In 2007, John Maloof, a local historian in Chicago, came across some boxes of photos and negatives depicting Chicago in the 60’s at an auction house. Unable to thoroughly examine its contents, he took a gamble and purchased the box for around $400. He found nothing relevant for the history …

#1 Nice Carnival, Nice 11 February – 25 February 2017 One of the world’s biggest carnivals, the 2017 theme for this annual event is ‘King of the Energy’. Fabulous flower battles, parades with floats and costumed actors and animations ensure a family-friendly event with plenty of entertainment. My top tips:  …

Despite it being February, the coast of France bordering on the Mediterranean becomes bright yellow during this time of year. Acacia dealbata. Or, known in the florist trade as Mimosa. If you’ve never seen this growing in the wild, now is your chance. This spectacular shrub Continue reading here for Ashley’s …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: We have bid farewell to 2016 and I am looking forward to what 2017 brings! For visitors to the French Riviera, February is an excellent month to visit because there are many interesting festivals and public events happening. One of my favourite festivals because …

Mougins is a picture-perfect centuries-old hilltop village. Constructed like a spiral with ancient passageways lined with stone houses, it is now a magnet for craftspeople, artists and high-class restaurateurs. But there’s an additional reason for visiting the village and that’s the Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins. This is one of …

…but we have to wait until 2018. The rumours were finally confirmed December 5 that the Paul Ricard circuit would be holding the event. It’s the first time the Grand Prix has been held in France since 2008, when it was last hosted at Magny-Cours in Nevers. And 26 years …

December 3rd was the launch of a show of illustrations by the amazingly talented René Gruau who worked for major fashion and style publications during his long and creative life. There was a big expo of his work in London a couple of years ago and his skill at drawing The …

Whatever next? Plans are in place for a new tourist attraction in Marseille…an underwater museum. Standing in long boring queues to see artworks will be a thing of the past here – visitors just need diving gear to take the plunge 8m down into the Anse des Catalans.

When the lavender is harvested in Provence at the end of July, a heavenly scent is carried on warm evening breezes. Alerted by the first wafts of perfumed air, from our terrace we can sometimes see the smoke rising from the other side of a small ridge. The distillation has …

Happy Holidays! Seasons greetings to all our readers and the terrific contributors. May the holidays allow you the time to sample some wine from Provence, share a Provencal-inspired meal with friends and family, but mostly enjoy a chance to relax.