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Patricia Sands

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Erin Arbabha

I LOVE Instagram! ~ Do you?

October 28, 2016 by Patricia Sands 3 Comments

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

IMG_7431

Five years ago I was not using Instagram … in fact, I’m not sure I knew anyone who was. Hmm … let me google the history … okay, here’s the scoop: Instagram was founded in October 2010 by Kevin System and Mike Kreiger. After just a couple of months it had over 1 million users! In 2012, it was purchased by Facebook. Instagram now has over 300 million active monthly users! Wow! Now that’s successful! And it’s a FREE APP! YES, IT IS! 

I love that it’s free! If you’re a fan of photography, then I’m sure you would love IG too. Even if you don’t take a lot of photos, you can follow as many accounts as you like and see some spectacular galleries on every topic you can imagine. I won’t even begin to list them here.

I began my IG gallery https://www.instagram.com/patricialsands/ about two years ago and post almost every day.Of course I love to share my photos of France … no surprise there, right?  In fact, that’s probably the reason I don’t blog as much … I’m having too much fun on Instagram.

If you are on there too, I hope you will find and follow me. Be sure to say hello in the comments! I look forward to seeing what you’re posting there!

My photo on IG today (the large photo at the bottom of this post) actually took me back to a blog post of mine from 2011. I know a lot of you weren’t following me then. If  you didn’t see this post before, I hope you will enjoy it now. I’ve walked the Chemin de Nietzsche a few times now and look forward to doing it again next summer.

Come on along!

Take a hike!

By Patricia Sands ~ July, 2011

Friday already? Then it must be France on my blog!

Like to hike? From serious hiking to a pleasant ramble through an astonishing variety of landscapes, France is a country amazingly well-equipped. There are over 100,000 kilometres of walking trails criss-crossing the country in all directions. It’s like a national sport! Click here to go to an excellent website with maps and more detailed information.

The following is just one small example. (You can click on the photos to see them full-sized.)

A picturesque 40-minute drive east from Antibes, Eze Bord de Mer (also known as Eze Sur Mer) is one of the most accessible places on the Cote D’Azur as the rail, road and bus links all run along its length. They create a dividing line between the mountains and the sea.  The thin strip of pebble beach provides just enough room for a few seaside restaurants on the turquoise edge of the Mediterranean. Typically the small town consists of everything from simple cottages to exclusive villas.

Approximately 500 metres (1400 feet) up the rugged corniche is the fortified perched village of Eze. With a history going back to 2000 BC, the current village dates to the 9th C. The stone structures and winding cobbled streets are well restored, with high walls and narrow paths. Today the town is full of small art galleries and boutiques and a couple of luxurious hotels as its setting, charm and ancient history make it a popular tourist destination. (But go early in the morning and you can have it to yourself.)The ancient alleyways wend their way upward to the well sign-posted Jardin Exotique Panorama. The plantings of cacti are spectacular and the view is one of the best on the Cote D’Azur, overlooking Cap Ferrat and on to Nice and Cap D’Antibes on a clear day.

These two communities encapsulate the best of both coastal and mountain worlds. Whether visiting the seaside part or the heart of the old town on the cliff, Eze offers a rich culture mixed with local traditions and a luxurious lifestyle.

The magical and unique ambiance of the town has an unforgettable appeal. But perhaps no one was more charmed by Eze than the tormented and controversial philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche.

Though he spent only a short holiday in the area in the 1880’s, the environment had a profound tonic effect on the famously troubled philosopher. “I slept well, I laughed a lot, and I found a marvellous vigour and patience”, he later recalled. He also found the inspiration for the third part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, much of which was composed in his head (so the story goes) while hiking the steep trail from the seaside to the medieval village. The route, once a goat path, is now known officially as Le Chemin de Nietzsche or Nietzsche’s Path.

With my sister-in-law visiting us from her home in the south of Spain and our 28-year-old niece from Israel, I was eager to show them this beautiful area. Especially these two wonderful women who are always up for any adventure and turn everything into a laughter-filled event!

We took the train from Antibes to Villefranche Sur Mer and had a quick look around yet another beautiful town before catching the bus up to Eze Village. After walking around the town and taking photos at the castle ruin and the Jardin Exotique, we lunched on crepes and salad and then, water bottles filled, we headed down the Nietzsche Trail.

We talked. We laughed. We sweated. The sun was scorching but we were well armed with heavy-duty sun block, hats,  and mist-spray water bottles (LOVE these!) as well as our drinking bottles.

Winding down the corniche and through a forested ravine, the quiet trail lends itself naturally to contemplation. Birds chirped. Leaves rustled when gentle breezes made brief, welcome appearances. The gravel path crunched below our feet as the brightest yellow butterflies fluttered along with us. The sea washed the shore below, beyond the scent of pines and the many varieties of fragrant shrubs and plants that naturally fill these spaces. The clean, fresh air offered its own special brand of aromatherapy.

The path isn’t difficult but it’s not easy either. There are places where stairs have been built by France’s impressive sentier (walking trail) maintenance crews or possibly by local groups who take a keen interest in maintaining their trails. However there are also a few steep pitches and some spots where the stones or gravel are a bit loose and slippery if one isn’t careful. Faites attention!

It’s a quicker climb down than up, needless to say, and in 90 minutes, after a few brief stops to admire the changing views, we were back down in Eze Bord de Mer.  We cooled our feet in the Med and savoured a refreshingly cold brew on the beach before taking the train home.

If you ever go, take the train to Eze Bord De Mer and the 83 bus (which only comes by once an hour) to Eze Village. Wear good walking footwear and take the path down. You’ll be very glad you did.

The suggested advice when the going gets strenuous on the Nietzsche Trail?  Try repeating Zarathustra’s mantra from his own sojourn through the mountains: “You are treading your path of greatness: no one shall steal after you here.” Or take along good friends and laugh your way down.

If you have favourite places you like to hike, I would love to hear about them. The Bruce Trail? The Appalachian Trail? Whistler? Yosemite? Cotswold Way? Your own neighbourhood?

Here’s an excellent article from the New York Times about this area.

Tread your own path of greatness no matter where you are or what you are doing. Onward!

Can you believe October is almost over? I want to end this month as I began it, with a reminder about Breast Cancer Awareness.51dqik97nll-_uy250_ My friend, Erin Arbabha, is a breast cancer survivor and thriver, and has written a poignant and informative memoir about her experience. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Click right here for the link to I Have Survived.

breast-cancer-awareness-clip-art

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France..., Social issues, Uncategorized, Writing Tagged With: breast cancer, Cote D'Azur, Erin Arbabha, Eze, France, hiking, Instagram, Nietzsche, Patricia Sands, photography

Support The Girls!

October 9, 2014 by Patricia Sands 5 Comments

mail1Watch here on October 14th for an exciting new fundraising campaign for CBCSF

Ten Things

Ten things we want you to know about the Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund.

We are building a community of support for breast cancer patients facing

a financial crisis.

We feel that every donor has the right to know that his or her donation makes

an impact.

We believe that Canadians should be informed about the financial crisis that often

accompanies a breast cancer diagnosis.

We acknowledge the science that informs us about the links between breast cancer

and the environment.

We demand that public policy protect all Canadians from environmental toxins.

We think differently about raising money for breast cancer.313281_300555023292053_159476780733212_1399781_779817079_n1

We are sure if shopping could cure breast cancer—we would have found

a cure by now.

We will never ask you to buy anything pink…. EVER.

We think differently about breast cancer.

We know a lot of other people do too.

39 Old Mill Rd. #1002 Toronto, ON, M8X 1G6 416.233.7410 Reg.# 83661 2804 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Earlier this week I shared information about Erin Arbabha’s memoir and self-help book, I Have Survived.  Please read on …

SYNOPSIS
Erin’s memoir of her journey is very personal, fascinating and life changing. She finds herself stuck between two cultures and believes when her core femininity are challenged after losing her hair and breasts. Unknown
In “I have Survived”, Erin walks you through her first warning signs that she neglected for 6 months and then later when she learned about her diagnosis ending up with multiple surgeries followed by 6 months of aggressive chemotherapy. It is when she is at at the darkest and lowest point of her life that she finds beautiful side of herself that transcends her beyond the physical world. She finds peace, beauty and tranquility that she had never experienced before.
Erin shares valuable section at the end of the book where she gives advise to patients, friends and family members, caregivers, medical community and employers.

I Have Survived is endorsed by Nancy Brinker, chief founder of Susan G Komen Foundation, Race for the Cure.

Erin, why did you write this book?

Unknown-2My intention in writing this book is to share the thoughts I collected while journaling during this period, so that others can find solace in my hardships and triumphs. If I can help only even a handful of women, then it is worth it.

What do you do for fun?

I love speeding time with my dog, Jelly Bean. I enjoy fitness and art. I row 2-3 times a week and try to participate in pairing workshop as much as i can.

To read more about Erin and download her inspirational and helpful memoir, click here.

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Filed Under: Blog, News, Social issues, Writing Tagged With: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund, CBCSF, Donna Sheehan, Erin Arbabha, Patricia Sands

October = Breast Cancer Awareness

October 6, 2014 by Patricia Sands 6 Comments

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month but really every day we need to keep our thoughts focused on battling this disease that affects so many of us, in so many different ways.

UnknownMeet my friend Erin Arbabha, a lively, lovely, energetic and engaging woman.

Her book, I Have Survived: One Woman’s Ten-Year Journey As A Breast Cancer Survivor,  is a powerful resource that contains helpful guidelines for cancer patients, caregivers, family, friends, and employers.

 

As Erin battled breast cancer she had the foresight to record the details of her journey, never thinking she would ever use the information for anything more than her own needs. As time passed, she became aware of how her story might benefit others.

Endorsed by The Komen Foundation, this book is part memoir and part helpful guide518yhqJY8OL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_ for family, friends, employers as well as patients and healthcare providers. With the help of meticulous notes kept throughout the hills and valleys of her battle, Erin has been able to provide readers with a comprehensive guide as well as a touching, inspiring story of resilience, strength and promise.

To connect with Erin, click below:

Website

Facebook 
Twitter  

ANOTHER SITE NOT TO BE MISSED IS THE FABULOUS BLOGGER/AUTHOR SUSIE LINDAU’S WILD RIDE WEBSITE ~ BOOB REPORTS ~ Her candid chronicles about her battle with breast cancer are laced with wit and humor as well as poignant moments and valuable information. Susie shared her journey online in real time and took all of her followers along for an experience none of us will ever forget. The good news is she also has a heartfelt story of survival.

Unknown-2 For answers to many questions you may have about breast cancer, please click on this link to the NationalBreastCancer.org. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is vital!

I’ll be sharing other breast cancer websites I believe will be of interest, as the month progresses. Stay tuned and be informed!

 

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Filed Under: Blog, News, Social issues, Uncategorized, Writing Tagged With: breast cancer, Erin Arbabha, I have Survived, National Breast Cancer Month, Patricia Sands, Susie LIndau, The Komen Foundation

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