This year I’ve been dreaming of a Valentine’s Day gift we can share. I’ve been dreaming of a
Florentine palace, of
views over Rome’s Eternal City, of
Venice La Serenissima, of a few days in
Paris treading the cobblestones of ancient Lutetia before enjoying the comforts o
f a discreet hotel with striking decor. I’ve imagined us crossing the Atlantic and admiring exciting and fascinating New York from the terrace of
the Surrey Hotel. But in this wonderful dream, I’ve missed the
Côte d’Azur and
Provence, the villages perchés of
Mougins and Saint Paul de Vence (
Le Saint-Paul), and those captivated by them like Montand and Simone Signoret, as well as the Montagne Sainte Victoire, the divine muse of the painter Cézanne, who was crazy about its colours and shapes. Then I felt the need for the headiness of
Bordeaux’s vineyards, to savour some delicious wine while telling myself that that is where we will go together to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. I almost succumbed to the fragrances of the perfumes of
Grasse, thinking this would make the perfect gift for you. I was attracted for a moment by the
Provençal farmhouses and their charms of yesteryear, surrounded by olive groves and umbrella pines under which we could take a little time to enjoy the chance to be there together. Then I told myself that a glimpse of nature’s immensity would bring us back to each other, as we gaze out at the
Aubrac or the
Mediterranean. Finally, I wanted to dance a few steps of
a romantic Viennese waltz with you. Let’s go away somewhere just the two of us to enjoy the romance of Valentine’s Day!