Villefranche sur mer - Fall 2025-2

 Dear Friends,

We found a No Kings protest in Nice so off we went.  It was on the Promenade des Anglais which is the huge promenade along the giant bay beach in Nice.  There is a part of it called, Quai des États Unis on which is located a replica of the Statue of Liberty.  There were between 50 and 100 enthusiastic resisters.

Keep Resisting!!

Thanks for reading and please comment,

The Unabashed Liberal

Villefranche sur mer - Fall 2025 -1

Dear Friends,

It has been a long time since I have written.  We were in fact in Villefranche for January and February 2025 and had a great time, but I didn't write.  We are now back for a three week stay in October.  Much is different.  For a variety of reasons we are not in our regular apartment which feels odd.  The new apartment has some very nice qualities.  The view is spectacular.

The building is located just across the street from the old town so everything is very convenient.  There are lots of windows and sliding glass doors so it is very light and airy.  It also has an elevator which is great because it is on the 5th floor.  The apartment is made from two smaller apartments so it is a little strange, and it is very minimalist.  The kitchen has an induction stove top but no oven other than a sort of grill in a tiny microwave that is placed very high.  There are lots of plates and utensils but the pots and pans are sorely lacking and they are all non stick.  There is, in fact, no sauce pan.  There are no kitchen garbage cans or placemats and only one small kitchen towel and a couple of napkins.  Except for the lack of an oven all the problems could be easily and inexpensively solved.  We bought some napkins, placemats and towels that will work well for us at home.  We are somehow managing to survive and make some decent meals.

Steak, artichoke, baked potato and provençal veggies

chicken breast, roasted potatoes and asparagus

pork chop, mushroom dijon sauce, zucchini onion and tomato sauté, baked potato

chicken breast, rice, peppers and onions, provençal veggies

Of course we have not eaten all our dinners at home.  As usual we had dinner at Le Serre on the first night.  It was so great to be back again.

For my birthday dinner, we went a little more upscale to Le Bistro de L'étoile.  It was a perfect evening to sit on their great terrace and soak in the ambiance.

The food was also delicious.

filet de loup (sea bass)

tuna

île flottante

I also went for my annual birthday swim in the Mediterranean.  It was beautiful and refreshing, and the beach was quite crowded.  You have to take my word for it that I am the one waving from the sea.

Of course Jane was there to record the swim and watch out for me.

I have played pétanque.  The group is smaller in the fall, but the competition is intense.  Needless to say, I won.  Just look at that form.

So we are happily ensconced in our own little paradise while the world crumbles around us.  Neither  France nor the United States has a budget as required by law, but in France the government is still open although the prime minister who resigned last week was reappointed one day later.  Government stability is lacking here but at least they are still a democracy.

Thanks for reading and please comment,

The Unabashed Liberal

 

Villefranche-sur-mer - Fall 2024-3

 Dear Friends,

Things are perfect.  The rains have stopped for the last couple of days.  The humidity has disappeared.  The sun is shining, the sky are blue, and the temperature is perfect.  

Yesterday, we walked to La Darse (the historic working marina in Villefranche) for lunch at La Baleine Joyeuse (the happy whale).  It was the perfect day, and we had a perfect lunch after which I was truly in my happy place.

I need to digress for a moment.  The apartment that we rent is on the Rue du Poilu.  This street runs through the old town.  There is the street that is just by the water and then Rue du Poilu is the first one up the hill.  Here is a photo from our balcony to the street that runs by the water.

We are five stories above the water, but only two stories above Rue du Poilu.  Here is the little square just outside the door we enter to walk up to our apartment.

And here is a view of Rue du Poilu leading to our apartment from the center of the old town of Villefranche.

Historically Rue du Poilu stopped in front of our apartment, but now it continues to newer buildings and the train station.  The origin of the name is quite interesting.  "Poilu" in french means "hairy".  Les Poilus is an informal term for late 18th century to early 20th century French infantrymen.  French soldiers returning from war would often arrive at the harbor at Villefranche often without shaving.  They would walk down what is now, in their honor, called Rue du Poilu (street of the hairy).  

Today as we were walking along Rue du Poilu, we ventured into a brand new jewelry store called Aventurine.  It is on the corner of Rue de May and Rue du Poilu.  In this case aventurine means a translucent mineral containing small reflective particles, especially quartz containing mica or iron compounds or feldspar.  The proprietor is very nice, and the jewelry is beautiful and reasonably priced.  While Jane did not buy any jewelry made from aventurine, she did buy a nice pair of everyday earrings.  Here she is with the proprietor leaving the store wearing her new earrings.

My chores for the day are coming to an end.  The laundry that I did this morning and hung out on the line is dry, folded and put away.  

My next chore is to take the garage to la grande poubelle (the big garbage drop), and then I must walk the beach to be sure that all is well and everyone is having a good time.

Thanks for reading and please comment,

The Unabashed Liberal