Patricia Sands

Author

France

Would you rather be somewhere else today?

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Here’s where I would rather be today. And you?  Let’s meander up the road for a brief visit to St. Paul-de- Vence, perched on a hilltop north of Nice. Another day we’ll spend more time here but right now it feels like the perfect spot for a quick break.

St. Paul de Vence-PSandsPhotos
St. Paul de Vence-PSandsPhotos
St. Paul de Vence-PSandsPhotos
St. Paul de Vence-PSandsPhotos

Wander up the lane to La Colombe d’Or. Visit the website for more photos and details of the extraordinary history of this superb inn and restaurant, owned by the same family since 1920. 

La Colombe d'Or-PSandsPhotos
La Colombe d’Or-PSandsPhotos

Settle in the bar … one of my favourite spots … order your beverage of choice and drink in the atmosphere too.

La Colombe d'Or-PSandsPhotos
La Colombe d’Or-PSandsPhotos

POP! ~ back to reality ~ so much for that fantasy.

Let me tell you where I really am today. Does this ever happen to you?

Things pile up and the next thing you know a week has simply flown by!

That Tuesday blog post? Oops!

That backlog of e-mails and blogs I follow? *hangs head in shame*

The final details I need to clear up to move on with publishing my next novel? I’m working on them …

But then Mother Nature steps in with a major snowstorm that provides the perfect opportunity to stay hunkered down at home, cancel meetings, and get caught up. It definitely looks like “The Great White North” here in Toronto today and the view from our balcony appears rather like I have felt all week i.e. SNOWED UNDER.

So today has been a gift! I’ve accomplished more writing-related work in the past five hours than the past five days and the load is beginning to shift. By this evening I may be close to completely caught up! YOWZA!

Before we leave France altogether, here’s something else to eagerly anticipate if you are fortunate enough to be in the area.

CARNAVAL DE NICE 2013 – February 15 to March 6. If you are there, get ready!

Carnaval De Nice 2013
Carnaval De Nice 2013

Click here for  a previous post of mine about this annual celebration that brightens up winter on the Côte d’Azur. Is there a winter festival where you live and do you join in the fun or patiently wait for it to be over? I hope wherever you are, you are safe from the storm.

CBBH PHOTO CHALLENGE:View from an aircraft

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

As we approached Nice International Airport in May 2011, we flew directly over the apartment building in Antibes that we were going to call home for five months. I had googled it so often in the preceding months, I knew precisely where it was.

Antibes-PSandsPhotos
Antibes-PSandsPhotos

It’s the largest of the white buildings in the lower right corner of the photo, with no structure in front  to block the fabulous view of the harbour.  If I could figure out how to put an arrow on the photo, I would show it to you. Trust me, it’s there!

Don’t forget you can enlarge any photo on my blog by clicking on it. The bigger, the better, applies here.

On the way home in October, I took this shot as we left the coast and flew over the Alpes-Maritimes. The dream-like quality of this image portrays my feelings as our fantasy came to an end … until the next time!

Leaving Antibes-PSandsPhotos
Leaving Antibes-PSandsPhotos

This challenge was issued by Marianne on her East of Malaga blog. Treat yourself and visit some other blogs participating in this challenge. Here are two of my favourites this week:

The Urge To Wander 

This next site didn’t post views from an aircraft but has an exquisite gallery of portraits. Love it! Click here and check it out.

Bonjour Paris

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Bonjour! I follow a lot of creative, informative and truly enjoyable websites and blogs about France. In fact, I’m compiling a list  to share with you soon.

Paris-PSandsPhotos
Paris-PSandsPhotos

Let’s begin with Bonjour Paris, an addictive amazingly comprehensive website I have followed for years.

If you really want the skinny on everything absolutely don’t want to miss one single detail, their Insiders Club offers articles like the Savvy Shoppers Secret, A Geek Chic Tour of Paris, How To Rent An Apartment in Paris (… and not get screwed) and, my personal favourite, Can You Say Deux Cheveaux?

I was over the moon to receive an invitation to contribute  an article this week and invite you to join me in Antibes (no surprise there!) by clicking right here.

Before you go, since Paris is on our minds, spend a moment with me below on a drizzly afternoon in Montmartre.

Sacré Coeur/Le Carousel-PSandsPhotos
Sacré Coeur/Le Carousel-PSandsPhotos

Hmmm- should we walk up or take the Funicular today?

Strolling Montmartre-PSandsPhotos
Strolling Montmartre-PSandsPhotos

A drizzle simply adds to the character of the streets of Montmartre.

Pizza in Montmartre-PSandsPhotos
Pizza in Montmartre-PSandsPhotos

Time for a lunch break. Who knew fried egg on a pizza could be so tasty?

Never let a little rain spoil a day of your holiday. Do you have a favourite travel website to share with us here? A girl can never have enough. Merci mille fois!

Pack your bags and come to France!

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

PLEASE NOTE:  This trip has been temporarily postponed as Uniglobe Instant Travel in London, ON, was taken over by another company on February 1st. 

The good news is that another fabulous women’s travel group is working with us and we hope to have the trip rescheduled in the near future. Thanks for all the interest and support and as soon as I have the details I will let you know. We ARE going to do this so I am leaving this post up as an invitation to join us soon!

Happy New Year! Meilleurs Voeux Pour L’année 2013!

Is this the year that you and your best girlfriend, your daughter, your sister and/or your mom take a trip to the south of France? Or perhaps your entire book club?  Seriously, it just might be!

Spend the first four days in the captivating town of Nice in the beautiful Hotel La Perouse overlooking La Promenade Des Anglais and the magnificent Mediterranean. With plenty of time to shop and explore, we will also visit galleries and bookstores and have a chat with author Ted Jones. I’m already excited!

La Promenade Des Anglais-PSandsPhotos
La Promenade Des Anglais-PSandsPhotos
Nice, France-PSandsPhotos
Nice, France-PSandsPhotos
Daily Market, Nice-PSandsPhotos
Daily Market, Nice-PSandsPhotos

Is this breathtaking or what? Visit the 11th century hilltop village of Eze.

Eze Village-PSandsPhotos
Eze Village-PSandsPhotos

Tour the Royal Palace in Monaco.

Royal Palace,Monaco-PSandsPhotos
Royal Palace,Monaco-PSandsPhotos

Follow the footsteps of Cezanne in Aix-En-Provence.

Aix-En-Provence-PSandsPhotos
Aix-En-Provence-PSandsPhotos

Relax for seven nights in the beautiful Domaine de Capelongue, just outside the village of Bonnieux in the peaceful countryside of Provence. A wine-tasting visit to a local vineyard as well as a cooking class are just two of many activities.

capelongue-bienvenue-photo3lieuxetundomaine-fr2
capelongue-bienvenue-photo3lieuxetundomaine-fr2

Explore ancient villages.

PSandsPhotos
PSandsPhotos
PSandsPhotos
PSandsPhotos
PSandsPhotos
PSandsPhotos

My friend and fellow author, Susan Sommers, and I have been invited to lead this carefully planned women’s tour to the south of France from October 12th to 24th, 2013. Organized by Uniglobe Instant Travel in London, Ontario, all of the details can be found on the day-by-day itinerary attached. You will notice plenty of time allocated for relaxing and reading as well. The memories will be magnifique!

Just click here to contact Jennifer Fassina for more information and to see how very experienced this company is in planning special trips for women. We hope you can join us!