Rainbows in Provence

A few claps of thunder… followed by some bright flashes of lightening and a quick, heavy rainstorm rolls across Sablet Village and through the countryside, bringing a cool change after a few days of warm weather. 

A double rainbow from the kitchen window of Maison des Pelerins!

One of the very special things about being in this part of Provence is the beautiful rainbows, that one often sees  illuminating the Dentelles de Montmirail, bathing the vineyards and surrounding countryside with a bright golden light, after one of these storms during Spring, Summer and Fall.  My favorite place during these brief rainstorms is the kitchen window of Maison des Pelerins – with its sweeping views over the rooftops of Sablet and the surrounding vineyards.  The smell of the rain on the parched ground, the sound of the rain on the tile rooftops, the occasional clap of thunder and flash of lightening – quenching the dry countryside  and leaving the fields and vineyards clean and fresh.
         
But… the best is yet to come ….  as the rain storm rolls through the village, across the fields and on towards  Mt. Venoux, the villages on the Lavender Route,  and the Alps-Cote D’Azur Region of Provence – we are rewarded  with the most brilliant, vivid rainbows that form a bright, multicolored and sometimes  double layered “l’arc du ciel” (rainbow) over the countryside.

It seems to appear so suddenly -  an almost magical sight – the lacey and jagged  rocks of the Dentelles in the background, and the freshly washed clean, bright green of the vineyards illuminated by the  glow of the rainbow - frame  the picture. Our French neighbors – for whom this is a normal part of the weather pattern – I’m sure,  must just  shake their heads when they see this thunderstorm loving American woman, hanging out of her kitchen window, snapping pictures of the rainbows!  

We hear a lot about the wonderful wines of this area, the “cusine du soleil” which is such a part of Provence – we know about the herbs, the olives, the olive oil, the markets, not to mention the warm, hospitable Provencaux and everything that is Provence. This is such a surprise and an unexpected treat – it’s really worth stopping for a moment to  spend a little time enjoying the “l’arc du ciel”  - if you are fortunate enough to have the experience whilst  visiting Provence.