To get to Saint Vallier-de-Thiey, a mere 31km from Cannes (I’m trying to start thinking in terms of the metric system, although my mind’s eye is still having trouble visualizing the distance, it’s about 19mi), up about 800 meters in elevation (about 2600 feet) into the foothills of the Alps. The little stone town is located about 15 minutes from Grasse along the famous route Nepoleon, which stretches from Cannes to Grenobles, and is a busy throughway for travelers. Saint Vallier-de-Thiey is quiet and quaint, consisting of a main brasserie (French café where everyone knows your name), a boulangerie (the bakery), and a few restaurants (none of note). On Sundays they hold a market providing various odds-n-ends and fresh produce. It is a small and beautiful country village, but the real gem of the town is Villa Kelada!
Villa Kelada is located off the main drag, just far enough that you don’t pick up the noise from traffic or the white light from the town (billions of stars cascade overhead at night), but near enough that you can stroll easily into town in the morning to pick up fresh croissants (It is one of my goals to unlock the secrets of the French Croissant, it's gotta be the butter or the water, or the dough or the knuckles of a fifth generation baker?? Further posts pending). The villa was a dream house created from scratch by Madame Blum in the ‘80s. It was constructed completed from stone quarried from the surrounding area and sprawls with arching walkways, balconies overlooking the valley that catch the setting sun over the Alps, and gorgeous facades on all sides. Yet, as beautiful as this four bedroom, two story structure is, it is complemented (if not overshadowed) by gorgeous grounds comprising of a backyard garden, interspersed evergreens, delicately trimmed bushes, wild-flowers, stone pathways, and a full-length salt-water pool. This vision was all laid out meticulously by Mme Blum and has been superbly maintained by my beau-perè, Asaad Kelada, who took over ownership in 1990. The last five years, my mom has been putting to work her exceptional taste adding design touches to the kitchen, livingroom, downstairs “media room” and throughout the outside, creating a distinctive style and grace to this traditional Provencal Villa. It is truly a dream vacation home.
The past three weeks have been all about relaxing and enjoying the down time with family. Days have been filled with sitting by the pool (Jay trying desperately to hang on to her Sardinian tan), playing cards (endless games of cards), day trips to Juan-les-Pins and Grasse, and dinners both at home and out at restaurants. Mom is a phenomenal cook and she utilized the fresh ingredients from local farmers' markets to whip up dazzling charcuterie platters for lunch and traditional Provençal dishes for dinner (grilled lamb, boiled artichokes, sautéed veggies, yum!). I haven't enjoyed this type of luxury since high-school, thanks Mom! It has been a very relaxing and much needed respite, perfect to recharge the batteries with ample time to spend with my family, couldn't ask for a better vacation!
Mom, Jay, Asaad, and Me