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living in the south of France

Taking Root In Provence – France Book Tours

November 24, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

It’s always a pleasure to have friends drop by the blog! The multi-talented Anne-Marie Simons and her husband Oscar, who is … hold your breath, ladies … an expert on Provençal cooking, AIX EN PROVENCEpaid a visit here last June. They  shared their experience of retiring and relocating from the States to Aix-En-Provence in the south of France. If you missed the post before, take a minute to read it now. 

Go ahead! I’ll wait!

As I said then, they are are living my dream.

I also said this: “They are perfect examples of how it’s never too late to do something different: true possibilitarians ~ which you know is one of my favourite words!” Read the post Anne-Marie has gifted us with today and you will see what I mean!

This is the initial stop on her extensive tour with the fabulous France Book Tours! I’m delighted to be the first to this party!

taking-root-in-provence-banner

Here’s a synopsis of Taking Root in Provence:

Two expatriates left Washington DC in search of the ideal place to retire where climate, culture, accessibility and natural beauty all had a role to play. Curious about the vaunted quality of life in the south of France, they traveled the length and width of Provence where, preferring the city to the countryside, they decided to settle in the ancient town of Aix-en-Provence. That was in 1998 and Taking Root in Provence is the story of their slow integration into the French mainstream — both easier and more difficult than expected but ultimately successful.

In a series of vignettes Anne-Marie Simons gives us a warts-and-all picture of life among the French and with warmth and humor shares her lessons learned. Contrary to most publications about Provence, this book focuses on life in the city rather than the quiet countryside, and promises to be both informative and revealing to those who want to spend more than a passing holiday here.

 For this part of her tour, I asked Anne-Marie if she would treat us to a bit more about her life in Aix-En-Provence. Enjoy!

At first glance, Aix-en-Provence is paradise. At least for this retiree. It has beauty, culture, an enviable climate, daily markets, is well located for international travel and lives at a pleasant pace. So far, so delicious. Yet, there are those who say: “But what do you DO there?”

AIX EN PROVENCEThe short answer would be “everything you do minus your job” but that does not say it all. We do as the locals do (given our intended goal of total integration), and that means that we go to market every day (instead of the supermarket once a week) and spend a lot of time cooking − from scratch, of course, including soups, stews and other slow-cooked food. We give a lot of dinner parties and are invited to dinner at a lot of friends’ houses since that is where social life takes place in France: à table. We go to movies a lot, often in the afternoons (cool in summer), because we live in a movie-mad town and have three cinemas with a total of 20 theatres in the old center close to home. I love to read and spend a lot of time hanging out in one of the five bookstores in the city center, and at various book fairs in the surrounding countryside where I sometimes appear as author but rarely sell because nobody speaks English. No matter, I love the fraternity of writers and marvel at the crowds who attend, even in the smallest villages. And of course, we walk everywhere in town since everything essential (food, entertainment, doctor, dentist, etc.) can be reached on foot. The car stays in the garage, reserved for out-of-town use only.

So – looking at this list – most of the time we do nothing extraordinary but take more time doing everyday things that feel and taste better than before, when they were done on the run and without enthusiasm.

Contrary to our working days in Washington where we spent weekends and vacations resting up3. market copy from heavy work schedules, our summers in Provence are busy, not to say hectic, what with the July opera festival in Aix and the theatre festival in Avignon that get our full attention, as well as visits to and from friends who descend on Provence in summer. Culture blooms everywhere in this season, with concerts on village squares, in churches and chapels, or in castle courtyards. But high culture co-exists very happily with folklore here, and both draw equally big crowds.

Our Mediterranean climate and the French tendency to celebrate everything (harvest, solstice, animals, saints, foods) with a “festival” makes for many a weekend throughout the year with a festival to attend: olive, wheat or grape harvests, truffles, goats, specialty foods like calissons in Aix and navettes in Marseilles, any number of saints, and of course the famous chickpea; they all have their own celebration. And who would want to miss the Chickpea Festival?

Traditions are strong in France, and even though this is officially a lay country there is no lack of religious celebrations where the local saint’s statue gets carried around the village, followed by the notables and the Confrérie des Vignerons in official dress with tasting cups around their neck, a few Camargue cowboys on white horses, some beautifully dressed Arlésiennes in open coaches, and the traditional fife and drum band with dancers in Provençal costume. With lots of food on hand and wine à volonté, the idea is to Eat, Drink and Be Merry. France is unthinkable without it.

These festivities lose some of their charm if you don’t speak French, as does the daily market where nothing is bought or sold without a chat or at least a bit of advice. “So how was yesterday’s lapin? See? What did I tell you?” After all, it’s more than food you buy here; it’s tradition, a way of life, a mutually respectful peasant-bourgeois exchange that has changed little over time.

After the years of hard work and stress it takes to arrive at retirement, what greater reward than to slow down and have the time to enjoy your hobbies and the local offerings. If you are lucky enough to live in a place with good weather, good friends, good food and good healthcare, I would say: Grab that brass ring! Nothing lasts forever.

Thanks, Anne-Marie, and come back for a visit any time!

Anne-Marie will send a copy of Taking Root in Provence to a lucky winner. Leave a comment below and one name will be randomly drawn … AND the draw is international! Bonne Chance!

There are going to be many excellent posts from Anne-Marie and opportunities to win a copy of Taking Root in Provence at the other websites on the tour. Check out the schedule below! Keep entering and hopefully you will win a copy. I love this book!

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, Nov 25
Guest-post + Giveaway at Patricia Sands’ Blog

Tuesday, Nov 26
Review + Giveaway at The French Village Diaries

Wednesday, Nov 27
Review + Interview at I Am, Indeed
Review + Giveaway at Enchanted by Josephine
Review + Giveaway at The Most Happy Reader

Thursday, Nov 28
Highlights at Words And Peace

Friday, Nov 29
Review + Giveaway at Turning The Pages

Saturday, Nov 30
Review + Excerpt at Jorie Loves A Story

  Author Information:

Anne-Marie Simons has worked as a translator, teacher, journalist, sportswriter (covering Formula 1Book cover small races), and director of corporate communications.

Her Argentine husband, Oscar, left a career in international development banking to become an expert on Provençal cooking and other local pleasures.

Author Links:

Website

Blog

takingrootinprovence@gmail.com  anne-marie.rozic@live.fr

Facebook

Book Links:

Goodreads

Buy directly from the publisher

Buy on Amazon

Kindle edition

As many of you know, I am leading a women’s tour of the south of France in June 2014 and this book is right up at the top of my “Recommended Reading” list. Besides that, come hell or high water, I am going to meet and spend time with Anne-Marie when I am in Aix in June. We had to cancel a lunch last October (my fault!) and that’s not going to happen again!

After you read Taking Root in Provence, please take a minute to leave a review on the links above. It’s so important for authors to receive reader reviews and we are often shy about asking. Merci mille fois!

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Filed Under: Author Promotion, Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: Aix-En-Provence, Anne-Marie Simons, friendship, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, Taking Root In Provence, The Promise of Provence, Women, Womens Travel Network, writing

TRAVEL THEME: GLASS

January 12, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

I love it when I can tie the travel photo theme into something I know about France. This week’s theme of “Glass” is a perfect opportunity for me to share one of my favourite villages with you.

Biot is a picturesque medieval hilltop village that’s not too high up … unless you decide to walk up from the train station as my DH once suggested (before I knew better), assuring me it was just a few minutes … 4 km later in my strappy little sandals and silk sundress, covered in sweat and puffing my way up the final 50 steps … oh wait … that’s a whole other story …

Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos

BTW, that 1565 is NOT the street address! LOL

Biot is an easy 10-minute drive from the coast and about a half-hour west of Nice. Click here to see a fab website with great photos and info. We rented a house there a few years ago for a wonderful three months filled with visits from family and friends … hmmm, many other stories …

*bringing my focus back to GLASS* – Rich in fine clay, the area around Biot has been known for its pottery since antiquity. Today, the village is renowned for its glass works, typically a clear or colored transparent glass with little bubbles. I absolutely LOVE the variety of colours! This photo just shows a small sample.

Biot glass-PSandsPhotos
Biot glass-PSandsPhotos
Biot glass-PSandsPhotos
Biot glass-PSandsPhotos

There are several glassworks down the hill around the outskirts of the village and an excellent Galerie Internationals Du Verre with world-class works of art.

Galerie Internationale Du Verre, Biot-PSandsPhotos
Galerie Internationale Du Verre, Biot-PSandsPhotos

In La Verrerie de Biot, you can see the artisans at work and a comprehensive gallery of this famous studio and its award-winning pieces is displayed in beautifully lit showcases. Attached to this is an enormous sales area with a selection of something for everyone. Be forewarned: you will leave with parcels!!!

La Verrerie de Biot-PSandsPhotos
La Verrerie de Biot-PSandsPhotos
La Verrerie de Biot-PSandsPhotos
La Verrerie de Biot-PSandsPhotos

There are several small glass-making studios, including one right on the main street where you look through an open window to watch the craftsmen work their magic.

Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos

There are many reasons to visit this historic village but, as you can see, the  glass of Biot makes it even more special.

Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos
Biot-PSandsPhotos

Do you have a fascination with the art of glass-blowing? Have you ever tried it? I am always intrigued and impressed by the tremendous effort, delicate touch, and creative talent of these artists when I have the opportunity to see them in action.

In case you missed it, here’s the link to my post about the October 2013 12-day tour of the south of France that I, along with Susan Sommers, will be leading! Join us … sorry, guys, it’s a women-only party! Only 16 spots and they are going fast.

Check out some of these excellent photos sites from photographers who aren’t quite as obsessed with France!

http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/01/11/travel-theme-glass/

http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/

http://www.richardsugden.com/blog – I LOVE his quote “The important thing is not the camera but the eye”.

http://thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com/

And for my fellow writers, I wanted to share JoAnna Penn’s latest post from The  Creative Penn. If you don’t follow her blog, I highly recommend it along with these:

 http://janefriedman.com/

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND … and yes, I do know it is Saturday and not Friday … sometimes these posts take longer to put together than my optimistic nature imagines!

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Filed Under: Blog, General Travel, If it is France... Tagged With: Biot, Cote D'Azur, French Riviera, glass, glassmaking, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, postaday, The Bridge Club, travel photo theme

Pack your bags and come to France!

January 3, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

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!

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: Antibes, Cote D'Azur, Domaine de Capelongue, living in the south of France, Nice, Patricia Sands, The Bridge Club, The Promise of Provence, travel in France

CBBH PHOTO CHALLENGE: BLUE

November 16, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

I’m combining one of my favourite photo challenges with my Friday France post today because all of the “blue” photos I’m posting here were taken in France.

The CBBH Photo Challenge originates on the East Of Malaga blog. Zip on over and see the fab photos Marianne posts.

Don’t you love a Deux Chevaux?!?-PSandsPhotos
Agapanthus in Antibes-PSandsPhotos
Nice-PSandsPhotos
Chagall Window,Nice-PSandsPhotos

One very collegial aspect of this photo challenge is that everyone is encouraged to visit and comment on some other blogs and share two of  those. It’s a fabulous opportunity to discover wonder and creativity you might otherwise miss. Here are two of my favourites this month. Take some time to chill out with Jenn at The Serenity Space  and be awed by Jo Bryant’s brilliant Chronicles of Illusions.

I almost included a photo of someone looking very blue but I am listening to the news as I post this. There is so much happening to make us all feel blue that I decided to let it be and leave you with this photo, not from France I will admit.  You can’t feel blue looking at this. No way!

HappyinAtlanta-PSandsPhotos

How do you see “blue” in the world around you? Let’s keep it happy!

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France..., Photo blogs Tagged With: #cbbh, #photochallenge, Antibes, Cote D'Azur, living in the south of France, photography

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