Posted in News on February 21, 2020| 2 Comments »
Isn’t France changing? I’d never have thought a karaoke bar would open in Marseille, but the quartier de la Préfecture will soon be host to Back To Bac, a centre for cocktails with private rooms for karaoké parties.
I recently did this with a group of friends in Japan and, (more…)
Posted in News, Patrimoine on February 8, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Plage Notre-Dame, one of Europe’s top beaches…at Porquerolles
If you are relaxing tomorrow afternoon, Sunday 9th Feb, the excellent documentary series Thalassa is featuring two places not far from Aix. The first half hour looks at Toulon, specifically its naval base, Europe’s largest. The base for France’s air-craft carriers and 6 nuclear submarines, over 23,000 people work there. Then the focus shifts to the lovely island of Porquerolles where a couple from Marseille have been renovating a fort. 15:15-16:15. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/var/toulon/thalassa-ce-dimanche-vous-fait-decouvrir-base-navale-toulon-porquerolles-1783967.html
Posted in Event, News on February 2, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Popular British stand-up comic Paul Taylor will be performing in Aix’s Jeu du Paume theatre on Wednesday 18th March.
Born in London and educated in France, his show delivers witticisms about both cultures, in perfect Franglais of course.
Tickets from 15€ : https://www.ticketmaster.fr/en/manifestation/paul-taylor-ticket/idmanif/484245
Lots of clips on YouTube. Thanks to Fiona for the heads-up on this one.
Posted in Film, News on January 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Windy weather right now with rain coming through – a good time to scurry into one of the Aix cinemas. Quite a programme to look forward to.
Coming up, two special events both at the Cézanne:
Details https://www.lescinemasaixois.com
Posted in Event, News, Patrimoine on January 22, 2020| 2 Comments »
There’s a programme of behind-the-scenes visits coming up next month which has been designed to introduce locals and visitors alike to activities and industries here in Provence.
You can visit the Airport and Museum of Aviation, soap manufacturers, Décathlon, the Grand Theatre de Provence, calisson makers, an artisanal brasserie to taste the beer, vineyards of course, Centrale EDF at Martigues, Iter, Cadarache, or go backstage at the Silo in Marseille. And lots more.
The events take place under the ‘Indus3days’ banner, organised by the tourist office in Gardanne.
Dates: 10-23 Feb: in previous years, events have been sold out quickly so time is of the essence for the popular visits.
Cost: 6€, free for the under 6s.
Details: https://www.indus3days.fr/
Posted in Event, Music, News on January 18, 2020| 2 Comments »
Some well-known acts are in the line-up this year for the Festival de Nimes which takes place in the Roman arena, 2000 years old, what a venue!
Newcastle’s finest Sting (more…)
Posted in Children, Fund Raising, News on January 15, 2020| 2 Comments »
‘Les Pieces Jaunes’ , the annual collection of all those pesky heavy centimes is taking place across France right now, an initiative from Bernadette Chirac who has been championing it since 1989. It has funded 15,000 projects to help children and adolescents in hospital, aiming to make their time there less stressful. Specifically, it has created 2824 bedrooms for visiting parents and 60 houses for family-use.
This year, the charity has been transitioned to the care of Brigitte Macron and Didier Deschamps who will continue this valuable work.
The problem for the Aixcentric household was that we had accumulated such a big pot of centimes that it would have overwhelmed the little collecting boxes that you will see dotted around town in shops and post offices. Que faire??
So this week I threw myself on the mercy of people at the info-desk at Carrefour who have a large floor-standing collection box but with a very narrow slot. They gamely took on the challenge of posting them for me and for that I am truly grateful. Chapeau to Carrefour!
The South of France. Enchanted by the deep blue of the Mediterranean, the olive trees, poppies, irises and that dazzling light, artists found their creativity flourished under the hot sun. My new book takes you on a journey visiting museums and galleries as well as artists’ studios and their favourite painting spots. From Van Gogh in Arles, to Signac in Saint-Tropez; from Cézanne in Aix, over to Nice for Renoir and Matisse, the story unfolds of artists who knew each other and painted together in the warm south. Prepare too to meet colourful local artists who captured their beloved Provence for us to enjoy.
Buy: in Book-in-Bar, Aix, or online. Please click here: /art-in-the-south-of-france-the-inside-story/paperback/product-23586102.html
