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Avignon.

Nice.

Neighborhood in Nice near the Mediterranean, France.


In a square near the waterfront in Nice, France.

Niceflower market.


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My Life in France
Julia Child


Rick Steves' Paris 2008

The Impressionists of Paris.
The Impressionists ParisThe Impressionists Paris by Ellen Williams.
Walking Tours of the Artists' Studios, Homes, and the Sites They Painted
Ellen Williams
(Hardcover - January 1, 1999)
Ideal for those who plan on walking Paris and who would an overview of the Impressionists as they go.

france


° UNESCO World Heritage Sites

I'll get to writing more about our three visits to France soon. There is nothing quite like this beautiful country and its exquisite language.

We have taken trains from Paris to Avignon (Provence), Arles (also Provence) to Nice (where we stayed for a week and which is a favorite destination in France), Monaco and to Menton.

Provence is considered to be the most irresistible of France because of its range from snow-capped mountains to the delta plaints and the Gorges du Verdon. While we were enchanted by Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, and love every place we have visited in France, our preferences remain the coastal cities along the Cote d'Azur. Avignon, for centuries, was a major artistic center of France and it was home to one of the richest courts in Europe during the fourteenth century. As most of Europe, it can be too crowded in summer months, so we do our best to travel off-season. We were actually there during Spring and enjoyed pleasant weather and minimal crowds. Avignon has spectacular monuments, ancient churches and chapels, and wonderful outdoor cafes lining a central square.

Because Menton is on the Cote d'Azur near the Italian border, it is quite possibly the friendliest. We had purchased a picnic lunch in Nice before boarding the train to Menton where we dined along the promenade du Soleil. On avenue de la Madone, at the other end of the small town, we came across an impressive collection of paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century in the Palais Carnole, the old summer residence of the Princes of Monaco.

Just prior to my second trip to France, I mentioned to a friend what a difficult time I had on the first trip. No one was rude, as is common opinion, but I just can't learn other languages . . . except Japanese. I do okay with Japanese; I'm sure it's because there are no similarities, thus no confusion between English, Spanish, French, etc.

So my friend handed me a book (I forgot which) about getting along in France . . . I had only enough time to glean the wisdom: learn at least a few words of the language such as "excuse me" and "thank you," and count the change.

It sounded too simple, but I was willing to try anything, so I did as advised.

On my third trip to France with my then-15-year-old daughter who spoke fluent French and actually got us through, I had occasion to order and pay at a small bakery away from the tourist areas in Nice. The bakery owner, a man, looked as us askance, so I determined to try my best with "please" and "thank you." It did not work, until I counted out the change to the franc . . . slowly, but I counted. He looked me in the eyes, quite surprised, almost smiled, and pronounced "bon."

So it works. Since then, I try to learn at least "thank you," "please," and count the change. That works in every country. It implies, I think, that we are on foreign soil, they should not be accommodating us, that we have made an effort to at least be hospitable.

(Editor's Note: During my first trip to Japan, lost at the airport in Tokyo, one of the flight crew asked where we were going and pointed out our direction. I thanked them very politely: "arigato gozimashita" (which is the equivalent of "thank you very much). Totally amused and seemingly impressed, the flight crew repeated, "Oh, arigato gozimashita." It made my day, and probably hers. During that same trip on a journey Hakone (north of Tokyo), I didn't realize that the bumps on the ground out of the train station were for blind people. A Japanese man bumped into me, I instantly realized that I was in his path and it would have been impossible for him to know that. Embarrassed, I repeatedly mumbled "sumimasen, sumimasen" (excuse me, excuse me). He turned in my direction and rewarded me with a smile and a bow.)

Laminated maps such as this are useful for negotiating cities as large as Paris. It is an amazing walking city, but there are times when public transportation is necessary—and this laminated map includes metro lines and stations. Our trips have been made easier for having it along this type of map.

We have also had the pleasure of visiting Monaco . . . once via train and again when we sailed in on a Princess Cruises ship. Both times, we walked for hours, viewed the works of innumerable artists Jean Cocteau in Menton and Villefranche, Matisse and Chagall in Nice. I assume there are people who do not care for Monaco, but we love the sophisticated beauty, the mega-yachts in the harbor, the royal grounds, and the illusion (or realty) of extreme wealth, even though that is out of our realm. If you get a chance, take a tour from Monaco to Nice. The drive through old walled villages and elegant seaside resort towns is one of the world's more beautiful drives.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France