Monaco reconnaisanceVillefranche-sur-Mer, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, France The name is Young. Pam Young. Today’s mission? Surveillance of Monaco, to collect information that will inform the possible movements of other agents for whom the principality may one day be a destination.To maintain a low profile, I am dressed in vacation attire and travelling with the locals on public …
Me voilaVillefranche-sur-Mer, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, France If you want to park near the beach in Villefranche-sur-mer, you have two choices. At the top end of the beach strip, near the expensive waterfront restaurants, is the shaded but small cruiseship parking lot. The far end offers at least triple the number of spots, but the parking is …
Finding our fitVillefranche-sur-Mer, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, France My first waking thought involves my back. I roll over, and it feels not too bad, in spite of the hide-a-bed mattress. My next thought is, if I were in Caromb right now, I’d be listening for the church bell, getting up to buy baguette, and wishing petite Jeannette …
RecalibratingVillefranche-sur-Mer, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, France “Uh, oh,” says Lorne. “I think I might have missed the turnoff into Villefranche-sur-Mer.” We both watch the GPS street image change,and listen for the BBC-calm tones of our impeccable onboard navigator to tell us what to do next. “If possible, make a U-turn. Then, drive 400 metres and take the …
In every end is a beginningCaromb, France Caromb, France Today is the first day of school in Caromb. A father and son pause outside the elementary school, both trying to smooth down the boy’s cowlick (the boy eventually puts up the hood on his jacket – problem solved.) More parent-child pairs and groups join the …
Bon DimancheCaromb, France Caromb, France This morning, the Caromb village centre is busier than we have seen it since we arrived a week ago – cars dashing up and down the narrow streets, women darting purposefully in and out of shops with marketing baskets. Some of the merchants are a little less patient than usual …
Our ascent of Mount VentouxCaromb, France Caromb, France If your life mosaic contains an intense conviction, a grand passion, a huge love, you may have a personal mecca in mind – a destination where you can indulge in peak experiences that typify your passion, and meet others who share it. For years afterward, you’ll be …
A votre santeCaromb, France Caromb, France Think back to the last wine tour you took. If you’re like us, you probably stopped at a handful of wineries, enjoyed a few complimentary (or not) slurps of wine, talked to a more or less knowledgeable wine server, and left with a bottle or two for your cellar. …
Roman aroundCaromb, France Caromb, France The week before we left Canada, our microwave died with a guttural groan and a burnout electrical stench. “Oh, well,” we said. “We’ve had it twelve years. It doesn’t owe us anything.” This attitude seems more than a little ironic in light of the Roman ruins (and not so ruins) …
Monday, Monday, so good to meCaromb, France Caromb, France A deep-voiced bell tolls… sun pierces my eyelids… where am I? I roll over and, through the window, Caromb appears like a Provencal postcard – our whitewashed terrace; the neighbors’ red tiled roofs; farms and forest reaching back into the midground; Mount Ventoux watching aloofly over …
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