary school, am elementary school with 350 students, a working organic farm, a library, a community/dining hall, a dorm and two women's empowerment groups.

Today William and Sarah manage day-to-day operations, Susie and Gil handle strategic development and a board of directors provides wide-ranging expertise. A dedicated group of roughly 45 employees includes five education administrators, 12 teachers, cooks, childcare providers, bus drivers, a gardener, a librarian, volunteers, "mamas" and more.

It was an uphill battle, to say the least. "We had never run an orphanage, we didn't speak Swahili, and we had never done any fund-raising," Susie says. "But we jumped in with both feet. I was convinced that somehow my experience crisscrossing the continent would inoculate us from making the most egregious mistakes, but of course that wasn't true. It's been a roller coaster of hope and hard learnings! We would be mildly euphoric with a sense of renewed purpose but then, time and again, regularly humbled by the undertow of desperation that poverty engenders."

While it continues as an orphanage, the key focus at the Precious Project is now education. "We see that as highly important work in the world," Susie says, "and it's making a huge difference in the lives of these children, the leaders of tomorrow."

Today Susie and Gil live half the year in Africa, where they work closely with William and Sarah. The rest of the year they're back in Boston with occasional visits to Provence, although having sold their home in St. Remy, they're around much less than they used to be. From what I can tell though, the couple could not be happier.

"It's never too late to live a life of purpose," Susie proclaims. "It's never too late to have adventures and stretch yourself. People who have a deep sense of purpose live longer and live better. This, I guess, is the third chapter of my life and it's been the most deeply rewarding. This is definitely my life's calling.

"Each time we return to Tanzania," she continues, "we see the children we have cared for since 2011 sprouting up and becoming extraordinary people. It's so deeply gratifying...everyone deserves a chance!"

My Wild and Precious Life is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. A portion of proceeds goes to the Precious Project.

To learn more about the Precious Project and donate in any amount, click here.

You can also follow Precious on Facebook, see their videos on YouTube and listen to Susie being interviewed here.

To connect with Susie, reach out on LinkedIn or email her directly: susie@rheault-williams.com.

Volunteers Wanted to Restore Medieval Site

If you're thinking of visiting Provence next year, here's a way to learn new skills, give something back, leave your mark on an ancient village and meet people from all over the world.

Since 1969, the international non-profit volunteer program La Sabranenque has been devoted to the safeguarding and restoration of traditional rural architecture in Southern France. They're now accepting applications for summer 2019, to work at the medieval Provencale site and village called Saint Victor la Coste. La Sabranenque hosts 150 to 200 participants of all ages and nationalities annually. No previous restoration work is required but you must be at least 18; the oldest volunteer so far was 81.

Saint Victor la Coste is a picturesque village of roughly 1900 people in a beautiful setting 30 km northwest of Avignon. At the foot of a hill dominated by a medieval castle, the village overlooks a small vineyard-covered plain, with the Rhone Valley in the distance. The territory has been inhabited for several millennia; neolithic and Bronze Age artifacts have been found and several known Roman sites are nearby. Once part of the medieval domain of the Sabran family, vassals to the Count of Toulouse, it's known today for its historic buildings (including an 11th century church and a 13th century fort) and traditional rural village lifestyle.

The re-construction of the large structures in the hamlet is now done. This summer's projects include additional stonework tasks (uncovering and securing structural vestiges, improving dry stone terraces, etc.), establishing gardens and building a shelter for small wildlife.

Six-day volunteer sessions run Monday to Saturday, from June 3 to September 28. A fee of 300€ per week covers lodging (double occupancy, in traditional houses restored by La Sabranenque), all meals and activities. The food is Provençal family-style, featuring local vegetables and fruit, traditional cheeses, bakery-fresh breads and local wine. If you wish to stay two or more weeks, you can use your room and the kitchen over the weekend. There are ten participants maximum per session.

Volunteers work on the site in the morning and are also expected to participate in everyday activities such as kitchen work. Afternoons are free to explore and relax, with some historic tours and guided nature walks provided.

For more info, visit the Sabranenque sites here and here. Or email: info@sabranenque.com.

Photos: Scenes from summers past at La Sabranenque.

So...What's Happening?

Quoi de Neuf? This week I thought I'd share a couple short, newsy things that recently caught my eye: a vintage ice cream truck, a new place to store your luggage in Avignon, a farm for fresh flowers all winter, upcoming fundraisers, the starting lineup for Jazz à Juan and some other fun things to do. We're not gonna win any Pulitzers here but hopefully you'll find some things of interest...

Scoop! Vintage Ice Cream Truck Ready to Roll 

My friend Nicola Christinger-Grant and her daughter Victoria Moss are just about ready to unveil a vintage ice cream truck named Esta, after months of restoration. The classic 1976 Renault Estafette is still in Corsica finishing serious cosmetic surgery but she'll arrive in France  at the end of the month. "We thought Provence needed a good old fashioned classic ice cream van," Nic tells me. "Given the sensational weather I can’t believe they don’t really exist! When I first found Esta, she was a total rust bucket...but I knew immediately that I loved her!" As of February, Esta will be ready to rent for all types of events (she's booked for a number of weddings already) and will be rolling up at weekly markets including Eygalieres on Friday, Uzes on Saturday and the July/August Thursday evening night market in Nimes. Esta can travel roughly one hour from Nimes and will serve a range of ice creams (whole milk, vegan, fat-free, organic). The four pix up top show the ongoing restoration; the two below them are "befores." When the work is complete, I'll post more photos because you can be sure she'll be a beauty! The website (vintage.ice.fr ) is still under construction but email Nicola for info in the meantime: nicolachristinger@me.com.

Got Baggage?

Did you know...the folks behind La Consigne in Nice have opened a second location in Avignon? It's a luggage checkroom where you can store your stuff safely (they've got scanners, cameras and alarms) at super-reasonable prices. Located close to both the Avignon Centre (city) Train Station and the Avignon Tourist Office, La Consigne also rents baby strollers and wheelchairs, offers a bike-courrier baggage delivery service and will store oversized items if you book ahead. Plus, they have free and speedy WiFi which you're welcome to hang out and use. La Consigne Avignon is open May 1st to Aug 31st, at #1 ave Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny, 84000 Avignon, +33 (0)6 63 68 91 09. Lots more info on both locations is on the website here.

Brand-New St. Remy Home for Summer Rental

Ian and Lizzie Ferris are just putting final touches on their new home in St. Remy...but have learned they'll need to spend the summer back in the UK.  That means they want to rent the house out, for the whole summer if possible, or at least for a month at a time, starting in June. You can see it here on Homeaway and on AirBnB. Located less than ten minute's walk from the historic center of the village, it has three double bedrooms, an upstairs bathroom and downstairs shower room, off-street parking in a gated community, a south-facing garden with private pool, A/C, WiFi and a nice modern kitchen. Ian says his ideal would be one family for 12 weeks (mid June to mid September,  €17,000) but will happily consider monthly rentals for June (€6000), July (€7000) and August (€8000). For info: ianferris56@gmail.com.

Shmoozing for Social and Business 

Since I first wrote about it here almost three years ago,  the women's group Network Provence has grown tremendously, thanks to the hard work and creativity of director Rebecca Ronane and the giving spirit of its members. The group now holds regular meet-ups and activities in a variety of Provencal villages (Aix, St. Remy, Maubec, Orange, Eygalieres, etc.) and continues to expand. Pay 50€ to join for a year and attend all the events you want...or pay as you go (most events are 10€ each). The group's Facebook page (sign up required) has become an extremely valuable resource for info sharing among English-speaking women of all nationalities in the region. Upcoming NP events include a a crash course in pairing wine with chocolate with Sophie Bergeron in Avignon (Jan 23rd at 2 pm), a talk on happiness by Trudi Bannister in Aix (Feb 13, 3 to 5 pm) and a presentation and light lunch with Nicky Ginsberg, at her new NG Art Creative Residency Program in Eygalieres (March 23, noon to 2:30). See these and other events  (and reserve...and become a member) on the Network Provence site. Questions? Email: rebecca.ronane@me.com.

Another Super Support Group for Expat Women

Another networking group that's really gathering steam is called LiANU. It's described as "An Anglophone support group of ex-pat ladies for ex-pat ladies living in, or with strong ties to, the Avignon-Nimes-Uzès region." According to Petra Van Der Wal, one of the group's five informal leader/organizers, the first "Ladies In..." group, Ladies in Languedoc, was created in 2013 and as it grew, a need was identified for other locally-focused ex-pat groups "where you can find a local tradesman or places to buy your halloumi cheese! Ladies In groups are now in Perpignan and Carcassone too...and they've all been likened to a big, chatty, online coffee morning!"  The next LiANU event is a New Year's Dinner, to be held Jan 24 in Nimes; see all the info here. I've not been to a LiANU event yet but a few friends of mine are active in the group and they give it a hearty thumbs up. To get involved, click join on their Facebook page here. If you'd like to start a Ladies In group in another region of France, contact Nicole Hammond by messenger through the LIL group here.  

Friday Morning: Coffee and Cake for a Great Cause

Lucy Bakr will hold a "coffee morning" fundraiser for Busoga Trust this Friday Jan 19 from 10 am to noon in St. Remy, with homemade Gâteau de Roi. Entry is 5€ pp, please. Lucy will also be selling her famous homemade marmalades (including a brand-new batch of orange marmalade & Bergamot lemon marmalade--woot woot!) plus new olive oils, books, DVDs and more. All proceeds go to build wells for clean water in Uganda. The address is: 1 Av Jean Baltus;  park inside the courtyard or on the street. For more info: lucydavid@bakr.fr.

Flowers All Winter, Fresh from the Farm

People often forget about their favorite farm markets in winter but the very-popular Boutique at Ferme Fleurie, between Tarascon and Graveson, sells their beautiful home-grown blooms all year long. The prices are wholesale and the flowers are gorgeous! (Read my recent story about them here.)  Debbie, who runs the farm with her husband Marcel, tells me: "All good down on the farm this winter! And full speed ahead for the season 2018!" Deb tells me they have anemones now until May, tulips from the end of February to April,  narcissi and daffodils in March and of course their star performer, peonies, at the end of April through May. For daily hours and what's available, check their Facebook page. The Boutique at Ferme Fleurie is at 4583 Route d'Avignon, 13150 Tarascon. 

This Friday in Avignon: Cabaret at Theatre Le 9

If you're up for some entertainment in English and like to mingle with other expats, this one's for you. This Friday Jan 19 at 8 pm, the Aix-Marseille and Avignon Chapters of Democrats Abroad will team up to take in a cabaret show in Avignon with Stefan Bednarczyk, a stage and screen actor, director, choirmaster, organist and composer.  (Stefan brought the works of Noel Coward, Flanders and Swann and Comden & Green to the stage...and has worked as musical director with the most prominent theaters in the U.K., including the National and the Barbican.) His latest cabaret adventure, "Beyond a Joke," explores in piano and song the works of three of the 20th-century’s greatest satirists: Allan Sherman, Tom Lehrer and Jake Thackray. The show takes place at the splendid Théâtre Le 9; I wrote about the theater and its charming owner Hilary when it opened here.  After the show, the group will mingle and meet Stefan over a glass of wine. The theater is tiny and there are seats set aside for the DA group so make sure to mention DA when you reserve. Plus, please bring something sweet or savory to share with 30 people. Tickets are 20€ pp. To reserve, call +33 (0)4 84 14 27 28 or email: le9theatreavignon@gmail.com. Then, let kwildau@gmail.com know you're coming. For more info: theatrele9.com.

Calling All Wine-Industry Insiders

All wine pros  (winemakers, retailers, restaurateurs, hotel f&b staff, etc.) are invited to a two-day "Naked Wine Fair" sponsored by the Languedoc-based Vignerons de L'Irreel, a group of local winemakers, on Jan 28 and 29 in Montpellier. Both days, there will be 50 French, Italian and Spanish winemakers present and pouring, along with five artisan brewers. A Sunday evening party will have concerts and a DJ, with lots of Italian charcuterie, the Le Duke food truck and more. More than 200 people have signed up and many more will certainly join in.  The event will be at the Dieze Warehouse, at 188 ave. du Marche Gare. Admission is 10€ and all the details are on the group's Facebook page here.  

Lenny Kravitz to Open Jazz à Juan 2018

And finally, down on the Côte d'Azur, the International Jazz Festival Jazz à Juan (the oldest jazz fest in Europe), has just announced, following a well-established tradition, the names of the first three artists who will perform this year, the 58^th edition of the festival. After the opening concert on July 12 with Lenny Kravitz and his “Raise Vibration Tour,” the festival welcomes Chick Corea (one of the most important and influential pianists of his generation), Youn Sun Nah (who has led a brilliant international career exploring in risky ways the infinite possibilities of her voice), and Marcus Miller ("promising an incredible performance!"). The full program will be announced in March. For all the info: jazzajuan.com, antibesjuanlespins.com. 

You're Invited! Garden Tour & Lunch April 25

Three photos above: To raise money for Busoga Trust, Lucy Bakr has organized an April 25th tour of this gorgeous private garden near Tarascon, to be followed by lunch. The photos show the garden in mid April, the front terrace in October and another garden view, looking south from the house, in October.  

Two photos above: Busoga Trust builds wells in Uganda and Lucy visits once a year.  She recently took these photos showing a new well...and the original water 

source at the same site.

My friend Lucy Bakr is a tireless supporter of the UK-based charity Busoga Trust, which builds and maintains wells in rural Uganda. 

Since 1983, the group has created more than 2000 sustainable sources for clean, safe water...which is used by villagers for drinking, cooking, sanitation and hygiene.

Here in Provence, Lucy organizes numerous fundraisers for Busoga throughout the year: casual lunches, gala dinners, yard sales, coffee mornings and more.  

Lucy also runs a garden-tour club, which, over the years, has allowed many of us to explore some of the region's most-gorgeous private gardens.

Next week, on Tuesday April 25, Lucy is pairing her two passions into one great event: a garden tour and luncheon to raise funds for Busoga Trust. The group will visit a fantastic eight-hectare country garden not far from Tarascon, with six hectares of olive trees (1,400 of them to be exact) and two hectares of formal gardens. There are ponds and fountains...and a tree house (actually more of a "Champagne-drinking platform," according to the owners)...and a kitchen garden (I've just sampled the homegrown asparagus...divine!)...and beds of white Iceberg and red Sevillana roses...and iris and peonies...and formal box parterre...and a handful of beautiful cats prowling and lounging in the sunshine...and peacocks! 

Overlooking it all is the family's elegant,  château-style home, built around 1700 as a hunting lodge. 

The garden has been a huge labor of love for its owner, who tells me: "The greatest pleasure of having a large garden? It keeps you impoverished and diminishes your children's inheritance, much to their disdain!" 

Even if you're not a garden aficionado, you'll love the scale and lush beauty of this amazing property, the warmth of the owners, the fun of meeting new people and the sumptuous homemade lunch to be served on the terrace after the tour. 

Everyone will meet in the parking lot of the Château de Tarascon at 11:15 and car pool or follow to the property. A welcome coffee/tea will be served before the tour and lunch with wine will follow. The day ends around 3 pm, tickets are 40€ and all proceeds go to Busoga Trust. Spots are limited and Lucy must have your check (in euros) or a bank transfer to hold your spot. For questions or reservations: lucydavid@bakr.fr.

Advance Screenings of Cinderella for Charity

Every year the Rotary Clubs of France and their local chapters stage a fundraiser for brain research, in conjunction with Disney in France, which generously provides a new, not-yet-premiered film.  The beneficiary is the Federation pour le recherché sur le cerveau (FRC).

This year, the movie is Cinderella (Cendrillon, in French), which officially premiers in the US and France on March 25. Helena Bonham Carter plays the Fairy Godmother and Cate Blanchett, stepmother Lady Tremaine. Lily James plays Cinderella and Richard Madden is Prince Charming. The new film was directed by Kenneth Branagh.

My favorite line from the movie’s press release: Wouldn't you prefer to eat when all the work is done, Ella?

The fundraiser screenings will be Tuesday March 17 and 450 theaters throughout France, Belgium and Luxembourg will participate. Most theaters will show the film in French only but some will also have it in English.

In my village of St. Remy, for example, the Rotary Club des Baux de Provence will host two screenings: one in French and one in English. The French version will be at 6:30 pm at Cine Palace; the English version will follow, at 9 pm.

Tickets are 15€, of which 8€ goes to the charity. Each adult ticket includes one free child's ticket...but two free kids only per family, please.

Screenings will also happen in Arles, Tarascon, Avignon, Marseilles, Nimes and elsewhere…across the Cote d’Azur and in Paris. For a full list of participating theaters, click here. Tickets will be available at all box offices.

“This is a cause we love to support,” says Larry Ware, president of the Rotary Club des Baux. “And a nice way for the Anglo community in Provence—and visitors--to get together and participate.”

To purchase advance tickets to the St. Remy screening, contact: Gérard Bodel: 06 14 34 99 95 or gerard.bodel@orange.fr.

For info on the Rotary Club in France, click here. For the regional Provence site, click here.

And while I have you here, the Rotary Club des Baux (in the Alpilles region) is actively seeking new members. For info, contact Larry: ware42larry@gmail.com, 04 90 93 15 42 or 06 19 05 31 90. The men-only group is mostly French--with a smattering of members from Belgium, Japan, USA, Germany and Spain--and Larry tells me they'd love to have more expats in the group. 

Win A Sensational Week in Provence!

I first heard about Passports with Purpose at a travel-blogging conference a few years ago in Spain. I was so inspired by co-founder Beth Whitman’s talk that I signed on immediately to help. My contribution to the fundraising effort that year (2012) was donating a week's vacation in Provence...and the response was terrific. The winner said she and her friend loved every single minute of it: every experience, every meal, every tour, every everything. 

This year I decided to participate again and I set out to top myself, pulling together another glorious week in Provence...but one that's even-more delicious, jam-packed, pampering and luxe than the last. I have to admit I may have gone a little bit overboard, which you'll see as you read on.

The package includes a week in a lovely villa, a rental car, great restaurant meals, private guided tours, cooking classes, a truffle hunt and much more. And to enter to win it, all you have to do is donate $10 to a great cause. I decided to do this just a week ago and was able to pull it together quickly thanks to the amazing generosity of a bunch of super-cool people I know here in Provence.

First let me tell you a bit about Passports with Purpose (PWP), a grass-roots charity initiative founded in 2008, as a way to help folks in need and build community in the travel industry. To see a short video about the program, click here.

Each year, the organizers receive scores of charity applications and after doing all the necessary diligence, choose just one to support. Then they set out a specific goal and call upon travel bloggers, sponsors and other industry pros for help.

In their first year, PWP raised $7,400 for Heifer International. The  next year they raised $30,000 to build a school in Cambodia. Each year they've lifted the bar, building wells in Haiti, schools in Mali, libraries in Zambia and a entire new village in India. The last time I participated, 200 of us travel bloggers and 1,242 individual donors raised $110,000 for Water.org through the donation of 143 prizes.

This year, the beneficiary is Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), which is combating malnutrition by teaching families in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama how to plant organic vegetable gardens and fruit trees...and build fishponds and chicken coops....and more.  To date SHI has helped more than 2,500 families grow healthful food and generate income to meet other basic needs. 

So here’s how it works. Participating bloggers round up prizes--items or experiences--and write about them. So at the same time you’re reading this, people all over the world are reading about other prizes on their favorite travel blogs. A list of this year's participating bloggers (82 at last count) is here.

For each $10 donation you make, you get one shot at the prize of your choice. You can enter as many times as you wish, for as many prizes as you like—but always in $10 increments. If you want to win this trip to Provence, for example, you could donate $100 and get ten tries. If you're already here in France, you should still enter...to win for your family, your friends or as a getaway for yourself. Winners will be chosen randomly and notified December 21st. Enter early and enter often!

And Here's What You Get

When you arrive in Provence (probably at the Avignon TGV Train Station or Marignane Airport, Marseille), my friends at Auto Europe will hook you up with a free seven-day rental on a compact, manual-transmission car, with unlimited kilometers, taxes and insurance (liability and fire). How great is that? Then just pop your stuff in the back and head for St. Remy where...

You'll stay for a week in a totally loaded, super-comfy villa at Provence Paradise, a charming, historic hamlet of fully renovated houses dating to the 17^th century. Owner William Moore, a most- gracious host, says: "Whenever you want to come, we’ll be delighted to share our paradise with you! And don’t shy away from the winter months. These houses are lovely when the weather cools; each has at least two working fireplaces and a full supply of red wine!" William will also throw in free admission to the Pont du Gard (a 2000-year-old Roman aqueduct), passes for horseback riding and more. The day you arrive, you'll find a homemade dinner awaiting you: main course, salad, bread, dessert and wine. Plus a fridge stocked with goodies for breakfast. 

The accomodations are for two people, to be used between Jan 1, 2015 and April 1, 2015....or from October 1, 2015 to April 15, 2016 (with the exception of Christmas and New Years weeks). If you choose to come with more than two people--or stay longer than a week--William will work up a nice price. Read more about Provence Paradise in my recent story here.

But Man Does Not Live By Bed Alone...

Even though your villa has a full kitchen, you’ll want to try the famous sun-drenched cuisine for which the region is known. And since I only want you to have the very best— naturellement!--I’ve asked a handful of my favorite restaurants to donate gift certificates. There are five fantastic meals ready and waiting for you: 

*The Michelin-two star restaurant L’Oustau de Baumaniere, located in a gorgeous five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel nestled in the valley at the foot of Les Baux de Provence, has donated a three-course lunch for two, which usually costs 99€ per person. Baumanière is a mecca for foodies and this is a meal you’ll long remember. Chef/owner Jean-André Charial made this same donation two years ago and I'm thrilled that he'll be welcoming this year's winner as well. 

*Mas du Capoun, 15 minutes from St. Remy, is a cooly elegant cream-and-grey restaurant located in an 18^thcentury farmhouse and barn. The food is fresh, creative and refined; the welcome is warm and the prices surprisingly low.  "We’re a family working together,’’ says owner Michèle Roumain, who is fluent in French, English and Flemish. "And we try hard to make the good price.’" As a result, Mas du Capoun is wildly popular and always full...but I got you a prime table...and 100€ to spend as you wish.  When I asked Michèle and her husband Michaël, the chef, to donate again this year, Michaël replied yes immediately, saying:  ''We don't need the publicity but we do need to try to help the world." Remember that old Sara Lee slogan? Well nobody doesn't love Mas Capoun.

*In a real-estate coup that was nothing short of miraculous, Ralph Hüsgen and his wife Margot Stängle, an architect, were able combine two small old village houses with one elegant hotel particulier, transforming them into a modern, light-filled space while keeping historic detailing intact. They named it the Hotel d'Almeran, after the famous St. Remy family who, 400 years ago, built the grandest of the three. While the seven guest suites and pool won’t open until March, the restaurant and wine bar have been up and running since August...and they've already been inducted into the chic Design Hotels group. Ralph describes the restaurant as "gastronomic in quality, bistro in ambiance.” Back in the tiny kitchen, chef Benoit Fauci--who earned a Michelin star at Les Chenes Verts in the Var--is toiling away, crafting modern Mediterranean cuisine. When you come, chances are you'll find the wide front doors thrown open...and a flock of the area's most-finicky foodies tucking into pretty plates. Ralph is giving you a three-course lunch menu for two, with wines from his 350-label cellar.....a 120€ value. 

*Patrick and Celine Fischnaller (owners of the Michelin one-star restaurant Le Vivier in Isle sur la Sorgue) are, once again, offering an amazing 140€ food-and-wine credit for you to spend at lunch or dinner. L’Isle sur la Sorgue is a beautifully historic town, an antiques center for all of Europe...with old water wheels in the Sorgue River and a divine Sunday morning market. So after you've picked the market clean, you have a lovely, leisurely lunch to look forward to. Or, do more siteseeing in the region and then come back for dinner.  At Le Vivier, large windows provide great river views and the tables are generously spaced, a nice treat after you've been battling the market crowds. Generosity, it seems, is the Le Vivier philosophy: portions are large, ingredients top rate, sauces plentiful, linens luxe. Exec chef Ludovic Dziewulski sources direct from local farms and purveyors, coaxing maximum flavor from each ingredient and making foodies swoon.  I really love this restaurant and I know that you will too. (For more info, see my story about Le Vivier here.) 

*The big market in St. Remy is Wednesday morning and Cafe de la Place is perfect for lunch right after. It's my favorite village hangout, filled with expats, locals and tourists. Owner Christelle Sarrazin and her team are super friendly, which sets a laid-back and festive tone, and if you speak not a word of French you'll find the servers exceedingly kind. The decor is simple and flea-market funky...and then more elegant in the evening when the chandeliers are lit. Christelle's husband Hervé, the chef, offers a full menu plus daily specials, and they are sweetly giving us 50€ to use at lunch or dinner. La Place ticks all my boxes for the perfect local cafe: long hours (7 am to after midnite); dining inside, outside and in the bar; WiFi throughout; couches and magazines in the back; a big TV for sporting events; sunshine on the terrace until late in the day; umbrellas when it's hot outside and heaters when it's not. Plus comforting food with ethnic/global touches...and the best iced latte in town. 

Okay, that’s your restaurants sorted out. Now, how to make the most of your precious days?

*No visit to Provence is complete without some serious sampling of our world-famous wines. So I’ve arranged a splendid half-day of vineyard touring and tasting around the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape for you. Your host will be the American sommelier and Rhône wine expert Kelly McAuliffe, one of the area’s best-loved guides. Even if you’re a total beginner, you’ll love your day out with Kelly...you’ll see some gorgeous scenery...and you’ll learn a ton. And since you're not driving, you can sip to your heart's content.

*Another day, you'll explore St. Remy with Philippe Goninet, president of our Tourist Office and an extremely knowledgeable guide. First, you'll ramble through the historic city center, with stops at Van Gogh sites, artisan food producers, artists’ studios,  the home of the famous Nostradamus, our beautiful church with its relics from the 14th century and 5000-pipe organ… and much more. After lunch, Philippe will tour you through Glanum (an excavated Greek/Roman village) and next door, the Clinique St. Paul (the serene cloister/hospital where Van Gogh spent a year and painted 150 canvasses). If time and energy allow, you might pop in at the Calanquet olive mill, where 5th-generation brother-and-sister farmers tend 5,000 trees and offer tastings of homemade tapenades, confitures, olive treats and more. Or, drop in at our favorite fromagerie, to play with the adorable goats and taste the award-winning chevre. Or zip over the Alpilles Mountains to visit the medieval, hilltop Les Baux. 

* Of course you'll want to spend a day in Aix and I've arranged for the perfect host!  Delana Nelsen, a transplated Minnesotan, lives in the heart of the old city and gives terrific three-hour walking tours. Depending on the day, these might include one of Aix’s famous markets, the beautiful old homes lining Cours Mirabeau, the Place de Marie with its 16th-century bell tower and Hall of Grains, the quirky Cathedral de Saint Sauveur and the sites of Aix’s most famous son, Paul Cezanne. Then over coffee in her favorite cafe, Delana will help you choose the best restaurant for lunch or dinner and send you on your way. 

*Next up is Avignon, the historic city on the Rhone, where guide Marlene Boyer has arranged another terrific tour for you. She'll take you all around the city's historical center so you can see the Palais des Papes, the St. Benezet Bridge, churches, gardens, shopping streets and more.  Then she'll treat you to lunch in the loud and colorful Les Halles covered food market, where you'll tuck into platters of delicious Provence specialties (olives, tapenades, local cheeses, cold cuts, oysters, bread, etc.) from the various market vendors. Marlene's tour company is #1 on Trip Advisor in the Avignon activities category...and I'm so delighted with her donation!

Wait Up, I'm Nowhere Near Done!

*If you come to Provence during winter truffle season (November 15 to March 15), Lisa and Johann Pepin of Les Pastras insist that you to come for a truffle hunt, followed by an indulgent tasting of truffle canapés with Champagne from the family's boutique winery.  You'll see the property's olive groves, vineyards and bee hives...learn how truffle dogs are trained...learn how to clean, store and cook with truffles...and much more. 

*Sharon deRham and Jane Satow are two of my best gal pals and two of my favorite guides. Both love to tour in multiple regions, depending on what their clients want to see and do. So once we start fleshing out your schedule, we'll know better where they should take you:  for a fabulous day in the Luberon...or a walking tour of Arles...or a visit to Vaison la Romaine...or a taste of the truffle market at Richerenches...or an afternoon of shopping...or a village market tour...or Roman sites...or wineries...or one from every column! When I asked these two for donations, both said "Whatever you need, I'll do!" Are my peeps the best or what?

*Ever come home from a vacation disappointed with your photos? We all have.  So professional photographer Joanna MacLennan has offered to spend a half or full day touring and shooting with  you, giving you lots of terrific tips and tricks along the way. Joanna will also photograph you and your travel companion and then send you a selection of high-resolution jpegs, either on a CD or for download via WeTransfer. So you get a private tour, a photo safari and a portrait session all in one.

Some Hiking and Biking and a Cooking Class Too...

*Feeling sportif? My favorite hiking guide Lucy Bakr will lead you on a glorious half-day randonée, in and around the Alpilles Mountains just south of St. Remy. Depending on the time of year and your stamina, she'll pick the perfect paths and even provide the coffee and nibbles. Beginners welcome! 

*Electric bikes (vélos électriques) are great fun...a wonderful way to explore the countryside.  After a little time to acclimate you'll quickly be off and running, at a pace that tops out around 40 km per hour.  It’s a wonderful sensation: you pedal as usual and then the motor kicks in and gives you a little extra push. Then a little more pedaling…and another push. The bikes are like a cross between a traditional bike and a moped or scooter…and they’re a perfect way to meander winding roads and gentle hills without major effort. At Sun-E-Bike in St. Remy, owner Maxime Vial will set you up with everything you need for a great day out: top-of-the-line e-bikes, helmets, suggested routes and even an extra battery if he thinks you'll need one.  (For more about e-biking in Provence, click here.)

*Once you've tried the food in Provence, you're going to want to make it a home. And I have the perfect person to teach you.  At Le Mas de Lilou, her beautifully restored 19th-century farmhouse B&B 15 minutes west of St. Remy, Catherine Burtonboy offers a wide range of foodie experiences including cooking and baking classes, table d’hôte dinners and more. Catherine will welcome you for an afternoon cooking class and then send you home with everything you've cooked, perfectly packaged, to enjoy for dinner that evening.

And Finally...

* Waiting for you upon arrival you'll find a big box of chocolates from Joël Durand, who handcrafts irresistible sweets infused with the herb, fruit and flower flavors of his beloved South of France. Pick any one of 32 flavors that comprise his Alphabet des Saveurs and bite gently through the coating: you’ll find a rich, velvety truffle-type ganache, shot through with the essence of Earl Grey or rosemary or cocoa bean or jasmine. Each luscious little square is dusted with a chocolate letter, a hint at what’s inside: L for lavender, M for fresh mint, T for tiramisu. Joël will be putting together a box for you filled with all his most-popular flavors. 

*No one leaves Provence without souvenirs...and I’ve got that covered as well. You’ll receive two boxes of four engraved, elegantly packaged soaps, from Comme un Murmure. They’re made near St. Remy and customized with your choice of monogram, initials or name. The scents are delicious and the soaps are so pretty you’ll find it hard to actually use them.

*Now here's a gift from me. My company Provence Post Travel (ok, that means...me) will help you pull it all together, schedule the week to fit in as much as possible, make your dinner reservations, answer all your questions. That’s what I do for my travel-planning clients and it'll be great fun to do it for you as well.

But You Can't Win if You Don't Play...

Ok so here’s what you have to do win the whole shebang: just click HERE. Then put the amount you want to donate into the little box. Remember, the more you give, the more chances you have to win. And make sure to peruse all the other great prizes HERE...and enter to win those as well! Entries will be accepted only until December 17^th so make sure you do it soon. Anyone can enter, anywhere in the world.

And now a major merci to everyone who helped me pull together this prize. Thanks to you, someone is going to have an amazing vacation in Provence and some very needy kids and their families will eat better for years because of you. 

For more info on PWP, check out their website here or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

For more on Sustainable Harvest, see their website and follow them on Twitter.

Ok everybody, start clicking! And Bonne Chance!