Provence vineyards and the expat dream

Algerian film sparks protest in Cannes
Protesters are gathering in Cannes this morning to demonstrate against what they see as an unjust portrayal of France’s role in the Algerian war that led to that country’s independence in 1962. At least 1,500 people are expected to gather at the War Memorial at 10.30am.
Provence by the Rhone

EU applies pressure
The swimming season is almost here, but how clean is our water? Unbelievably, many wastewater treatment plants caring for communities and municipalities located here, in one of the most important tourist regions of the world, are still not meeting EU regulations.
L’Occitane Provence garden at Chelsea Flower Show

Strikers make for travel chaos
Commuters in Nice will need to be patient today. Industrial action, against government reforms of retirement and employment laws, has created a block on nearly all bus and tram routes.

Provence Guide: new online travel guide

Toni Musulin gets three years
It was billed as the crime of the century in France when a security van driver drove off with 11.6 million euros from a bank in Lyon in November last year. For eleven days Tony Musulin was on the run before unexpectedly handing himself over to police in Monaco. Five months later and he has been jailed for three years and fined 45,000 euros for attempted car insurance fraud over a Ferrari.
Provence vineyards and the expat dream

Dead jellyfish invasion in Hyères
It is that time of year again as the Mediterranean starts to warm up (very slowly this summer) and people become more aware of the jellyfish as they take to the water. But nothing can have prepared walkers for the scene that awaited them on a beach in Hyères yesterday.
Provence by the Rhone

Algerian film sparks protest in Cannes
Protesters are gathering in Cannes this morning to demonstrate against what they see as an unjust portrayal of France’s role in the Algerian war that led to that country’s independence in 1962. At least 1,500 people are expected to gather at the War Memorial at 10.30am.

Two weeks ago, I removed the glass shower door in my bathroom. The surrounding floor and walls were starting to rot, and I knew the door blocked much of the airflow needed to dry out the rest of the shower properly, so I decided to just take it out myself and put in a shower curtain and rod. While taking out the door, I discovered that the previous owners hadn’t waterproofed any of the seams… which is mainly why things had been rotting. However, it did make it much easier to remove the door, since all I had to do was unscrew it from one wall and pull it out of the other (it hadn’t been bolted in on both sides). As a reminder, they hadn’t waterproofed the floor beneath the tile shower they installed either. Every time I discover something like this, I’m glad I bargained down the price on my place — I had been very hard-nosed about it since some of theelectrical work they’d donewas borderline dangerous, which I suspected meant the rest of their &

By fraise

Vandals deface hidden paradise
Tucked away off the coastal path between Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Monaco is one of those little restaurants we all dream about discovering on the crowded Côte d’Azur. Far from the madding crowd in an idyllic situation, Le Bonobo serves Creole and African-inspired dishes in the summer months, but its owner has had a very difficult start to the season.
Toni Musulin gets three years
It was billed as the crime of the century in France when a security van driver drove off with 11.6 million euros from a bank in Lyon in November last year. For eleven days Tony Musulin was on the run before unexpectedly handing himself over to police in Monaco. Five months later and he has been jailed for three years and fined 45,000 euros for attempted car insurance fraud over a Ferrari.
Provence vineyards and the expat dream

Dead jellyfish invasion in Hyères
It is that time of year again as the Mediterranean starts to warm up (very slowly this summer) and people become more aware of the jellyfish as they take to the water. But nothing can have prepared walkers for the scene that awaited them on a beach in Hyères yesterday.

Calm after the storm
Three days after freak weather hit the Côte d’Azur, sunny days spent lazing on the beach can be nothing more than a happy memory. Now, fireman, the Red Cross, Force 6 and security personnel hurry along the promenade to help restaurant owners clear the debris from their premises.
Vandals deface hidden paradise
Tucked away off the coastal path between Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Monaco is one of those little restaurants we all dream about discovering on the crowded Côte d’Azur. Far from the madding crowd in an idyllic situation, Le Bonobo serves Creole and African-inspired dishes in the summer months, but its owner has had a very difficult start to the season.
Provence Guide: new online travel guide

Toni Musulin gets three years
It was billed as the crime of the century in France when a security van driver drove off with 11.6 million euros from a bank in Lyon in November last year. For eleven days Tony Musulin was on the run before unexpectedly handing himself over to police in Monaco. Five months later and he has been jailed for three years and fined 45,000 euros for attempted car insurance fraud over a Ferrari.

We've added our Beyond pageCycling Tour de France 2010, with the route information and a linked map of the route around France. The route this year begins in Rotterdam (Netherlands), with the first two stages in Brussels and Spa of Belgium.

The detailed maps of each stage should be available in early June (from La Tour).

By Russ Collins

Nice’s safer beaches
If you’ve taken a stroll along the Promenade over the past couple of weeks you’ll have noticed that the summer season has already started in Nice, with tourists and residents hitting the beach the minute the sun appears. Ensuring that having fun in the sun is not spoiled by any unpleasant incidents, Nice Ville is making an even bigger effort to patrol the public plages this year, launching their lifeguards this weekend.
Riviera underwater as freak “tsunami” hits the coast
The Alpes Maritime and Monaco coastlines were hit by freak waves yesterday, damaging ports, wrecking beach facilities and causing traffic chaos on the region’s roads.
Growing olives in Provence as a business

Calm after the storm
Three days after freak weather hit the Côte d’Azur, sunny days spent lazing on the beach can be nothing more than a happy memory. Now, fireman, the Red Cross, Force 6 and security personnel hurry along the promenade to help restaurant owners clear the debris from their premises.

During this year's International Film Festival atCannes, there will be a movie shown on the beach every night (that's a different movie each night). We have a link on Beyond'sCurrent Events Calendar, 13-22 May.

By Russ Collins

Hotel room scam hits the Côte
Reed MIDEM, one of the biggest organisers of international professional conferences and exhibitions, has posted a warning on its website urging clients not to fall for crooked accommodation companies, many of which are operating from the Riviera.
Battle commences against palm weevil
As summer approaches, palm-tree filled towns in the Var are mounting their annual battle against a particularly destructive weevil. In the last week posters have appeared on the big palm trees to announce the campaign which will continue until October.
Cours Saleya in Nice – 2nd best flea market in France

Nice’s safer beaches
If you’ve taken a stroll along the Promenade over the past couple of weeks you’ll have noticed that the summer season has already started in Nice, with tourists and residents hitting the beach the minute the sun appears. Ensuring that having fun in the sun is not spoiled by any unpleasant incidents, Nice Ville is making an even bigger effort to patrol the public plages this year, launching their lifeguards this weekend.