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Womens Travel Network

A sweet taste of France

December 7, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

If it’s Friday (or even Saturday), it must be France …

The Promise of Provence now has a book trailer! After sifting through my photos and collaborating with the creative ( … and patient … ) Kristen Kress at Brain Fry Productions, we are on YouTube. Chalk up another learning experience … it just never ends …

When you have a spare 1:34 minutes, take a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc1RStjTARg

Are you joining me in France in June 2014? I’m already counting the days until we begin the first “Promenade En Provence” organized by the Womens Travel Network in Toronto. The first tour sold out immediately and 14 women from the U.S. and Canada will  meet in Nice on June 12 to begin our 10-day adventure.

My speaking partner, author Susan Sommers, will be co-leading the first tour with me and Debbie Ross, the Womens Travel Network founder, will join me for the second tour. Trust me, you are going to be in very good hands!

At the moment there are no more than four spots remaining on the second tour, from June 25 to July 5. They won’t last long which is why I am mentioning the trip here, in case any of you or your friends or family might be interested.

I’ve received enthusiastic emails from several women who have signed up and their excitement is already mounting. Mine too! There’s no question it will be a trip to remember, so join us if you feel tempted.

One of our stops … and the lavender will be in bloom!
One of our stops … and the lavender will be in bloom!

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: Brain Fry Productions, Debbie Ross, Kristen Kress, Patricia Sands, Susan Sommers, The Promise of Provence, Womens Travel Network

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

Lunch with Journeywoman!

October 23, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

Some days are a little more special than others and yesterday was one of those!

Some people you meet are a little more special than others and the woman I met yesterday was indeed one of those!

Evelyn-bio-picEvelyn Hannon, aka Journeywoman, and I spent a couple of hours  yesterday chatting over a light lunch we picked up in Whole Foods at Hazelton Lanes in Toronto. Seriously … just the two of us … lucky me!

Through a conversation we were having online about promoting The Promise of Provence on her site, the next thing we knew we were arranging to meet. I am so delighted we did. As smart, funny and down-to-earth as Evelyn appears in her writing online, she is even more so in person.  This is a woman experiencing life to the max and sharing her energy and enthusiasm with all of us. Lucky us!

In a word: INSPIRING.

I loved the fact we share the same philosophy that age should not be a deterrent to anything you wish to do in life. We looked at each other and laughed as we agreed that getting older is simply an opportunity to have time to follow more of your dreams. Just do it!

No wonder Time Magazine included Evelyn in a list of “this century’s most innovative thinkers”. As a woman way ahead of her time, she recognized the power of the internet and began blogging about travel for women in 1997, expanding her reach from the magazine she began in 1994. She now has over 70,000 subscribers to her newsletter and over 30,000 avid followers on Twitter.

title

Click right here to read how her personal journey began.

As a serial traveler, I’ve followed Evelyn’s Journeywoman.com website for several years and always found interesting, helpful and/or entertaining travel information there. Although the website is geared to women traveling on their own, the information is valuable for anyone planning a trip or, truly, for people interested in learning more about this wonderful world of ours.  The number and variety of articles on this site will keep you engaged for a very long time.

IMG_1826
Just ignore the fact I’m in my track suit as I dashed over right after tennis!

I’m pleased and proud to have The Promise of Provence occupying a little space of its own on Journeywoman.com for the month of November. We’re also going to talk about the WomensTravelNetwork ‘Promenade in Provence’. I will be on the tour … will you?

If you haven’t yet discovered Evelyn’s Journeywoman.com site, I am suggesting that you get yourself over there as quickly as you can. Here you go … CLICK!  You will be writing me to say thanks. I know it!

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Filed Under: Blog, General Travel, News Tagged With: Debbie Ross, Evelyn Hannon, France, Journeywoman, Patricia Sands, Provence, Susan Sommers, The Promise of Provence, travel, Womens Travel Network

For your reading pleasure …

August 3, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

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

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: Antibes, Cote D'Azur, Grasse, Monte Carlo, Nice, Patricia Sands, Provence, Villefranche-Sur-Mer, Womens Travel Network

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