À la Provençal, in moderation

With a bit of planning you can visit a market any day of the week and make picnicking a treat. The best way to see the region on your own is to pick a base and rent a car. With a map or GPS and signs along the roads, it is relatively easy to tour around. Provence comprises small cities (Aix en Provence, Avignon), large towns (St. Remy de Provence, Arles), and magical little villages with lyrical names (Lourmarin, Cucuron, Eygalieres). You will find cyclists, hikers, and campers are out in legions spring, summer, and fall.

I came to Provence for a summer escape, ready to absorb the rhythm of French living. Despite several decadent meals I felt rejuvenated . . . perhaps it was Mireille’s maxims of moderation, the daily walks and swims, or slowing down to “Provençal’’ time. Whatever it was, it worked.

I returned to Boston with a plan to introduce a bit of Provence into my daily routine: Some things were easy (wine with dinner? done) and some required rejiggering of the schedule (exercise), but these lessons from one savvy Frenchwoman were ones I intended to follow. If I need to go back to Provence for the occasional “refresher’’ course, so be it.

Sarah Hearn can be reached at shearn78@gmail.com.