New book about France makes a great gift…
Tag: history
French Beret: A Hat with Attitude
The French beret, that little pancake of a hat, has become the recognized symbol of all things French – at least among those outside of France…
April Fool or April Fish?
In many countries, the first day of April is a day to play harmless jokes on family and friends. This usually consists of telling a farfetched story in such a way that it sounds like it could be true. When the other person falls for our joke, we exclaim…
Menton, France celebrates the Lemon
They say when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. But what if you are a town on the French Riviera and life gives you extraordinarily delicious lemons?…
Carnival Kings, Silly Strings, and Blooming Things
In Nice, France we are preparing for the carnival and that means another royal visit. Every year in February, a different king comes to town
Nice, France: Her Relationship with Italy and How She Became French
Normally, I write about the city of Nice, but in this article, when I mention Nice, I am speaking of the historic “County of Nice”
Thirteen Desserts? That’s my kind of Meal!
Christmas time in Provence and the south of France is full of traditions and, as with most good traditions, food is usually involved. Miniature wheat
A Girl Called Fanny That no one Wants to Kiss
Recently, when I was at the Christmas “santon” fairs looking at all of the little figures that make up the Nativity scenes in southern
Turkeys and Presidential Pardons
Turkeys have long been given as gifts to US presidents. But in recent years, presidents have begun to pardon a live turkey the day before Thanksgiving.
Guy Fawkes Finally has his Day
Remember, remember the 5th of November…A British revolutionary executed in 1605 comes back as the face of the Anonymous movement.
A River runs through it – well under it Anyway
This weekend I went to the opening of the lovely new ribbon of a park that flows through Nice, France. It is called the “Promenade
The English Promenade in Nice, France
The Promenade des Anglais, affectionately known as “the Prom”, is one of the most beautiful seaside boulevards to be found and lucky me, I live
Queen Victoria in Nice
Queen Victoria spent her winters on the French Riviera. While there, she could let her hair down and relax, often touring around in a little donkey cart.
The Old Town Knows How to Keep its Cool
Saturday we went to a crafts market in Old Nice. We were in an open plaza at midday and the sun was beating down on
Happy May Day! Give a Flower to Someone You Love
May 1st is a public holiday in France. It’s called La Fête du Travail, and it’s the equivalent of the US Labor Day. But it’s
Catherine Ségurane: Niçoise Laundress Saves the Day
A 16th century Niçoise laundress chased away the Turkish army and saved the city of Nice, France…
British Cannon Fire over the City of Nice
If you have ever visited Nice, France, you may have been startled by a very loud noon time boom. It occurs every day at precisely 12.00 and is a remnant from the Victorian times, when a British wife couldn’t remember to go home for lunch.
Always something happening in Florence
Saturday was the traditional wine harvest ceremony in Florence and I watched the preparations at the Duomo. Two white cows were unloaded, washed and decorated