Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 at 12:41 pm
France prepares forces for Libya intervention
French military forces in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region are on stand-by after a French, British and Lebanese tabled resolution calling for military intervention against Libya, was passed by the United Nations security council last night.
Ouch! Now it’s time for the Côte’s jellyfish to feel the sting
Scientists have warned that a consequence of global warming on the Côte d’Azur could be a dramatic rise in the number of jellyfish.
National Front makes ground as Socialists fade on Riviera
The far-right Front National (FN) has made large gains across the Riviera after the first round of voting in local council elections.
Sunday, March 20th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
I just had my first experience of voting in France. Today was the first round ofélections cantonales, regional elections. Like in the States, public schools are used asbureaux de vote, polling stations. Yours is marked on yourcarte d’électeur, voter registration card. In France, you’re part of acanton, a “seat”. What I didn’t realize is that each seat is also subdivided intobureaux, offices. So I was surprised when I went to the elementary school, entered what I thought to be mycanton‘s voting area, and was told that it wasn’t mine… I had to find mybureau.
After some searching, and wondering how such a small seat could have a half-dozen offices, I did eventually find mine. Then I was nearly led astray by an elderly woman whose actions I was following, figuring she knew better. She went straight to the table of candidate cards and to the polling booth without signing in! I too had gone right to the candidate cards and taken a
By fraise
Friday, March 18th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
A sneak peak at 2012, as this year’s carnival ends with a royal roasting
The Nice carnival came to a close yesterday with the burning of the King of the Mediterranean, and it seems Mayor Estrosi and Nice’s office de tourism are wasting no time: they are already drawing up plans for next year.
Airport runway strife
It may be small but La Mole airport plays an important role in the life of Saint-Tropez and the surrounding area, with 4,000 flights bringing in around 20,000 passengers a year.
France reassess nuclear safety in light of Fukushima crisis
The French authorities have voiced concerns over the safety of their nuclear power plants in light of the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated north eastern Japan.
Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Just back from a rather wet weekend in Roussillon however there was plenty for us to do getting the house ready for the new season. The village was just waking up after a long winter and we noticed one or two new things. Nino, opposite us in 'Le Petit Snack' has done a fab job rearranging the interiors and has created a terrace which will be great in the summer. We had dinner there Monday – a very good bit of taureau and chips!
It was pouring on Sunday however we popped over to Isle sur Sorgues and had a quick potter around. Found a great cafe by the church, 'Cafe de France' – clearly the place to go judging by the crowd..
By cliffordrosen
Sunday, March 13th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Thirteen arrested over unsolved murder case
The former Vice-President of AS Monaco Football Club, Adnan Houdrouge, has been arrested in connection with an unsolved murder.
Estrosi uncovered flying personal driver to Paris
The weekly newspaper Le Canard enchaîne has accused Nice’s mayor, Christian Estrosi, of spending taxpayers’ money on flying his personal driver between the Côte d’Azur and Paris.
A sneak peak at 2012, as this year’s carnival ends with a royal roasting
The Nice carnival came to a close yesterday with the burning of the King of the Mediterranean, and it seems Mayor Estrosi and Nice’s office de tourism are wasting no time: they are already drawing up plans for next year.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
La Flambee
Place du 4 Septembre, 84400 Bonnieux
0490 75 82 20
A simple restaurant in the centre of Bonnieux which has a terrace with a great view (which hasn’t been open when we’ve been there, having been out of season). However it has some tables outside at the front and quite a cosy interior dining room if the weather isn’t too good.
As well as very good pizzas, there is a fairly straightforward bistro menu. Fish soup was pretty good and duck breast with ceps was good. Other standards on the menu include Daube Provencal, Salmon fillet in a cream sauce. A good spot for lunch but nothing special food wise.
La Bartavelle
Rue du Cheval-Blanc, 84220 Goult
0490 72 33 72
La Bartavelle is an exceptional restaurant which requires booking well in advance. But it’s not cheap. Set in a cave with some tables outside in the summer, it is in a quiet alleyway just near the main square in Goult.
The cooking is outstanding and uses seasonal ingredients. My terrine of rabbit and fois gras first course w
By cliffordrosen
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Lady drivers up in arms on decision to scrap policy discounts
Women drivers will no longer enjoy lower premiums on insurance policies, as judges in the European Court of Justice decided on 1st of March that basing premiums on the sex of the applicant is against EU equality laws.
Cocktail party adds twist to International Women’s Day
The European Professional Women’s Network is set to honour and celebrate the achievement of women around the world by hosting a special cocktail party to coincide with 2011′s International Women’s Day, traditionally held on the 8th March each year.
Who murdered Agnes Le Roux?
A former gangster and member of the fearsome mafia organisation that inspired the famous film The French Connection, has confessed an innocent man was accused of one of the Côte d’Azur’s most notorious murders involving an heiress to a casino empire.
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Lady drivers up in arms on decision to scrap policy discounts
Women drivers will no longer enjoy lower premiums on insurance policies, as judges in the European Court of Justice decided on 1st of March that basing premiums on the sex of the applicant is against EU equality laws.
Cocktail party adds twist to International Women’s Day
The European Professional Women’s Network is set to honour and celebrate the achievement of women around the world by hosting a special cocktail party to coincide with 2011′s International Women’s Day, traditionally held on the 8th March each year.
Who murdered Agnes Le Roux?
A former gangster and member of the fearsome mafia organisation that inspired the famous film The French Connection, has confessed an innocent man was accused of one of the Côte d’Azur’s most notorious murders involving an heiress to a casino empire.
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 at 1:01 am
Mons matchstick models (en Provence)
I am reminded of one on Mons’ special treasures. The Mons schoolbus driver, M. Audibert, has been building matchstick models for more than half a decade. Mostly ships. The largest sailing ship he has made uses 32,000 of them. It’s quite astonishing
to see the attention to detail and love that goes into these creations which have occupied the artisan for close to 60 years.
My favourite production is the scale model of Mons, which you can see below courtesy of Provence Beyond. Every street, pa
Peter Mayle leaving Provence
Peter Mayle, whose book ‘A Year in Provence’ popularised the region,is selling his house in Provence. Some might feel this is the end of an era or just selling out or killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
Reading the news about the sale, his house is not actually the house the books described. It’s the one he could afford after the sales of the book. And very nice it looks too.
“Three storeys high, the 600sq m (6,458sq ft) house is shaded by enormous plane trees, and has several terraces
Four Seasons Provence – best place to perfect your golf?
There’s a spanking new golf performance centre at theFour Seasons Terre Blanche hotel. They claim its the best in Europe.
Opened in 2004, the Terre Blanche Golf Club includes two par-72 courses, both designed by Dave Thomas to make the most of the Provençal hillsides. The 6,005-metre (6,567-yard)Rioucourse is highly technical with steep slopes and winding fairways, while the 6,616-metre (7,235-yard)Châteauis the demanding and competitive showpiece.
Golf Director Jean-Marie Casella explains, “T