28 August 2008

After almost 24 hours from Lafayette, LA Paula arrives at Nice Airport 1 via Houston, London. My camera was ready at the porte de arrivee 2 but she exits porte 1 so the photo was taken from a slightly different angle than anticipated.

After a shower she relaxes with Jack and I on the terrace before retiring for a badly needed sleep. Needless to say it is a great pleasure to have her here for a couple weeks.

17 August 2008

Because of the terrible winds of the 15 August the firework celebration was postponed until tonight. With my limited photographic skills I tried to capture the fantastic fireworks our city provides.

15 August landing of General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Click on map to enlarge.

OPERATION DRAGOON - The débarquement de Provence - 15 août 1944

On 15 August 1944, Provence saw its rivers, seas and it's land the center of battle the objective to free Toulon and Marseille. The operation, was coded Anvil later Winston Churchill recoded the operation Dragoon. The debarquement, opened three fronts in Europe, it included troupes at airports and an amphibian assault on the beaches here in the Var. More than 300,000 men, French, Americans and British engaged in the battle with among them 10,000 parachutists. Operation Dragoon reminds the French to never forget. Our mayor Georges Ginesta, some military, and locals will meet at Le Dramont for a ceremony and to lay a wreath for those brave men who gave of themselves and many with their lives to free France.

11 August 2008

The big news that is keeping us glued to the TV is the Olympique in Pekin. Have you ever witness a more beautiful spectacle that was displayed at the opening ceremony on Friday. From France Pekin is 6 hours ahead but TF2 brings the games direct from start to finish. We are of course following the Russian invasion of Georgia as I'm sure you are also. I remember Georgians with great compassion and hope that NATO will come to their aide.

Just received a telephone call Alice, she is now sitting on Delta Airline at the Paris airport waiting for take-off to Miami where she returns to her teaching job tomorrow. She is equally passionate with France as I am and spends all of her holidays in France and Italy.

The pleasure was our on Thursday as the wind died down and allow us to enjoy lunch on the terrace with friends from Aix-en-Provence Claude & Paulette, Claude from Saint Raphael and Alice from Miami. I duplicated Chef Paula's Sword fish receipt and for starter Chef Warren La Ruth of New Orleans' Shrimp Remoulade, Picards grilled vegetables and assorted cheeses. The desert was to die for from our local patisserie Cochet, a three chocolate and rasberry tarte. By 8:30 PM Alice was on her way to Saint Remo, Italy and Claude, Paulette,and Claude were back home.

Have a great Week!

Saint Pierre Patron saint of fishermen 4 August 2008

Festivities of Saint Pierre is always the 1st Sunday in August. The programme started at the old church San Rafeu in procession at 0930 on to mass at the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Victorie at 10:00. We raced to withness the procession of the small boats and departure at the old port . The photos will give you an idea of the festivities. Later today there are programs at the old port, at 09:00 PM at the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Victorie, at 10:00 PM fireworks and shortly after music with the ochestra of Franck Ariasi and dancing at Place Coullet (town square).

2 August 2008

The big news is that last night I finally had to use the A/C and the temperature went up to 31 C, about 90 F. The tourist are complaining that the fruit, vegetables, restaurants, hotels and camp grounds have gone up in price considerably, 17.9 % from last year. Many stated that they are avoiding the restaurants and picnicing on the beach. Var-Martin (daily newspaper) states that 85% of the French will vacation in France. Since we have the best weather and sunshine a greater percentage are here.

The top photo was taken from our terrace this morning at 0630. The beach patrol is cleaning and leveling off the sand. The round building is the life gaurd station. The little white building on the promenade is the ice cream stand. The next photo was taken at the same angle from the terrace at 4:30 this afernoon.