It’s unlikely that a trip to the municipal archives in Antibes would be on many (or any) visitor’s to-do list. However, for me, the chance to see parchments dating from the 1300s was irresistible. When four parchments appeared in a British auction house two months ago, the city of Antibes …

Philippe and I knew how to pace ourselves.  We had dined at Mirzaur in 2015 when the restaurant had “only” two Michelin stars.  We’d received the celebratory email in 2019 when the owners shared, with émotion immense, news of their elevation.  Five months later the restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the …

By Jemma I recently ordered a music stand from Amazon for delivery in Antibes. Perhaps it was the shape of the box, but dispatch to the usual Amazon Locker being impossible, I scanned the available pick-up options. Geoffreys British Supermarket Geoffreys of London. My heart did an elaborate flip. What …

This really is a Côte d’Azur heartache. When their fig tree produced fruit in huge quantities the whole family indulged in the bounty. Sadly, Jemma found out the hard way that too many figs, fig jam, fig tarts are not a good thing, in her case. The summer Philippe decided …

By Jemma: It’s all about the ants. I’ve never forgotten the advice from one of my earliest writing teachers. You can go on a glorious picnic – the food, conversation, and the weather all perfection – but you have no story until the ants arrive. They invade your blanket and …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: I couldn’t write this post until things had been resolved – or mostly resolved, as the case would be. Even then, I didn’t know if I should bother. It’s France. Everyone expects home maintenance problems. And how can anything be a problem, really, if we’re talking …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: French Lessons has survived a summer that one local friend dubbed “un agenda de ministre.” Even for us non-government ministers, the French expression seemed an appropriate way to characterize our schedule in a country where public spending(as a % of GDP) continues, shall we say, to …

Contributor blog post by  Jemma: French Lessons has stumbled on Hogwarts School of Miraculous Strings, and it’s right here in the heart of the Côte d’Azur.  How surprised and charmed – and humbled – we are . . . “The cello matter is more complicated than I thought,” a local friend emailed …

French Lessons welcomes Rachael for the second year running as our annual guest contributor. Last summer, she explained how she dealt with her impounded car at the local fourrière (pound). This year her automotive theme continues, as does her – ahem – fast wit. A few months ago, I was …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: Lolo and I stand on a sidewalk in the easygoing town of Juan-les-Pins. We’re debating. The store sounds young to me, like the name of an aspiring rap artist. At last, we open the glass door of Banana Moon. “Bonjour!”  I say to the shop’s sole …