Contributor blog post by Jill Cowdry: As days become warmer, it’s impossible to resist the urge to get out – attention turns to more exercise and a spring swim in the med.  A short drive from Aix en Provence or Marseilles the magical Calanques are a special place to walk, breath …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Camili Books and Tea I stumbled across this bookstore and tearoom only a few months ago despite the fact that I had been living 20 minutes away from Avignon for a year. I had always gone to Aix en Provence for my English books. …

Although, crepes are not traditional food from Provence add this easy, versatile recipe from the Provence Gourmet in your “go to list.” If you are in Aix-en-Provence (or any where close by) you can find delicious, handmade crepes made by Delphine at Crepes Cidre et Co. If you are interested …

During a visit to a restaurant at the Vieux-Port in Marseille, we sampled “charter” Bouillabaisse. Bouillabaisse is a seafood soup with pieces of fish and crustaceans. The soup is so special that in 1980, eleven of the top chefs in Marseille created the “Bouillabaisse Charter”. Ginger and Nutmeg’s original blog post: The Real …

They never appreciated a luxury holiday but now my girls (the whirls as I call them – because they are always whirling around) have really started to enjoy a touch of 5 star……..  Ooooh!  they exclaimed as we were shown to our room at the stunning Villa Gallici Hotel in Aix …

A quick hop, skip and a jump down the A8 and the A52 and we are in Cassis. Forty minutes to be exact. An exquisite town too small to cope with the thousands that visit. Mid October and its quieter……. Lovely.  Am I really here?   This is one of the …

Easter is a holiday period in France when children have a school break. It is a chance for families to gather over meals and enjoy some downtime while hiding chocolate treats. Below are some traditions and celebrations surrounding the Easter period in France and beyond. I have written the text …

Deciding to go to Marseille for 24 hours, one night, we landed on November 1st as the best date for our schedule, but it is La Toussaint (All Saints Day), a public holiday (jour férié) and a busy time. However, we were lucky: the place I wanted to stay was …

This article is about the traditions surrounding La Toussaint by a student who participated in a French immersion holiday with Virginie Van Der Wees. The text is written in English, followed by French text. Please keep reading for those interested in improving their French and learning about the holiday traditions …

Not helped by its setting for gangster and crime movies, France’s second-largest city – Marseille – used to have an image problem. However, ask any local this city is pure magic. Situated on the Mediterranean, Marseille residents can swim at their favourite beach before work and watch the sunset over …