AMB Cote d'Azur

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May 19th
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We Are Five Years Old!

We Are Five Years Old!

This is both an exciting month and issue as AMB Cote d'Azur reaches the grand age of being five years old! Launched in February 2004, and starting from humble beginnings, the site has grown from just one writer (me), to having a fabulous team of over 20 writers, all passionate about this beautiful region.

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The Year Ahead

The Year Ahead

Until I came to live on the French Riviera, the month of January was the gloomiest of the whole year for me. The weather was the main depressing culprit with endless grey skies and cold miserable days. But since living here, my word - January is beautiful. The skies are at their most fantastic with a clarity and a blue rarely seen during the summer months. Orange and lemon trees are laden with fruit while elsewhere Bougainvillea and Bird of Paradise are in bloom. Mimosa trees are just starting to come into flower and soon the air will be heavy with their scent and the surrounding countryside a wave of golden yellow.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 February 2009 18:13 )

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A Christmas Wish

A Christmas Wish

Christmas has again taken me by surprise. One minute it seems months away - the next it's 8 days to go and counting. The year has flown past and here we are - just about to turn yet another page of our lives, this time to Chapter 2009.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 February 2009 18:15 )

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Back to normal - nearly

Back to normal - nearly

Recently I had the occasion to look up the word "Frustration". In fact, throughout very nearly the whole month of October, I came to know every twist and horrid turn of that particular word. How to describe total frustration, anger and annoyance as our internet line failed us - repeatedly? Stranded comes to mind.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 February 2009 18:16 )

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Lest we forget

Lest we forget

Reverend Anne's latest articles reminded me, lest we forget, that there is beauty all around us and Provence and the Cote d'Azur are past masters at delighting our senses. Her article also jogged my memory that I'd taken a photo in early spring by our pool house upon which grow some crusty old succulents.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 February 2009 18:39 )

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From our archives

 

Villa Le Rêve

For the past ten years Villa Le Rêve has been used as an artists’ house where art, cultural and creative activities, health and well-being courses are held throughout the year. As part of our research on Matisse and his life here on the Côte d'Azur, we contacted Joëlle Audry, Villa Le Rêve’s charming caretaker, and asked if we could visit his old home. Much to our delight she accepted and we arranged our visit.

 

Notre Dame de la Garoupe

If you’ve ever visited the Grimaldi Museum in Antibes and strolled along the narrow Promenade Amiral de Grasse that hugs the contours of the coastline down to Saint-André bastion and its archaeological museum, it’s a safe bet you would have noticed the verdant Cap d’Antibes peninsula - and one of France’s most powerful lighthouses (with a range of 70 kms for boats and 200 kms for planes) perched on top of La Garoupe Hill: Phare de La Garoupe.

 

They really do say 'oh la la'

It is in the nature of neighbours to squabble, and notwithstanding the official cordiality of the past 100 years, Anglo-French relations have been known to suffer sporadic minor ruptures. These are rather stimulating occasions, traditionally marked by name-calling and foot-stamping on both sides of the channel.