If you have a chance to take a trip and don’t really care where you go, just put your finger on a spot on a map. Then go there. That’s pretty much how I decided to visit Sete (pronounced “set”). A little bit Venice, a little bit Riviera Sete is …

One of the first artist friends I made after moving to Uzes was Andy Newman, an American with deep roots in France. Andy had read my blog and emailed to tell me about himself, that he and his partner had a home near here, and that he had painted many …

It’s time to catch up with Jane and Gary of Mas d’Augustine, the classic French chambre d’hôte (B&B) outside Uzes, France. With the winter chores done and a few holiday getaways behind them, I asked Jane: “what’s it like to be welcoming guests again.” Here’s Jane’s response: “This has to …

To say the Côte d’Azur city of Nice is all about fancy beach clubs, great French and Italian food and the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean, you’d be right. It’s all that… … and more. Nice was the home of artist Marc Chagall during the last part of his …

I was so impressed by the doors and windows of Antibes I couldn’t wait to show you! While organising photos from my recent trip to Antibes, I was so excited I just HAD to show you the photos of just the doors and windows. What a picturesque place! …Continue reading …

Last summer was the first time I visited Antibes. Afterwards I realized how much I love the place and I started scheming how to return. Thanks to author-friend Patricia Sands, I had the perfect excuse. She invited me to come back to play! …Continue reading here for details on Deborah’s excursion …

While we’re on the subject of Sete from our recent train-from-Barcelona post, there’s a question that fish soup lovers who visit the South of France want to know. What’s the difference between Marseilles’ bouillabaisse and Sete’s fish soup? Which town has the best fish soup? Leave it to Nancy McGee …

If you’ve visited the Saturday Market in Uzes during tourist season and hate the crowds, you should be here in February. The market is almost the same, minus the throngs of people. This weekend’s market day was sunny and cold — a crisp 45 degrees when I set out. …Continue …

Time to check back in at Mas d’Augustine and find out how the owners and managers, Jane and Gary Langton, are spending their time with no guests, but plenty of chores. As we visit the Langtons, it appears that Jane has quite a few projects in mind. Let’s see how they …

Saturday night, I served a fancy pork terrine bought in the Loire Valley to friends in town for the Black Truffle Festival. That bite of pork could have been my last. I’m in love with pigs. I’ve always been attracted to pigs, namely Porky Pig, Piglet, Babe, and Miss Piggy. …