March 8, 2024

French Riviera Carnaval Season Brings the Promise of Spring

After mid-winter celebrations in Provence, life returned to “normal” on the French Riviera after the annual festivities in Nice and Menton wrapped up on March 3rd. In Nice, the 151st Carnaval de Nice celebrated the “King of Pop Culture” with floats, flower parades, music, and street performances. This year’s Olympics were the theme for the 90th Fête du Citron® in Menton.Some of our other favourite coastal destinations, Antibes, Cannes, St Jean Cap Ferrata, and Villefranche, are popular all year, even if the water is a little cool for swimming in March. The town of Vence, a short drive from Nice, has a pedestrian-friendly old centre that is well worth visiting.
Continue reading here to learn more about what’s happening on the French Riviera at this time of the year.
If you are contemplating a trip to the South of France, here is our Vistor’s Guide to the Alpes Maritimes.

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February 16, 2024

A Quick Escape to the South of France

Take a few minutes and dream of Provence with its Mediterranean coastline, enchanting villages, and delicious cuisine. What interests you most about the South of France? Are you looking for recommendations for specific cities, hidden gems, or tips on regional wines? Here are articles about city highlights, wine tasting in Bandol and Cassis, places to stay, and trip planning.While February is not lavender season, you can dream about visiting in June on this tour. However, this month is excellent for visiting museums, art galleries, and historic cities like Aix-en-Provence, Arles, and Avignon. If you go to Nîmes to see the Roman sites, try a Crocus de Nîmes, an inspired sandwich. On the French Riviera, it’s party time until March 3 with the 151st Nice Carnaval (“King of Pop Culture”) and 90th Fête du Citron (Olympic theme) in Menton.

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February 3, 2024

With Love from Provence Mid-Winter Amour Recipes and More

If you are like Nutmeg, by this point in the winter, you are looking forward to warmer, longer days. February in Provence reveals early signs of spring’s arrival. Mimosas bloom along the coast, with towns along the 130 km “Route du Mimosa” hosting festivals, parades, concerts, and workshops celebrating the yellow flowers. Meanwhile, almond trees display their delicate white and pink blossoms in other parts of the region. Please watch for Virginie’s article on Provence’s Almond Trees, along with some tempting recipes.With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, Martine of Goût et Voyage has curated a delicious multi-course meal for a romantic evening à deux or a dinner party with good friends. If you like her menu, why not book a spot on her Taste of Provence gourmet and cultural tours in June?While we don’t need a reason to drink rosé, Valentine’s Day is a good excuse. Wine guru Göran wrote an interesting article about the viability of the rosé…

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January 19, 2024

Where to Stay in Provence Côte d’Azur in 2024

This newsletter is the 10th edition of the Where to Stay in Provence Côte d’Azur newsletter, and Perfectly Provence turns 10 this year. Please watch for special promotions throughout the next 12 months. Depending on where you live, you might already be tired of snow shovelling. One way to eliminate the winter blues is to book a holiday to the South of France, where the sun shines 300+ days yearly. Our travel partners are filling the final spots on their 2024 tours. Here are some of our curated collections for dreamy places to stay in Provence and the Côte d’Azur.  
One challenge with visiting Provence is choosing from the incredible range of options. Sue Aran shares her thoughts on the best of the Camargue, from towns to wildlife. Art lovers should check out these 12 places for contemporary art. Author Keith Van Sickle is happy to answer questions about visiting St-Rémy-de-Provence in the Alpilles.

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January 7, 2024

A Golden, Silver and Bronze Year in France

Perfectly Provence: Newsletter January 5, 2024
Happy New Year to all! 2024 is an Olympic year for France. While many events occur in and around Paris, there is plenty to get excited about in Provence. There will be sailing and football (soccer). However, before that all starts, the Olympic flame arrives in Marseille’s Vieux Port on Bélem, a beautiful three-masted ship from 1896. From there, the flame travels around the country after a few regional appearances. Here are the details.
January 6th is the Epiphany. So, in Provence, it’s time to enjoy Galette des Rois, a delicious puff pastry (pâte feuilletée) filled with frangipane and a fève, which can be a bean or a tiny ceramic figurine. Don’t break a touch on the fève. It could be your chance to rule the roost for the day. As with the rest of the holiday period in France, there is a ritual around eating this pastry.
Our 2024 winter menu is a culinary creation…

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July 9, 2023

Shop! Our Provencal Marketplace Made in France

Shop our collection of handcrafted and limited-production French products. We feature beautiful items for home décor, accessories, beauty products, and gifts. These companies focus on traditional designs and promoting artisanal culture. In addition, our partners are environmentally conscious and work only with top-quality materials. If you are interested in collaborating, please contact us via our contact form.
Shop.
Our made-in-France collection showcases some of our favourite products for beauty care, home décor, gifts and more.
Artisans.
Our partners are creators and innovators who source top-quality materials and follow eco-friendly practices.
Quality.
Our products support a community of talented artisans, whether they are creating a new art form or reviving a traditional craft.

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May 15, 2023

GPSmyCity Giveaway 1-year FREE Subscription!

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Travel is Back!
According to Reuters, American travel demand to Europe is surging this year. So, we are joining the crowd and heading to Provence in southern France, where the food, wine, culture and scenery are hard to beat. So, are you going to travel summer or later this year? If so, take advantage of this GPSmyCity giveaway.

GPSmyCity Giveaway
GPSmyCity turns Ginger and Nutmeg articles and guides into GPS-guided apps you can follow when visiting different destinations….

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October 25, 2021

Hiking Trails in the Estérels, French Riviera

Estérels French Riviera
Located in southeastern France, the Estérel coastal mountain range straddles both the Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments. Of volcanic origins, the massif is roughly 32,000 hectares of rugged terrain awaiting exploration. Mont Vinaigre is the highest peak at 618 metres. According to the Estérel Côte d’Azur tourism office, there are 72 trails for biking (road, gravel and mountain), hiking, and walking that crisscross the range, including many within the protected Forêt domaniale de l’Estérel. We highlight here a few of the popular trails. From the coastline Sentier du littoral (previously the customs footpath) to the forested hills of the Pay de Fayence there are many hikes in the Estérels for all ability levels.
Les Gorges du Blavet ©Estérel Côte d’Azur
Sentier du littoral ©Estérel Côte d’Azur

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October 22, 2021

A Quick Visit to Constanta Romania

Romania was not at the top of Nutmeg’s bucket list, and neither was a 3-hour Ryanair flight from Marseille. The flight was a glimpse back to before Covid-19 days in its crowded boarding process and disorganized gate check. It was a mosh pit. Hopefully, no one lied on the pre-flight vaccine forms…
 
They arrived in Bucharest at midnight local time, so there was not much to see. The Hilton Airport Hotel could have been anywhere in the world and thankfully spotless. 

 
The next day G&N picked up a rental car + TomTom unit and headed to Constanta. Unfortunately, the TomTom died (no battery) about 30 minutes into what should have been a 2 1/2 hour drive but now looked like a 3-4 hour excursion due to traffic. The roads are slowly improving thanks to huge EU infrastructure funds (read debt). In the meantime, the truck and car snarls are significant. From Bucharest to Constanta, the scenery for over 200km is mostly…

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October 25, 2021

24 hours in Bucharest, Romania

Travel to Romania
When the idea of travelling to Romania initially bubbled to the surface, G&N talked about a road trip. It seemed like a decent plan, given that their car had been almost idle since 2019. In addition, they could explore some new countries (Slovenia, Hungary) along the way. Also of interest was that the route would practically trace the Orient Express. We discovered this fact quite by hazard at the Recontres d’Arles Photography show in August. However, that was probably when they both realized just how far away Constanta was from Eygalières – 2,500+ km one way.
Pre-COVID and with a more extended stay in Europe, they would have gone ahead with Plan A. However, the reality of different COVID rules in each country and thousands of potential touchpoints became clear. So instead, they decided on Plan B and booked a Ryanair flight from MRS to OTP.
The flight from Marseille to Bucharest is only about 3 hours. But of…

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