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Shutters & Sunflowers

Travel tips from an English girl in California, in love with Provence.

  • Home
  • Uzes
    • Visit
    • Stay
    • Eat
    • Activities
    • Nearby
    • Stories
    • At the Terrace restaurant at Hôtel de Caumont, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 10, 2022
    • Uzès where Shutters and Sunflowers began

      admin, October 4, 2021
    • Shutters of Provence in Lourmarin Provence, France

      The Shutters of Provence

      Caroline Longstaffe, September 10, 2019
    • Speaking at The Pilsudski Institute about the Poles who cracked Enigma

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 2, 2019
  • Lourmarin
    • Visit
    • Stay
    • Eat
    • Activities
    • Nearby
    • Stories
    • Our street in Lourmarin, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      Lourmarin through the eyes of a child

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 9, 2024
    • Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence, Vaucluse, France

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, March 30, 2023
    • A view of Loumrarin, Luberon, Provence, France

      Lourmarin, The Luberon, Provence, Travel guide

      admin, June 21, 2022
    • At the Terrace restaurant at Hôtel de Caumont, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 10, 2022
  • Around Provence
    • Cities of Provence
    • Luberon
    • Var
    • Bouches-du-Rhône
    • Côte d’Azur
    • Languedoc-Rousillon
    • The Vaucluse
    • Outside Maison Empereur, Marseille

      La Maison Empereur, Marseille

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 5, 2025
    • Bassin de L'étang, Cucuron, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      Cucuron, la petite village près de Lourmarin

      Caroline Longstaffe, September 16, 2024
    • Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 30, 2024
    • Gorges du Verdon, Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon, Provence, France

      Les Gorges du Verdon

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 19, 2024
  • Britain
    • London
    • An Hour from London
    • The Cotswolds
    • Yorkshire
    • Scotland
    • Other Places
    • Spring blossoms in Lourmarin

      Spring in Provence, England and Lake Tahoe, California

      Caroline Longstaffe, March 9, 2021
    • Speaking at The Pilsudski Institute about the Poles who cracked Enigma

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 2, 2019
    • The Control Tower at Greenham Common, Nebury, Berkshire, England

      The story of Greenham Common, England

      Caroline Longstaffe, October 12, 2018
    • Front of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, England, birth place of Sir Winston Churchill

      Blenheim Palace, birth place of Sir Winston Churchill

      Caroline Longstaffe, February 20, 2018
  • Europe
    • France
    • Italy
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Netherlands
    • Belgium
    • Denmark
    • Hôtel de la Beursaudièr, Chablis, France

      Driving through France

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 18, 2022
    • The graves at the Canadien Normandy memorial near Arromanche

      Arromanches and The Memorials of Normandy

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 1, 2022
    • Gold beach, Normandy site of the British troop Landings on D-Day, June 6th 1944

      D-Day: Operation Overlord ~ The Normandy Beaches

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 22, 2022
    • The Knights Templars and cheese of the Aveyron

      Caroline Longstaffe, October 20, 2021
  • California & USA
    • San Francisco
    • Carmel
    • Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
    • Lake Tahoe
    • The Bay Area
    • Other Places in California
    • Elsewhere in USA
    • Building a house in Carmel-by-the Sea

      Busy building a house in Carmel-by-the-Sea

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 1, 2024
    • The Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1770

      The story of Father Junípero Serra and the Carmel Mission

      Caroline Longstaffe, April 16, 2023
    • Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence, Vaucluse, France

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, March 30, 2023
    • Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA

      Crater Lake ~ the stunning finale to our American Road Trip

      Caroline Longstaffe, July 8, 2021
  • Global
    • New Zealand
    • Australia
    • Turkey
    • Dubai
    • Singapore
    • Clay Cliffs at Omarama, South Island New Zealand

      Days 20-21: South Island New Zealand~Tasman Glacier Lake, Ōmarama, Cromwell & wineries

      Caroline Longstaffe, February 6, 2025
    • On Hooker Trail, Aoraki / Mount Cook, South Island, New Zealand

      Day 19: South Island New Zealand~Mount Cook

      Caroline Longstaffe, February 3, 2025
    • Cardona Hotel, Cardona, South Island, New Zealand

      Day 18: South Island of New Zealand ~ Cardrona & Wanaka

      Caroline Longstaffe, January 26, 2025
    • At mountains where Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed near Paradise, near Glenorchy, near Queenstown, South Island New Zealand

      Day 17: South Island of New Zealand, Glenorchy, searching for The Hobbit

      Caroline Longstaffe, November 22, 2024
  • Travel Guides
    • A view of Loumrarin, Luberon, Provence, France

      Lourmarin, The Luberon, Provence, Travel guide

      admin, June 21, 2022
    • Plan a stay in Lourmarin, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence

      Plan a stay in Lourmarin the Luberon, Provence

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 2, 2017
    • Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

      San Francisco – ‘The City by the Bay’ – Travel Guide

      Caroline Longstaffe, February 27, 2017
    • Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA Travel Guide PDF

      Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Travel Guide

      admin, January 31, 2016
  • Stories of Life
    • Building a house in Carmel-by-the Sea

      Busy building a house in Carmel-by-the-Sea

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 1, 2024
    • View of Lourmarin Village, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      A million miles away

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 5, 2022
    • Spring blossoms in Lourmarin

      Spring in Provence, England and Lake Tahoe, California

      Caroline Longstaffe, March 9, 2021
    • Dreaming of Christmas

      Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas yet to come

      Caroline Longstaffe, December 5, 2020
The beach in Carmel California, USA
Stories of Life

Father’s Day | Thank you Daddy

admin, June 15, 2013

For me, in in my sometimes confused, Anglo-Provencal-Californian life, I know that where you live is not really the point on Father’s Day, remembering your father and celebrating him is what this day is about. Where ever I am, on …

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Garden in Carmel-by-the Sea, California
California & USACarmelExplore

Flowers of Carmel-by-the-Sea | ‘Home thoughts from Abroad’

admin, June 10, 2013

I love flowers, most girls do!! I love growing them, something I need to perfect, picking them, something I am adept at, buying them, for others and myself, being given them and arranging them! Also, there is nothing more beautiful …

Read more 0 Comments
Authentic Mediterranean property in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA
California & USACarmelExplore

Beautiful, stunning and unique, the homes of Carmel-by-the-sea!

admin, June 7, 2013

Carmel homes boast a wealth of different styles of architecture, everything is unique, which adds to its charm. The one I am featuring above is my absolute favourite! Looking at it, one really could be in Tuscany or Provence, so …

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Fog hanging over Carmel beach, California, USA
California & USACarmel

Carmel swallowed by the fog; California’s coastline micro-climates

admin, June 4, 2013

As I walked for just over an hour, in the mid-afternoon, I watched in silent amazement as the fog silently rolled in from the sea, totally transforming everything, as if some giant clock had suddenly whizzed the months forward from …

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The clay tile roof by Carmel Mission, Carmel, California, USA
California & USACarmelExplore

Carmel, California, another one of my special places!

admin, May 29, 2013

When I wrote my first thoughts about living in Lourmarin, in Provence, France, I asked: ‘when do you know that you are somewhere special and what makes a place special?’ Of course the answer is different for all of us. …

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Mansion in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Elsewhere in USAExplore

West Palm Beach, Florida

admin, May 18, 2013

Driving around this beautiful area of West Palm Beach, one is immediately aware that ‘old money’ exists here. Stunning, mansion style properties close to, or on the Ocean. Everything immaculately groomed, in way that  only Americans are capable of! 4, 5, …

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Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, USA
Elsewhere in USAExplore

Florida: “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”

admin, May 16, 2013

The road sign in Calais, France directed us to ‘Tunnel sous La Manche’ ~ The Channel Tunnel and then after a few special days in England and a trans-Atlantic plane ride we are a continent away. Work commitments have taken us …

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Bruges, Belgium by the canal
BelgiumEuropeExplore

Chocolate, beer and lace from Bruges, Belgium

admin, May 15, 2013

Belgium is world famous for its chocolates, beer and lace. It seems a strange combination of products and the history of each is fascinating. Belgian beer production is probably the oldest of the three, beer has been brewed and drunk …

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Bruges, Belgium
BelgiumEuropeExplore

Bruges Belgium

admin, May 14, 2013

Bruges, Belgium, a little out of way when driving north through France to Calais but we couldn’t resist revisiting this fabulous UNESCO World Heritage city again, especially as our previous visit had been 27 years ago and fleeting at that, …

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Le Crot Foulot, Chalone-sur Saone, Burgandy, France
EuropeExploreFrance

A night stop in Burgandy: Le Crot Foulot, Chambres d’Hôtes de Charme.

admin, May 13, 2013

Le Crot Foulot; only a three and a half hour drive from Provence, (an hour north of Lyons) in the small village of Jugy in the Burgandy region of France, our first night stop on route back to England. My …

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Provence

ABOUT CAROLINEBORN UNDER A WANDERING STAR

I was born under a wandering star, an English girl living in California, in love with Provence. I have lived near San Francisco for 17 years but in 2012 spent 20 unforgettable months in Provence, first in beautiful, medieval Uzès, and then in the Luberon’s fairy-tale village of Lourmarin. It was magical and inspired me to write Shutters and Sunflowers; my insights into the local charm of places I love, Provence, England, California and places I travel, suggestions for where to stay, to eat and to visit. Join me and be inspired too, there's a big world waiting to be explored, let me know what you find!

ExploringPROVENCE, BRITAIN, CALIFORNIA & OTHER PLACES

Hôtel de la Beursaudièr, Chablis, France
ExploreFrance

Driving through France

Caroline Longstaffe, August 18, 2022

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 …

Read more 6 Comments
Lavender fields of Bonnieux, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

The lavender of the Luberon, Provence

Caroline Longstaffe, July 25, 2022
Around ProvenceExploreLuberon
Château Léoube entrance by the vines's,Bormes-les-Mimosas, Var Provence, France

Léoube, Provençal rosé enticing England and California

Caroline Longstaffe, July 13, 2022
Around ProvenceCôte d'AzurExploreVar

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Shutters & SunflowersAbout the Story

I started this blog as a diary whilst living in Provence, calling it ‘Shutters and Sunflowers’ because they both come to mind when I think of Provence. It has developed into a travel resource, about Provence, California, Britain and wherever I travel. There are travel guides for Uzès, Lourmarin, San Francisco, Carmel and Lake Tahoe; ideas for boutique accommodation, where to sample delicious, regional food, advice about what to see and historical insights. I don't pretend to know all the options but write about what touches my heart; rows of Provencal shutters, fields of sunflowers; about ‘living the journey, not waiting to get to the destination.’ I hope Shutters and Sunflowers will inspire you to visit some of the beautiful places that I have been fortunate enough to go to, do get in touch if I can be of any help in planning your special trips.

Interact With UsMOST COMMENTED

View through the shutters of a maison de village in Lourmarin, Provence, France
42

Our house in Lourmarin, Provence

The Control Tower at Greenham Common, Nebury, Berkshire, England
28

The story of Greenham Common, England

Rainbow over Mt Diablo, Danville California
28

Unprecedented times, stay safe & well my friends……

The Sunflower Field, a World War II novel about the Polish code breakers who first broke the Enigma code
27

The Sunflower Field ~ the story of who first cracked the Enigma Code

24

Our American Road Trip

SyndicationPublished Elsewhere

A collection of articles from Shutters & Sunflowers published elsewhere on the web.

The Sunflower Field World War II Novel set in Provence

Perfectly Provence features ‘The Sunflower Field’, my World War II novel set in France

Caroline Longstaffe, August 11, 2017
Published Elsewhere
Sunflowers of Provence, France

Provence Travel Tips from Shutters and Sunflowers interview with Perfectly Provence

admin, January 29, 2016
Published Elsewhere
Interview with Perfectly Provence

Perfectly Provence, Shutters and Sunflowers, The Provencal Landscape

admin, December 2, 2015
Published Elsewhere
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