Villefranche-sur-Mer and its famous Combat Naval Fleuri (Naval Battle of the Flowers) “Bad start, good finish.” This little piece of wisdom eluded me when my husband and I arrived in Nice on March 3, 2014. All I could think of was that we’d just spent the better part of a day flying from wintry, rainy Portland, …
Mmmm…imagine sunshine, the scent of lavender and rosemary, parasol pines, olive groves, sunflowers, and the Mediterranean…you are experiencing the South of France. But Provence and the Cote d’Azur offer much more than that. Think of hill towns, charming markets, art galleries, sailing, scuba diving, star-gazing (movie star, that is), swimming and soaking up the sun, and …
Nice is an amazing city and most hotels are within walking distance of both the Old Town and the sea. When choosing where to stay, remember that most of Nice’s hotels are older. Most all have been recently renovated, but the style could be a bit out-dated. Our ‘where to stay’ options are organized by …
Shortly after we began dating, my (now) husband introduced me to fruit confit (candied fruit). He held out a tiny sugar coated piece of orange and asked me if I wanted to try it. As I reached for it, he pulled it back and cut off a microscopic piece for me. As I tasted its …
French Perfume is one of the most iconic souvenirs from France. Many of the famous parfumeries have their origin in Provence, the stunning region in Southern France. To tell you the truth, I’ve never been much of a fine perfume person. Don’t get me wrong, I’d never turn away a bottle of Chanel No. 5 …
When in Provence, checking out the many street markets is a must. While in France we build our sightseeing around the markets. We get to the town early, visit the market and spend the rest of the day visiting the sights. The vendors at these markets are friendly and most will speak at least a …
There is nowhere like the South of France; the warm sun and the Mediterranean Sea influence everything: the food, the wine, the architecture and the way of life. After Paris, the south is France’s most popular vacation destination for foreign visitors and the French themselves. Although agriculture has been the mainstay in the economy for …