Mas l’Epicure: My Dream of Life in Provence-A Fresh Start: My New Life at Mas L'Epicure

This describes this heart quite well.A matured heart, marked by scrapes and scars.And that is a good thing, because it has matured and is wiser than ever before.

I am 63 years old, but I don’t feel that way — more like I’m in my fifties.

Why?

Because I followed my dreams and desires.

Curious? Then stay tuned.

I am an expat who moved from Berlin to Provence.

That was in January 2021—right in the middle of the pandemic.

I’ve been living here for four years now, and I haven’t regretted it for a single moment.

Here, I live a fulfilled life with my dog and my small guesthouse, Mas l'Epicure, nestled in the famous vineyards of Vacqueyras in the Vaucluse, with Mont Ventoux as my neighbor.

This is what it looks like when dreams come true.

Some say it was brave. I say it was simply time. Procrastinating no longer made any sense, so I decided to leave Germany on January 3rd, 2021.

WHY?

• No more responsibilities, because my mother, who I had been caring for, passed away—and my brother shortly before her.

• Covid hit, and the bookings for my food truck, "Madame Helens," stopped coming in.

• The freedom I love so much was gone. My neighborhood was becoming more and more crowded; the rooftops were closing in, and there was no longer any open space—no forests, no vastness.

• Both of my children are grown.

To be honest—emigrating wasn't a spontaneous decision. Deep down, I was absolutely certain.

As an "Ossi" from the eastern part near Berlin, I had never seen France. Back then, when my cousin from West Berlin came to visit, she had to learn French for school. I loved the sound of it and envied her.

But we had to learn Russian and were shielded from capitalism.

Then the West arrived, the Wall fell, and everything was new. Not just life itself, but also the possibility of buying things.

I loved magazines like "Schöner Wohnen" and the Loberon catalog.

Back then, I decorated my house in a very French style because I loved that way of living, even though I had never experienced it in person.

Change—the way life goes.

Then, during a very heavy time, something happened that I never would have expected.

I fell ill, lost my job, and couldn't find a new one in the heavy machinery rental industry. This went on for several months.

Finding a way out

Going back into business for myself—which is what I had done before my ten years of steady employment.

I used to run a café in a hospital and a pub for football fans. Altogether, that was twelve years of self-employment.

Even so, the employment office sent me to a seminar for entrepreneurs.

The beginning of my life's total transformation

From there, I was given the opportunity through Erasmus to go to France for a six-month internship to get to know French cuisine better. At the time, my dream was to open a French bistro in Berlin.

At first, it seemed impossible to leave my house, the chickens, the dog, and especially my mother for a while.

B u t with a lot of organization, arrangement, and motivation, I made it happen.

In April 2014, I arrived in France, speaking the language only in bits and pieces, and facing a major change for six months.

There was no luxury—no comfort, no sense of security and the like. I stood on my own two feet, a little lighter in weight, but deeply fulfilled by the new life that awaited me.

I was able to work at a restaurant in Carpentras. It was—and still is—a truffle and wine restaurant:“Chez Serge,” with a wonderful team back then.

Meals for staff and accommodation were provided free of charge. No frills—and it did me good. Very good, in fact.

I got to know the people, the surroundings, and the special way of cooking from the ground up, as well as the warming sun and the heartfelt warmth of the region.

"A Fresh Start: My New Life and My Mas L’Epicure"

And now, much sooner than I thought, I'm back here — for good.Shaped by letting go and rebuilding.

A whole new life. I followed my dream, and since 2021 I've been living near Mont Ventoux, the mountain of the gods, in my favourite part of Provence — right in the heart of wine country, surrounded by freedom and pure enjoyment.

My advice to you

Let it inspire you; my new life at Mas L'Epicure

Don't give up on your dreams—you might regret it once the chance is gone for good.

Here are some book recommendations that have deeply inspired me:

• The Top Five Regrets of the Dying — by Bronnie Ware

• The Secret — by Rhonda Byrne, because positive thoughts attract positive thingsn

And if you like, you can follow along on my journey, ask questions, or simply come and meet me in person here at Mas l’Epicure in Vacqueyras, Provence.