Villa Mimarmel

01.09.13

We were filled with both excitement and a touch of anxiety as we neared Ginestas.  One always wonders if the internet site where we find the house rental is above board and if all the advertising is real or just hype.  And yet, there it was - Villa Mimarmel - looking exactly like the photos!



Marge tells us we're in Ginestas and it's 34 degrees.  What she fails to say is that we're home!




The front gate.

The wider front gate... for autos.

We have arrived at Villa Mimarmel.

 





Welcoming flowers in the front yard.





 

We were soon bringing in our bags and exploring our new "Home away from home" for the next two months.  It's wonderful!  There were chilled refreshments in the fridge and we immediately felt like we "had arrived".

 

We're here!

A little half bath as you come in the front door.

A very large living room with comfortable couches and chairs, and a big Panasonic TV with British satellite.

A huge kitchen that has every dish and utensil you can imagine.

An island and breakfast counter that seats six with fridge and microwave and toaster in background.

Bedrooms (3) in separate part of house to ensure quiet.

Large bathroom with long tub.

Toilet, bidet and separate shower.

Our bed made of two separate mattresses.  Lots of towels and linens.

Sink inside our bedroom as well as dresser storage.



Bedroom #2 with twin beds.

This bedroom also has a private sink.

Bedroom #3 with twin beds and yellow-blue décor.

Karl uses this storage for his clothes.



Back in the kitchen - notice all the pantry and cupboard space?  And a dishwasher.

The computer centre which I've adopted as a place to write my blog!

The dining room table which Karl has adopted as his computer centre.

 



Villa Mimarmel does not have the age or the history of the Quissac home with its big old pieces of antique furniture, nor does it have the charm and artistic décor found in Thouars with its authentic feel of a French country home, but this Ginestas home is huge, practical, comfortable, boasting every possible amenity.  It was built in 1995 and has a Spanish feel with stucco (adobe) exterior, clay-tile roof and black and red décor, leather and wood.  It is absolutely perfect for a two-month stay! 

Karl and I started playing a game, trying to identify what this villa doesn't have that we had in any of our other rentals.  Try as we could, there didn't seem to be a single thing missing.  We eventually came up with a very short list: fluffy bath robes, face cloths, straw hats, and a shopping basket to carry to the market.  In other words, we lack for nothing.

In terms of location within the village, it is in the cul-de-sac of a small housing development just outside the main part of the village, making it close enough to walk into the village, yet far enough to be quiet.  In terms of location within Languedoc, it is really perfectly situated: close to the Mediterranean, close to Spain and Andorra, close to other centres like Narbonne, Béziers, Collioure, Carcassonne, and just 10 minutes south of the Canal du Midi.  This is a place where we're a short drive from so many sites and things we want to visit.  It is Cathar country.

And I haven't even shown you the outside! 

The garden is enormous!

A little BBQ with raclette.

The washing machine is in the pump house next to the pool pump, where there is also an extra fridge.  After all, you may need to stock up on beer, wine, or smelly cheese!

I wouldn't hazard a guess as to how many plants and bushes are in this garden.  The entire backyard is enclosed and very private.

The chairs were waiting our arrival!



A glimpse of the peanut-shaped pool.



The place feels like a fancy resort!  Enough lounge chairs to have all our friends over!

It takes Karl 10 secs to swim across the pool lengthwise.



A bench hiding under a shady tree.

Olive tree, various shrubs, and Roman statues.



Looking towards the house from midway down the pool.

The house, as seen from the garden.



To the side, a clothes line and lots of clothes pins.  We lack nothing.

A local shy demoiselle.

I'm sure this is a riot of colour at the peak of season.

A bit of shade at certain times of the day, and a box full of chair cushions.

 



Karl has taken to the pool like a fish to water...



Karl's favourite trees located in the centreville as viewed from villa.

View of backyard from gate.

Not only are the villa and grounds wonderful, we also have caretakers who come round twice a week to check on the pool and provide us with any information or help we might need.  Lin and Jeff have joined us for coffee a couple of times and they are so helpful!

I probably haven't done justice to Mimarmel with my photos, so I invite you to check out its website.  We found this rental through www.rentaplaceinfrance.com  rental #824. 
Our previous rentals were found through www.sabbaticalhomes.com. 

So we're all settled in now, and already we're recognizing some folks from the village.  Karl is buddies with the lady at the bakery and I'm quite attached to the owner of "Les Trois Cochons", an eatery we've frequented 3 times already.  We are one of the locals!