A real well-being experience
A long weekend in October, I went for a yoga and hiking retreat with 8 other women that I barely knew. It took us 30 minutes from Nice Centre to come to the B&B La Parare in Châteauneuf Villevieille. This village is situated about 500 m over sea level and you have to drive through 15 curves before arriving.
La Parare is a charming old French farmhouse owned and managed by Karin and Sydney. Karin is Swedish and Sydney is Dutch/French. They met when they lived and worked in Hongkong. They live their dream and have renovated and decorated the house in a very personal way. All rooms are different and tastefully stylished.
We arrived on Thursday afternoon and after installation in the rooms, we were welcomed with coffee/tea and a homemade cake under the olive trees at the terrasse. Even if we didn’t know each other very well, the conversations were soon open and friendly.
Then it was time for the first yoga session under the olive trees before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Lena, the yoga teacher,guided us through a HathaYoga which is a soft but physical yoga combined with breathing exercises and ends with relaxation.
The next morning, before breakfast, we had a MediYoga session which is a therapeutic yoga form aimed at increasing balance physically, mentally and emotionally.
In the afternoon, after coming back from the hiking, we did HathaYoga again.
And the program was the same day 3. We did the sessions at different areas in the garden according to the sun. It was calm and resting to feel the heat of the sun and the fresh air and listen to the birds (even though the neighbour’s geese made a lot of noise sometimes).
On Sunday morning it was raining so we had a theory lesson inside about sleep, relaxation and hormone balance.
Hiking and relaxing
Day 2 we did a 4 hours hike from the house to Mont Macaron about 9 km and 390 m altitude difference. Lena, the yoga teacher, guided us and it was a pleasure to admire the fantastic nature and the amazing view over Nice. Day 3 we went for a 3 hours walk into the valley towards Bendejun 6,5 km and 207 m high difference with a beautiful view over the Paillon valley.
I haven’t done much hiking before, so I looked up my daughters hiking shoes in the humid cellar where they have been stored for a few years. That was not a good idea as they broke into pieces when we had almost arrived at the top. Luckily one of my friends had an extra pair to borrow. I must admit that it was helpful to have walking sticks as it was sometimes rather steep and rocky.
At the top we stopped for a lunch break. Even if we were not so hungry after the copious breakfast, Sydney’s picnic was delicious, not a simple sandwich but a delicious chicken salad.
When we came back to the house, we took a swim in the pool before coffee time with a yummy homemade cake.
Fantastic home made food
While staying at La Parare, we enjoyed delicious food and home-cooked meals prepared by our host.
We had great breakfasts’ on the terrasse under the olive trees, with home baked bread and homemade jam, boiled egg, yoghurt and muesli, homemade of course, fruit salad and freshly squeezed orange juice and more. Every breakfast had a “dessert” which could be e.g pancakes with “Stroop”, a dutch syrup.
The first night we took the aperitif on the terrasse, but the other nights it was too cold so we moved into the cosy living room. The dining room is a vaulted room in stone with a big dining table in the middle. On one end there is a fireplace and a cosy sitting area, and on the other end a beautiful grand piano.
Sydney is the chef – like at the best of restaurants. He served a creative and original three course dinner starting with a fantastic “aperitif”.
For example, the first night we got a homemade orange wine with the most delicious Bagna Cauda (a traditional Nice recipe based on anchovy and garlic).
Followed by grilled paprika with feta cheese and Turbo with lemon sauce and local vegetables and finally a Sorbet with fruit and cream foam.
Another night we got homemade pea soup and calamares.
All served with a nice wine.
We had such a nice time, talking and laughing and often ended the evening with a Limoncello.
After breakfast on Sunday, we left this fantastic place and said thankyou and goodbye to Karin and Sydney.
Feeling fantastic after those days with 6 yoga sessions, 2 good hikings, fantastic food and drinks, a lot of talking, interesting discussions and laughter. And best of all, new wonderful friends.
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