Archive for the ‘Publication’ Category
Indispensable – Guides to 2021 Summer Events in Provence
Posted in Event, News, Patrimoine, Publication on June 25, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Expanding Your French
Posted in Book, Patrimoine, Publication on April 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Getting fluent in French seems like a never-ending task to me but I very much enjoy reading thrice-weekly posts from French Word a Day.
Its author, Kristi, is an American, married to a Frenchman with whom she has two bilingual offspring. The family are based at La Ciotat from where she sends us observations on French life both in her town or on her travels (then) or tales from house and garden (now). Each post introduces new words and expressions to help us extend our vocabulary in a very painless way. https://www.french-word-a-day.com/ Recommended … as is her book!
A Guide for Guides to Marseille
Posted in Patrimoine, Publication, tagged Marseille, Marseille Tourist Office on December 3, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Marseille has been working hard to get itself on the tourist ‘must-see’ list and the Tourist Office now offers many organised visits to different parts of this vibrant city. Apart from the obvious sites, visitors can opt for food-tasting tours, street art walks, lunch on a cruise ship, or behind the scenes at the Marseille opera which includes a fascinating visit to the atelier where costumes are made.
Their new catalogue describes them for trip-organisers – but at the same time gives us individuals lots of ideas for outings!
‘One Sip at a Time’…Learning to Live in Provence
Posted in Book, Patrimoine, Publication on June 20, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Peter Mayle certainly started something back in 1989 when he published ‘A Year in Provence’. What a best-seller that turned out to be; and it launched a whole genre of ‘newcomer-to-Provence-buys-old-house/olive-grove’ books that document the inevitable cultural differences that we all bump up against. Is there anything more to be said?
Well Keith Van Sickle certainly thought so.
He and wife Val wanted to leave the US to live in Provence, but there were two problems: they weren’t French speakers and they had full-time jobs. So, taking advantage of new technology, they left their jobs, became consultants and split their time between the two countries.
‘One Sip at a Time’ charts their progress mastering the new language and making friends with the locals. Of course long meals are the order of the day so the ‘one sip’ in the title relates to our delightful Provencal wine, but also to the short chapters of the book, each with its own central observation.
I did enjoy this approach as he comments on:
- the right and wrong ways for men to kiss each other
- the French addiction to Nutella
- when to pronounce the final ‘s’ as in Carpentras, but why the ‘x’ is pronounced in Coudox and not in Velaux when they are next door to each other
- being the subject of waiters’ scorn for liking milk in coffee
- the preponderance of tail-gaters in France…..and so on.
The couple had three extended stays in the area – Molleges, Le Thor and Ventabren, near Aix – and did their best to fit into each community, making good friends along the way.
It’s an easy and light-hearted read: both M. Aixcentric and I enjoyed it.
It would make a welcome pressie for new arrivals to the area. I’m sure ‘Book In Bar’ could order it for you or…https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Sip-Time-Learning-Provence/dp/0998312002 have it in paperback or Kindle.
More Useful Guide-books from Aix Tourist Office
Posted in Book, Food, Publication on May 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Having just recommended a visit to the tourist office to pick up the guide on gardens, here are another two potentially useful books. (more…)
Aix le Mag – full of local info
Posted in News, Patrimoine, Publication, Transport on January 28, 2017| 2 Comments »
The January-February issue of ‘Aix le mag’ is available to download here: http://www.aixenprovence.fr/Magazine-Aix-le-mag-6623
It’s a very interesting issue with a section (from p17) on all the developments going on: new Arena, refurb of swimming pool, bus-lane from Parking Malacrida, new Aixpress bus-service, new Park and Ride (RD9/A51), improvements to Aix station and rail services to Marseille, Place des Precheurs, trees, Parc Rambot……
Read on!
Happening This Weekend…in Aix
Posted in Art, Event, Music, Publication on June 16, 2016| Leave a Comment »
This coming weekend, June 18th-19th, sees the annual ‘Flaneries d’art contemporain dans les jardins aixois‘, a very long title but it does sum up the event.
Potters, painters, photographers and jewellers will be exhibiting their wares and there is a programme of music and literary readings throughout each afternoon. Set in six different gardens, it’s all free and an excellent opportunity to explore some of the gardens which are normally closed to the public.
Click here for the programme: http://www.aix-en-oeuvres.com/
Marvellous Provence – a Really Useful Website
Posted in Art, Event, Food, News, Patrimoine, Publication on May 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Following on from a previous post about the ongoing difficulties about getting info from all the various tourist authorities, I can recommend marvellous-provence.com, a website dedicated to helping visitors by presenting news, events and links to other fact-filled sites.
It’s the brainchild of Sheila who came to live on the coast after a successful career in journalism in London. She spent much of her career working for The Independent where she wrote film reviews and features, and oversaw the film listings.
Her move to Provence coincided with the lead-up to the 2013 Year of Culture and so she smartly called her new website ‘Marseille-Provence.info’ and proceeded to keep everyone up-to-date on what was happening. Since then, her remit has expanded from Toulon/Hyeres up to the Luberon and across to Avignon, taking in Aix of course. And so the website name was changed.
She has huge numbers of hits on the website, especially one-time visitors to the region looking for info on transport, accommodation, events, food and wine and other aspects of provencal culture. Have a look on http://www.marvellous-provence.com/.
Her next expansion plan for the site is Arles and the Camargue which she is currently researching.
An excellent idea but I would say, Sheila, don’t forget the anti-mozzie cream….
Aix App – For Walks in the Town
Posted in Food, Patrimoine, Publication on September 7, 2015| Leave a Comment »
A self-guided walking tour of Aix that takes you to all the best places in town has been created by Carolyne Kauser-Abbott of Edible Heritage.
(more…)
New Website Lists French Strikes
Posted in Publication on November 14, 2014| 2 Comments »
photo from The Guardian
Last year we were wrong-footed by air-traffic controllers three times: one flight cancelled, one delayed and one afternoon sitting on the tarmac at Heathrow for hours. ‘Where can we find out about this sort of thing before it happens?’ we wondered.
Well now there’s a website which lists strikes across France – today for instance the binmen are out in (more…)
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Art in the South of France; the inside story
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
Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story
My first book tells the story of this fascinating town and introduces .some of the characters who have lived here. With a focus on people rather than buildings, history is unravelled through anecdotes with lots of suggestions of what to see when you visit. Available from lulu.com - /aix-en-provence-the-inside-story
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