Caroline Longstaffe

About the Author Caroline Longstaffe


The Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1770
California & USACarmel

The story of Father Junípero Serra and the Carmel Mission

I have strolled through the beautiful Carmel Mission many times but when I visited it recently I felt as if I’d stepped through a portal and arrived in Europe. Maybe the sense of familiarity and the past was so profound …

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Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence, Vaucluse, France
CarmelLourmarin

Carmel, California and Lourmarin, Provence, the places I call home

‘Home is where the heart is’, or so the expression goes. My heart is somewhat fragmented, with those I love and the places I own spread across two continents. When I’m in one place, I think of the other. I’m …

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Hôtel de la Beursaudièr, Chablis, France
ExploreFrance

Driving through France

We have driven through France, north to south and back, (about 1000km each way), more times than I can remember. As children, both our families took holidays driving through France, often headed for Spain. Slightly crammed between siblings, before cars …

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Lavender fields of Bonnieux, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Around ProvenceExploreLuberon

The lavender of the Luberon, Provence

Throughout the Luberon region the landscape is peppered with fields of small, round shaped lavender bushes which for almost nine months of the year lie dormant like sleeping hedgehogs. In the spring they begin to sprout and from about the …

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Château Léoube entrance by the vines's,Bormes-les-Mimosas, Var Provence, France
Around ProvenceCôte d'AzurExploreVar

Léoube, Provençal rosé enticing England and California

When the USA fell in love with rosé It wasn’t that long ago that rosé wine was hard to find in USA. Initially it was often confused with white zinfandel, wine of a similar color but not similar in any …

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Views of the Mediterranean at Hôtel la Villa Duce
Around ProvenceExploreVar

Hôtel La Villa La Duce, Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer

We decided we’d like to explore a little more of the region beyond the Luberon and spend a few days on the Côte d’Azur. We were in search of a quiet, boutique hotel, one that offered good food where we …

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At the Terrace restaurant at Hôtel de Caumont, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
Around ProvenceBouches-du-RhôneCities of ProvenceEat in LourmarinEat in UzesExploreLanguedoc-RousillonSt Remy-de-ProvenceUzes

Restaurants we love in Uzès, Aix-en-Provence & St-Rémy-de-Provence

Eating out, or more to the point eating outside, is very much a part of restaurant life in France. There are lots of places to choose from, and we love finding new ones. Here are a few restaurants we’ve just …

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The graves at the Canadien Normandy memorial near Arromanche
EuropeExploreFrance

Arromanches and The Memorials of Normandy

The Floating Harbours at Arromanches There were many factors contributing to the success of D-Day. Strategic planning, deception and the successful outcome of some of the initial targets was critical, such as Pegasus Bridge, and Point du Hoc. But the …

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Gold beach, Normandy site of the British troop Landings on D-Day, June 6th 1944
EuropeExploreFrance

D-Day: Operation Overlord ~ The Normandy Beaches

D-Day, June 6 1944, known by the brilliant strategists that oversaw it as ‘Operation Overlord’, is perhaps one of the most meticulously researched and planned military operations ever executed. An immortal day, forever written in the sands of time that …

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View of Lourmarin Village, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Around ProvenceExploreStories of Life

A million miles away

“Life is what happens when you’re busy doing other things.” Words of wisdom I’ve often heard from a dear friend, for indeed sometimes life does throw you off course and you find yourself in unexpected circumstances. Such was our story …

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