Patricia Sands

Author

Nice

Travel Theme: Distance

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

As you know, photography and France are two of my favourite blogging topics and occasionally I have the opportunity to combine them. Like today!

“Distance” is the theme on Ailsa’s Where’s My Backpack  and this photo is one I took on an early May morning when my husband and I were on our way to the Nice airport to pick up visitors. The air was cool and crisp, offering us perfect visibility past the iconic Marina Baie Des Anges condos, over the city of Nice, across the lower hills of l’arriére pays and up to the summits of the Alpes-Maritimes that run into Italy.

Biot/Route de mer-PSandsPhotos
Biot/Route de mer-PSandsPhotos

Next is a morning sunrise shot with the overnight ferry from Corsica in the distance covering the last few kilometres to Nice .  I would pause to to take in this scene most mornings as I worked on my first draft of The Promise of Provence. Before I began writing I seldom saw a sunrise!

Antibes sunrise-PSandsPhotos
Antibes sunrise-PSandsPhotos

And then this classic shot taken from the castle ruins at the top of the Jardin Exotique in the perched village of Eze, which shows the beauty of the distance one sees along the Côte d’Azur. This same shot can probably be found in millions of photo albums around the world, taken by every tourist who has visited there. I smiled when I saw it on my friend, Susie Lindau’s blog after her recent trip overseas. (If you haven’t stopped by to wish Susie well with her recent surgery, now is the time!)  I know I’ve shown this photo to you before so thanks for indulging me one more time!

From Eze-PSandsPhotos
From Eze-PSandsPhotos

Part of the fun of these photo challenges, is visiting other blogs to see what has been posted. Here are couple of my favourites this week:

http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/travel-theme-distance/comment-page-1/#comment-9151

http://travel-monkey.me/2013/08/30/ailsas-travel-theme-distance/

http://vosperdruiter.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/distance-ailsas-weekly-travel-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-3795

You never know from where in the world the photos will be. It’s always a trip and so much fun!

And that, dear friends, is my segue to letting you know … speaking of trips … that The Promise of Provence is featured on the Travel Novels website this week. Click right here to stop by and have a look, leave a word, or share. Merci beaucoup!

If you have some favourite photos that would fit in with the “distance” theme, why not post them and join the challenge. The more the merrier!

For your reading pleasure …

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

If you are dreaming of spending time here …

Vieux Port,Nice-PSandPhotos
Vieux Port,Nice-PSandPhotos

Or  here …

Gourdon-PSandsPhotos
Gourdon-PSandsPhotos

Or here …

Monte Carlo-PSandsPhotos
Monte Carlo-PSandsPhotos

Or here …

VillefrancheSurMer-PSandsPhotos
VillefrancheSurMer-PSandsPhotos

There’s nothing like a good read to whet your appetite even more:

SUGGESTED READING LIST FOR SOUTH OF FRANCE TRIP ~ Here are some of my favourites 

The Man Who Planted Trees         Jean Giono

A Year In Provence                           Peter Mayle (and any other of his long list

of books set in Provence)

The French Riviera: A Literary Guide for Travellers                           Ted Jones

Grasse-PSandsPhotos
Grasse-PSandsPhotos

La Séduction: How The French Play

The Game of Life                                 Elaine Sciolino

My Life in France                                 Julia Child, Alex Prud’Homme

Jean De Florette                                    Marcel Pagnol

Manon Of The Springs                        Marcel Pagnol

Tender Is The Night                                 F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Ladies Paradise                              Emile Zola

Loser Takes All (short story)               Graham Greene

Antibes-PSandsPhotos
Antibes-PSandsPhotos

Chocolat                                                             Joanne Harris

Seduction: A Novel of Suspense        M.J. Rose

Taking Root in Provence

Anne-Marie Simons

Words In a French Life                                  Kristin Espinasse

The Olive Farm      Carol Drinkwater

Click this Amazon link for a list of Provence Cote d’Azur tour books

Classics                                                                                             

Madame Bovary                    Gustave Flaubert

Antibes-PSandsPhotos
Antibes-PSandsPhotos

A Tale of Two Cities               Charles Dickens

Candide                                      Voltaire

Any books written by Victor Hugo

I’ve got more but let’s start with these.

What books about France have you read that we need to know about? Tell me any other titles you would like to see on this list and I will add them faster than you can say “baguette”! Thanks! Merci!

Tour update: Our first women’s tour to the south of France with the Womens Travel Network sold out in a flash so a second has been added from  June 25 to July 5, 2014. Call your BFF and make a plan!  Click here for all the deets! 

France-PSandsPhotos
France-PSandsPhotos

Come to France with us next June!

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Eze Village-PSandsPhotos
Eze Village-PSandsPhotos

When I wrote The Promise of Provence, it never occurred to me that an opportunity like this trip would arise. I’m a writer. I love what I do and my greatest reward is hearing from readers. As you know from this blog, I also love to travel. To combine these two loves in my life is beyond exhilarating, so please excuse me if my excitement is showing!

51fxI-husZL._AA160_Susan Sommers is a fellow author and my partner in our Sommers & Sands speaking engagements. She is also my very good friend.  A non-fiction writer, her latest book is Power Source for Women:Proven Fitness Tools, Strategies and Success Stories. If you are looking for realistic ways to get yourself in shape, it’s the book for you.

Women’s stories comprise the common element in our writing. Sharing these stories is what inspires and motivates us. That’s why we had no hesitation in joining forces with Debbie Ross and her fabulous Women’s Travel Network. Debbie and her enthusiastic, knowledgable, team of tour leaders love to help women make their travel dreams come true. They listen to where their clients would like to travel and then plan the trip of a lifetime to that destination.

She knew she had clients who wanted to visit Provence and the Côte d’Azur.

She knows how much time I have spent in that part of the world and how I love to share it with friends.

Say no more!

I’ve been thrilled to hear from women who said they are coming because they read my novel. How much fun is that? Check with your BFFs, your daughters, your mothers, your sisters or simply come on your own. It’s going to be magnifique!

11 days, 14 women, memories to last forever!

In a last-minute telephone conversation with Debbie last night, she let me know this new information. Woohoo!

June 12 to June 22, 2014    Only a few spots available!
2nd Tour Added!  June 25 – July 05, 2014

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French Riviera  & Provence
June 12 – June 22, 2014
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
Only 5 spots left!
Greetings!

Join novelist Patricia Sands and visit the charming towns depicted in her newest novel The Promise of Provence.
Patricia writes about Katherine’s experiences in Provence and her eagerness to feel renewed by her surroundings: endless rows of lavender and fields of sunflowers flow in golden waves among vineyards and olive groves overlooked by ancient hilltop villages.

Our tour co-leader, Susan Sommers, is a “Fitness over 45” Motivational Speaker and Strategist, two-time Marathoner (at 61 & 63), and co-author of Power Source for Women.
During your daily outings in Provence, Susan will show you how easy it is to take 10,000 steps while enjoying exquisite scenery.
It’s the picture perfect place to become passionate about fitness.

Enjoy the cultural, historic and natural heritage of Nice & Provence during our visits of Eze, Monaco, Les Baux, St Remy, Arles and Avignon to name a few. Take a stroll through the local market brimming with spices, fruits, veggies and local wares. Visit one of the best-preserved Roman ampitheatres “Les Arenes” where bullfights still carry on the tradition. Learn the secrets of French Provencial cuisine during a hands on cooking class.  Taste fine wines, indulge in gourmet meals, and relax in the warmth of the Provencial sunshine.
  
This unique tour is limited to 16 travellers.  

French Riviera & Provence


Itinerary:
Day 01: Depart Toronto or other gateway
Day 02: Arrive in Nice
Day 03: Eze, Monaco
Day 04: Nice
Day 05: St Paul de Vence, Grasse
Day 06: Avignon
Day 07: Cooking class
Day 08: Les Baux, St Remy
Day 09: Arles
Day 10: The Luberon, Roussilon, Bonnieux
Day 11: Depart to Toronto or other city.

 

What’s included:

  • Nice, 4 nights at Hotel Beau Rivage or similar
  • Provence, 5 nights at Hotel Novotel Avignon Centre or similar
  • Transportation throughout by private mini coach
  • Breakfast daily
  • 8 dinners with wine
  • Services of an English speaking guide
  • Services of a WTN Escort throughout
  • Hotel taxes and service charges
  • Wine tasting and Olive Mill visit
  • Perfume making class, Aromatherapy workshop
  • Cooking class in Avignon
  • Visit of Aix en Provence
  • Guided visits of St Paul de Vence, Grasse, Avignon, Les Baux, St Remy, Arles, Luberon towns- Roussilon and Bonnieux
  • Entrance fees to all sites visited
Are you travelling alone?
Don’t worry, we will match you with a roommate.
Single rooms are available if preferred.
Additional cost $1425 CA
Nice
Lavendar fields of Provence
France narrow streetsProvence shopping
Enjoy, art, culture, gastronomy and shopping on this wonderful tour of Nice & Provence.

June 12 to June 22, 2014
Price: CAD $3750 per person, double occupancy

Click here for tour itinerary:

Hurry, space will be sold out soon.Call Now to reserve your spot!Contact:
Womens Travel Network
Phone: 905-771-8338
Toll free 1-888-419-0118
Email: info@womenstravelnetwork.ca

Check out photos from past trips to France. 

Click here!

Join us on Facebook.

Le tour de France and My tour de France

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Okay, I  know it isn’t Friday, which is the day to celebrate France on my blog but I have a few France-related matters I want to share.

First, in case you didn’t know … but really, how could you not … you DO follow le tour don’t you? Even without Lance … and we won’t go there right now …

The 100th Tour de France began last Saturday and currentlymap_home the riders are passing through my favourite part of France. They were in Nice today and will be heading along the coast, past Antibes and up into the hills near Grasse, heading for Marseilles in this next stage.

FRIDAY UPDATE- My friend, Claire McAlpine, told me about the day the Tour passed through Aix. All the children had the day off school so they would not miss the excitement. I like that!

Today, the ride is from Montpelier to Albi.

Click here to go to the official site for videos and all the information you could possible want on this extraordinary sport. (I’m not mentioning the skin tight cycling outfits … but … if for no other reason …)

And now I want to mention MY tour de France. The fabulous Emma at Words And Peace now organizes excellent FRANCE BOOK TOURS that allow authors to share their work through the fine bloggers she contacts, according to the genre.

promise-of-provence-banner

If you have time, please go to her site or any of the sites below to join in the tour, try for a giveaway, or just say hello to me. The main purpose of these tours is to allow author’s to reach new readership by being featured on different blogs. It’s a wonderful way to get in touch with readers and I want every blogger involved to know how much their involvement and support is appreciated. Book bloggers rock! Merci!

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, July 1
Giveaway at Vvb32 Reads

Tuesday, July 2
Review + Giveaway at Chocolate & Croissants

Wednesday, July 3
Review + Giveaway at The French Village Diaries
Interview + Giveaway at An Accidental Blog

Thursday, July 4
Review at The Most Happy Reader

Friday, July 5
Interview at The French Village Diaries

Saturday, July 6
Excerpt posted by Helena Fairfax

Sunday, July 7
Review at Walkie Talkie Book Club

Monday, July 8
Review at Vvb32 Reads
Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Tuesday, July 9
Review at Faith Hope & Cherrytea
Giveaway at Walkie Talkie Book Club

Wednesday, July 10
Review at Impressions In Ink
Review + Giveaway at Queen Of All She Reads
Review + Giveaway at The Redlady’s Reading Room

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Patricia will be co-leading an 11-day tour of 14 women
to Nice and the countryside of Provence in June 2014.
Come join in the magic!
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/promenade-en-provence/

I’m dashing out now to go watch our 5-year-old grandson’s (The Adorable Jack) soccer game! If any of these links aren’t live right now, I will fix them later tonight. First things first, right? 

What are your priorities these days? Is your plate overflowing or do you have everything under control? How do you find the balance?