February 20, 2012

St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume and Gourmet Food in Provence

St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume and Gourmet Food in Provence

The village of St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume is located in a valley a short 30-minute drive south of Aix en Provence. Vineyards surround the town and just to the south is the Massif de la Ste-Baume. The town was named after St Maximinus, who reportedly converted the residents to Christianity and where a 6th century parish church was built and named in his honour.  The church was later demolished when the basilica was constructed. (more…)

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January 30, 2012

Corsica ABCs For Foodies

Corsica ABCs For Foodies

The island of Corsica is odd shaped, think of a bunch of grapes with the stem at the top and you will not be too far off.  The stem of the cluster forms the wild and stunning Cap Corse. The island’s terrain is enormously varied from mountain peaks (120 summits over 2000 meters) and river gorges to sandy beaches and lush plains.  This varied topography is reflective of the balance of the grapes in the bunch. Ginger and Nutmeg were told by friends that Corsica is like a mini-France. They were right, the island offers the traveller a rich and tasty experience within the 1000km coastline. The Corsican population is fiercely proud of their locally produced food and beverage products. Ginger and Nutmeg did their best to sample a wide variety of the available goods during their trip. Nutmeg had a bit of fun with this post and hopes you will too. The following are the ABC’s of Corsican food for the hungry and parched traveller: Domaine Arena – one of the top-rated wines on the island.  Ginger and Nutmeg have tried the red and white varieties – both are excellent. This winemaker is located in the Patrimonio region.  They were one of the first vineyards to begin the process of replanting classic Corsican grapes such as Biancu Gentile.  The wine is made in an organic style, and it is delicious. (more…)

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January 23, 2012

Corisca A Long History

Corisca A Long History

It is impossible to do the history of Corsica justice in one short blog post.  The following is a brief summary and an opportunity to show off our photos.  For those history buffs out there, you can easily lose yourself for hours on the Wikipedia pages alone. A history of strong, dominant forces formed the island of Corsica, throughout its’ entire history. The landmass of Corsica was created by intense, volcanic activity.  Among other names for this beautiful island, one is “a mountain in the sea”.  Corsica is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean, with well over 100 peaks higher than the 2000-meter level. The dramatic peaks, lush valleys and 1000 kilometres of coastline, have all played heavily, in the civilization of the island, as it exists today.  The Moor’s head is dominant on the Corsican flag and visible throughout the island on 1000s of items from beer labels to beach towels.  The exact origins of the symbol remain debated; however, it is a powerful, iconic reminder of the island’s history.  It is a chronicle over millenniums of habitation, growth, conflict and struggle for survival. (more…)

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January 16, 2012

Corsica The Beauty

Corsica The Beauty

Years ago, Nutmeg had a boss (a faithful blog reader) who suggested that it could be a career limiting move, to stay in Paris longer than the assignment required.  Nutmeg found this rather disappointing as she had a strong desire to explore Corsica, and felt that she deserved a holiday. The French, for good reason, call Corsica “l’Ile de Beauté” or Island of Beauty.  The island is stunning at every turn with sandy beaches, limestone cliffs, granite mountain peaks and lush agricultural areas.  Corsica offers something for every taste, from the “beach lizard” to the “adventure racer” and all the folks in between. Nutmeg would like to thank her former boss, if she had visited Corsica all those years ago two things probably would have happened: She would have fallen in love with the island Ginger may have had another name like Antonio (more…)

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January 1, 2012

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year 2012

Ginger and Nutmeg would like to wish all their fans a very Happy New Year.  We sure hope that you do not wake up on the first day of 2012, feeling sleepy or worse. They would like to share some projections for the year ahead: Queen Elizabeth will celebrate a big ANNIVERSARY (60 years) The US federal election will be a big BORE The French national election will have no DSK The 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede will be a big PARTY The summer Olympics in London will be a big TRAFFIC JAM There will be lots of focus on the Mayan Calendar big DATE (12/21/12) AND The French will continue to make really good bread. Happy 2012!

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December 23, 2011

Warm Seasons Greetings

Warm Seasons Greetings

Ginger and Nutmeg spent 13 months in France, a journey that would have been impossible without the help of friends and family. They would like to pass on best wishes for a delightful holiday season to all their friends, new and old. The English and French love to debate many things, including the origin of the popular Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.  Ginger and Nutmeg do not have the answer but thought it would be a fun way to show off some photos of their time in France. Wishing everyone a safe and fun-filled holiday season. Watch for more posts in 2012! (more…)

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December 19, 2011

Cycling L’Île de Porquerolles

Cycling L’Île de Porquerolles

Ginger and Nutmeg were invited to join some friends for a day of “easy” cycling on L’Île de Porquerolles. This is the biggest of three small islands that make up the Îles d’Hyères or Les Îles d’Or (Golden Islands), located just off the coast from Hyères.  This is the rougher, wilder, “native” side of the Cote D’Azur.  The ferry leaves from a couple locations; you can check the schedule on the official site. Scheduled departure for the ferry was 10:30am, a bit of extra traffic congestion through Toulon, and a slight wrong turn made for a VERY tight connection.  G&N were absolutely the last to board the boat, but they made it! This late February day was certainly not one for bathing suits or t-shirts, fleece and puffy jackets were in order. The temperature hovered around ten degrees Celsius, with gusting winds and a constant threat of rain. Nutmeg is absolutely not a boat person, so the short choppy crossing from the mainland was just the right length of time (approximately 20 minutes). (more…)

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November 28, 2011

To Market To Market With An Expert in Provence

To Market To Market With An Expert in Provence

The small city of Martigues is located at the point where the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang de Berre meet. Sometimes referred to as the Provençale Venice, Martigues is attractive. There is a series of small canals, tiny pedestrian-only streets and attractive cafes. Thursday is market day in Martigues, and that is where Ginger and Nutmeg met up with Ghyslaine and her husband Jacques. Aside from being a lovely couple, they run a successful company focused on top quality cooking classes. Appropriately named, La Cuisine Mèditerranéenne de Ghylaine, is focused on traditional cooking and techniques from the region. (more…)

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November 11, 2011

11th day 11th Month the Time for Remembrance

11th day 11th Month the Time for Remembrance

Just try typing 11/11/2011 in your web browser and see what results you get, in this case a mere 14,490,000,000.  There are volumes of prophesies regarding the significance of the date.  Numerologists and astrologists have published tomes on the subject and the demise of the world as we know it.  Bored? You could spend hours on this subject. This post has nothing to do with that. November 11, 1918 was the official end of World War I. It was at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” when the Armistice was officially signed with Germany, agreeing to the end of hostilities. In France, Armistice Day is a national holiday to celebrate the country’s role in the allied victory, of this Great Patriotic War. The French population suffered tremendously during the First World War. Almost every town has a memorial to recognize the lives lost in battle.  The French use the blue cornflower or Bleuet as a symbol to commemorate the sacrifices, the blue reminiscent of the uniforms worn by soldiers. The following poem was written by Guillaume Apollinaire (his adopted name), his reflections of youth and conflict. (more…)

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November 7, 2011

A Visit to Eygalières a Village in Provence

A Visit to Eygalières a Village in Provence

I could tell that Nutmeg would not have time to write this post, as they were busy packing bags, boxes, sporting goods and the car. I travel much lighter than they do, Ginger had cleaned my kennel, so I was ready for the voyage back to Calgary.  With the two of them distracted, I thought that I would take this opportunity to share with you a few of my favourite things about the village of Eygalières. (more…)

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