School Life en Provence

Like the Pied Piper did for the mice in Hamelin, our little Lourmarin rug rats were ushered into the first day at Ecole Philippe De Girard with a serenade of inviting songs from the local private music school. With tunes like the Theme from the Pink Panther and other popular classics played on the clarinet, the kids were invited back into the schoolyard with style ever so Provencale! A great icebreaker for the kids and great advertising for the music school!

Just before arriving at the school, our to be tutored trio traversed a very quaint path and short cut aptly named "Chemin des Ecoliers." It's quite a different experience to walk alongside historical remnants - and no, I don't mean their parents. As a matter of fact, the buildings and walls are much older than their parents' ages combined and multiplied!

The school itself is quite historical, complete with a stone statue and horse trough in its front courtyard. Large arched wooden doors, vaulted ceilings and stone facades help to inspire learning - a tradition here for at least a century. With a 9:00 to 16:30 day, there's a lot of learning to be done indeed. And there's also a canteen option where the kids are served hot, healthy meals. A caveat to the longer school day is that there is no school on Wednesdays. For full time working parents this must present a bit of a challenge but for us it means a special day trip with the kids.

I think I'm hearing that clarinet playing the song of Lourmarin. It is alluring and beckoning us to stay... if not longer, maybe a promise to return someday, permanently.