• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Patricia Sands

Author

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Can I visit your Book Club on Zoom?
  • Books
    • The Bridge Club
    • Love in Provence Series
      • The Promise of Provence
      • About Promises to Keep
      • I Promise You This
    • Drawing Lessons
    • Les Villa des Viollettes series
      • The First Noël at the Villa des Violettes
      • A Season of Surprises at the Villa des Violettes
      • Lavender, Loss & Love at the Villa des Violettes
    • The Secrets We Hide
  • Travel
    • Photography, France & d’Ailleurs
  • Instagram
  • If it’s Friday, it must be France…
  • Contact me

One day ~ deux fêtes

June 20, 2015 by Patricia Sands 17 Comments

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Since I sent my manuscript for Book #3 in the Love in Provence series off to my editor at Amazon’s Lake Union Publishing, I’m taking a week off to be a somewhat normal person. For me, that means without being attached at the hip to my laptop. Well, maybe not completely … I’m making notes and researching my next book too.

In the next week or two, we’ll reveal the new title for Book #3, edits will get under way and my break will be over. C’est ma vie … and I love it!

I know I missed posting this on Friday, and it’s actually Saturday, so please excusez-moi! It’s incredibly easy to lose track of days here in Nice … the weather is beautiful and there’s just SO much to do.

IMG_0881

Take today, for example, this morning I popped a couple of streets over

book-cover-for-sidebar-on-blog-140-220-120from where we’re staying and had a cappuccino and croissant (they just go together, don’t they?) with Margo Lestz. She recently published a new book, “Curious Histories of Nice, France”, which I downloaded last week and can’t wait to read! Margo always discovers the quirkiest information about this part of the world! She’s fortunate to live here full time. *colour me green … just like that eye-catching book cover*

After that, I met up with my two friends who are visiting  Nice with me and we took a stroll through the grand hotel Le Negresco. You just can’t visit Nice without taking in the history and beauty of this mythic landmark.

IMG_0641

IMG_0639

Next, we had a quick lunch at one of the many beach restaurants, just across the street. As you can see, it was another beautiful day with the Med gleaming.

IMG_0651 IMG_0643

After lunch, we crossed the street, again, to spend a few hours taking in the excellent exhibit of vintage photographs and art explaining the history of Nice at the Musée Massena. 

IMG_0645

Tomorrow is June 21 and every hamlet, village, town and city in France will celebrate la Fête de la Musique with spontaneous jam sessions and planned performances on street corners and in parks and buildings or wherever the mood hits the musician. It’s great fun. There’s something for every musical taste and it’s a day not to miss. What better way to welcome the Summer Solstice?

228818_36782b98eb4e06a6697abcead2e51ad5fd616e0eA free concert set up on the Promenade des Anglais kicked things off this evening and when we wandered through the crowd of tens of thousands on the way home from dinner, the party was on! Massive speakers and screens ensured everyone had a view. The weather was perfect and the mood was relaxed and happy … what a pleasure to be part of it! As the French do so well, the evening ended with spectacular fireworks.

Everything we did today was within a walking distance of half an hour. Is it any wonder we love this town? How did you welcome the longest day of the year?

Bon weekend et bonne fête des pères/happy father’s day to all of the dedicated dads who love and support their children each day.

This was the poster in the window of the chocolatier around the corner … I could’t resist it. (And, yes, we did go in and buy some chocolate!) Hug your father a little longer today, thank him for all he does … and then share some chocolate! For those of us whose fathers are warm memories, pick some special moments to treasure today.

If this day doesn’t hold good memories for you, I hope you find other reasons to celebrate and that you can “count your life by smiles, not tears”. Thank you, John Lennon.

IMG_0659

 

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: Blog, France, General Travel, If it is France..., News, Photo blogs, Uncategorized Tagged With: authors, beach, concert, Father's Day, fireworks, France, Hotel Le Negresco, John Lennon, La Fête de la Musique, La Fête des Pères, Margo Lestz, Musée Massena, Nice, Patricia Sands, photography, Promenade des Anglais

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Edith says

    June 20, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    Congratulations Patricia! And I love your photos! 🙂

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 1:26 am

      Thanks, Edith! It’s always a nice feeling to send off a manuscript, even though feeling the story is finished is sometimes a challenge. There’s always something more to say. One of the reasons I love the editing process is the fact that it gives the author an opportunity to add a few more details. I’m glad you enjoy my photos as I love sharing them.

      Reply
  2. Anneli says

    June 20, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    C’est la vie!!!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 1:34 am

      Oui, Anneli … and today is a “work day” for me here in Nice. Expect your blog post … finally!

      Reply
  3. Martha says

    June 20, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    As usual, the photos make the words come alive. This makes me so happy! Since I can’t travel, at least I can revisit some places I love and discover new ones. Merci, dear Patricia!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 1:36 am

      It’s always a pleasure to know you are along on the journey, Martha. 🙂

      Reply
      • Martha says

        June 22, 2015 at 1:49 pm

        Always, Patricia!

        Reply
  4. Marina Sofia says

    June 21, 2015 at 2:42 am

    Lovely pictures – and yes, we enjoyed the Fete de la Musique – both the amateur and professional bands in our own village. We also went to see Jurassic World to celebrate Fathers’ Day – well, the Big Boy enjoyes IMAX 3D as much as the Little Boys! – and then had some crepes afterwards. All in all, a very nice weekend!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 1:38 am

      That sounds like a lovely weekend! It’s great fun to see the variety of of musical presentations and the general enthusiasm of everyone strolling around … particularly when the weather is festive too.

      Reply
  5. Margaret says

    June 21, 2015 at 3:30 am

    Oh, how I miss la Fête de la Musique. I can’t understand why it hasn’t spread round the world. It’s such a joyous event – well, hundreds of events. Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 1:43 am

      I agree with you, Margaret. “Joyous” is the word for it and there’s absolutely no reason why this event couldn’t be held in every country. It’s another way of bringing communities together in such a positive way.

      Reply
  6. Wandering Carol says

    June 21, 2015 at 9:11 am

    I always love the Negresco for a glass of champagne. Such great art. Oh, how wonderful it is that you’re in Nice. Last year at this time I’d left Nice and was in Aix-Les-Bains. Thanks for bringing it all back!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 3:03 am

      Now we just have to plan to be here at the same time! Champagne at Le Negresco would be a bonne idée!

      Reply
  7. Sheri de Grom says

    June 21, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    Wonderful, happy and informative blog. Congratulations on getting #3 turned in and cheers on beginning #4.

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      June 22, 2015 at 3:06 am

      Thanks, Sheri. I loved writing #3 and look forward to sharing it with everyone in 2016.

      Reply
  8. Petrina in Brittany says

    June 23, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    We have just returned today from our first visit to Provence, spending first a week in the magnificent Gorges du Verdon & Lac du St.Croix area. Then on to Aix-en-Provence, which had such a great atmosphere, plus our visit happened to co-incide with la Fête de la Musique – it was amazing! Can’t wait to return to explore more of this wonderful region.

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      July 9, 2015 at 7:49 am

      Petrina, what a fabulous trip you planned! I can understand why you enjoyed it so much.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Join Me Here!

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
YouTube
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Instagram

Follow Me on BookBub

Follow Me on BookBub

Follow me on Amazon

Follow me on Amazon

Available from Amazon!

Available from Amazon!

Available Now!

Available Now!

Available from Amazon

Available from Amazon

Join me and 9 of your favourite women’s fiction authors

Join me and 9 of your favourite women’s fiction authors

The Good Life France Magazine

The Good Life France Magazine

Categories

Archives

Footer

Copyright Disclaimer

© 2020 by Patricia Sands. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use short quotes provided a link back to this page and proper attribution is given to me as the original author. All photographs on this site are copyright of Patricia Sands

Follow Me!

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
YouTube
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Instagram
  • Privacy Policy

FTC DISCLOSURE

The Federal Trade Commission requires that I disclose any relationship I have between a product manufacturer or service provider when I write about a product or service. I may receive a small commission for purchases made via affiliate links on this site such as Amazon. The above does not affect my opinion of those products and services. I am committed to sharing the work of other authors with my friends and readers.

Copyright © 2023 By Patricia Sands · Theme created and maintained by Bakerview Consulting