Sprinkles of “La Côte d’Azur”
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Côte d’Azur…mon amour!
“Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien, ni le bien qu’on m’a fait, ni le mal…tout ça m’est bien égal….car ma vie, car mes joies aujourd’hui, ça commence avec toi”.
(No, absolutely nothing, no, I regret nothing. Not the good things that have happened, nor the bad, it’s all the same to me. Because my life, because my joy today begins with you).
I love this song “Non, je ne regrette rien” by the famous French singer Édith Piaf where she claimed she did not regret anything about her past. Like her, I don’t regret or I “don't look back in anger” as Oasis sang and I consider the past as a great lesson that has helped me to become a better person today.
On a personal level, “La Côte d’Azur” reminds me of a delightful past, linked to warm memories of my French family and my beloved grandad.
Every year I visited them with my Italian grandad, enjoying their company and this amazing region of France. My grandad was very fond of his French cousins and every time we went to see them, I recall, so vividly, being struck by the joy and the affection he showed towards them even if he was usually quite reserved.
Such is the bond created by my grandparents that I remain extremely close to them and visit them as often as I can.
When I think of this stunning region of southern France, I visualize colours that are so vivid and vibrant that they penetrate the soul. Indeed, the blue tones of the sky and sea and the bright light of the shining sun harmonise with the distinctive red glow of the sunsets and the lush green vegetation. This array of intense and warm colour breathes life into the very recesses of the heart and you may feel positively overwhelmed by the stunning scenery.
“La Côte d’Azur” or the French Riviera in English, extends from the Italian border in the East, through to Cassis, Toulon and Marseille in the West. As for the main cities, you can visit: Menton, Monaco, Nice, Grasse, Antibes, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Saint Raphaël, Hyères, Toulon and Marseille. The markets, old city centres, picturesque villages, beautiful coastline and unspoiled countryside; these are only some of the amazing hotspots that the region has to offer to the curious visitor.
“La Côte d’Azur” is a region of sun, culture and cuisine. Its food and wine are exquisite. The “salade niçoise”, for example, is a salad that originated in the French city of Nice. It has been popular worldwide since the early 20th century and has been discussed and prepared by many chefs. Additionally, there is a delicate fish stew, known as the “bouillabaisse” from Marseille and for those with a sweeter tooth, the “tarte tropézienne” or “La tarte de Saint-Tropez". This dessert pastry was created in 1955 by a pâtisserie owner and was named by actress Brigitte Bardot whilst filming “And God Created Woman” there. And if you like cheese, you are spoiled for choice!!!!
This is just a first taste of this region!
