September 24, 2011

a small village


I sometimes dream of living in a small village with cobblestone streets where everybody knows everybody.

My father-in-law used to run this famous cafe/bar in the small town where my husband grew up as a child. And by famous, I mean everybody in town knew them because of that bar.

Their neighbors had this smallish delicatessen right in front of the bar. He tells me that, by that time, these neighbors didn't have a coffee machine so they always had breakfast there. They got free coffee and my husband's family got lots and lots of the most delicious, fresh pastry. Everyday.

See... it's not that I'd like to live in a small town so that I can have free coffee or anything. But isn't it cool to be able to live a much simpler life? ...

... in which you get from other people things you lack and give them other things they might need instead? (you know, like maybe.. real conversation?) I know.. you must be thinking that the concept of trade as commercial transaction is nothing new and humanity has been doing that since the beginning of time. I know that too; I just seem to find beauty in simple life.

I actually think I'm through with the big city.

About the picture: there are plenty of places like this in Spain (I bumped into this picture here by chance, but the artist says it was taken somewhere in the south of France, which only adds a lot more charm to it)



31 comments:

  1. AnnaSeptember 24, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Lovely post, Luisa! I'm from one of these small towns. It's actually one of the stops on the Bergen-Oslo line that you've probably passed when you were in Norway. Everybody knows everybody. It has it's ups and downs I can tell you, but the thing i really miss the most is the vegetable garden my mom had and the farm we rented. That was just one of the beauties with the simple town life! I'm going to live like that one day, that is for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 24, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    I always love to read your comments on my blog, Halina. I really do!

    I guess you're right - it has its ups and downs, probably just like everything else in life. I was amazed by the landscapes and the simple life people lived there in the south of Sweden and Norway, you know.. all those farms and villages. Isn't that the most beautiful thing??

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    so true. i live in a big city. but I would always love to live in a village, a small town. Way out in the country...away from everything. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 24, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Totally!! :P
    Thanks for stopping by, Ashlyn!

    ReplyDelete
  5. StephanieSeptember 24, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    I've always wanted to live in a small European town...where everything is older than the entire United States and you have a favorite little cafe to read a book and watch people you know pass by on the streets. Love that photo!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 25, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    yep.. small European towns are sooo beautiful! And Europe, in general, is really charming - I totally agree. The old buildings, bridges, cafes... they're great! :P

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ann JonesSeptember 25, 2011 at 2:25 AM

    Beautiful photo! I agree that it would be very nice to live in a small town like the picture! Thanks for following my blog, followed you back :) Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    Thanks for stopping by :P

    ReplyDelete
  9. CandiceSeptember 25, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    There IS such a charm in small towns...especially Europe. I visited Spain several years ago (larger cities and smaller towns) and must say that I love it all :) Thanks for stopping by my blog...following you back!

    http://www.wherenothinggoodcomeseasy.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 25, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Glad you liked it! :P

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mel Creates OftenSeptember 25, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Thans for the follow! I'm a new follower of yours now. Love this photo.

    ReplyDelete
  12. NekkySeptember 25, 2011 at 6:36 PM

    I live in a small town in Germany and I'm loving it. I miss the big cities once in a while but I'm just enjoying all the goodness that comes with living in a small town for now.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 25, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    I can totally relate, Nekky :P Thanks for coming!

    ReplyDelete
  14. meg feeSeptember 25, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    a simpler life in a smaller place sounds nothing short of divine. i love the idea of knowing those around you and trading goods. sometimes i think if we could all just get back to that--to where it all began--well, the world would be a much better place.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 25, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    Oh, definitely!!
    Modern life is sometimes so lonely... isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  16. krissy janeSeptember 25, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Great Post, Luisa. There seems to be a tinge of majesty in the small-town life.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MichelleSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    It's exactly what I want in my life!! I love the small town living with the cobblestone roads!!

    Thanks for visiting my blog, www.kissedbysweets.com! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownSeptember 25, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Hi Luisa! Thanks for stopping by my blog ifonlylifecouldbethatsimple.blogspot.com I'm now followng you back :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 25, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Thank you girls! You rock!

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownSeptember 26, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Lovely post. Simpler life would be lovely. I know I'll want to live in a smaller town later on but when you're a student life is much "simpler" when you live close to your school =P Haha.

    Followed yooou. Your blog seems very interesting indeed =3 And, to be honest, reading on your info that you're a non-practising psychologist kind of hooked me... I am such a psychology geek XD I study it on Higher Level in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme =D Luv luv luv it.

    Anywaaay,
    Can't wait to read more of your stuff ^^
    Happy Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  21. KerrySeptember 26, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Oh I dream of walking along a cobblestone pathway in Italy or France, or even Spain! It just looks so beautiful and romantic and peaceful. Thanks for sharing this pic :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousSeptember 26, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    I was thinking it looks a bit like home - France I mean!
    How I would love to live this way you describe so well..........you see it is very strange because I have discovered your blog only recently and I feel like we have much in common!
    I think a simple life would suit me perfectly - I am still glad I experienced Life in the City, many things good about it but that's it......
    Have a beautiful start of the week!!! take care.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 26, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    Thank you so much, girls!

    @ Lilu I'm a psychology geek too! Surely that deserves a follow :P

    @ MarieHarmony I loved the big city at first.. but as time went by, I realized I need a simpler life... somewhere else... :P Thank you for the sweet words! :P

    ReplyDelete
  24. Rafael GonçalvesSeptember 26, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Beautiful text. Food for thinking. I totally saw myself crossing the cobblestone street and having some coffee

    ReplyDelete
  25. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 26, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    @ Rafael Gonçalves You definitely belong in a place like this, don't you?? Would you come visit me if I moved to a small town? Thanks for stopping by - friends are always welcome! :P

    ReplyDelete
  26. AndreaSeptember 27, 2011 at 1:36 AM

    Beautiful!
    Thank you for dropping me some love over on my blog:-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Please check here - you have an award waiting for you:http://thecolorofourskin-ourjourney.blogspot.com/2011/09/liebster-award-from-inspiring-new.html

    ReplyDelete
  28. ChinkyGirLMeLSeptember 27, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    Oh I know right? Tell me about it. I'd like to say goodbye to the city traffic and hello to small towns instead. There is beauty in simplicity.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Luisa RodríguezSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:40 PM

    @ Andrea You're welcome :)

    @ MarieHarmony Thank you so much. I'll definitely

    @ ChinkyGirlMeL Tell me about it... I'd leave today if I had a job waiting for me somewhere else...

    ReplyDelete
  30. A Lost FeatherSeptember 28, 2011 at 4:41 AM

    mm i would love to live in a small, quiet, happy town. i grew up and currently live just outside manhattan. i love the city, but i could never live there. i always come home exhausted.. i can't imagine staying allll the time. i guess you never know.. i could very well end up in manhattan at this point hehe

    ReplyDelete
  31. Allyson BossieOctober 4, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    I found you on the blog hop and subscribed via GFC as masugr. Hope you can stop by and return the favor.

    http://mywildcrazylife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

You know the drill. Please leave your message after the "beep". Beep!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)