Fiat 500 epidemic

Always when we land a primary difference is immediate - cars. Different models, smaller sizes and shapes, brands we don't know about here in the US, models from familiar brands we don't see here, and trends. This year it was the Fiat 500 - it seemed like everywhere we went Fiats were everywhere and spreading, like an epidemic a virus of cars, cute cars in different colors geared toward young people, zipping through little town roads, easy to park. Yes, I am pining after one, maybe a gucci model or the light green with a light interior, roll back top, and a stick, get me on the road in Europe in one of those. Unfortunately, I share my husband's car obsession and he has fed mine over the years, talking about cars, looking at cars, researching cars, driving cars, fixing cars, not enough time or money for all the cars we would like to own and drive!

Summer trends 2013- nonstop service, cranberries and caesar salad

Each year we find trends when we travel, things evolving and changing. This year, in addition to cranberries everywhere including cranberry juice and dried cranberries (very exciting as cranberry juice in the summer is always refreshing) and even attempts to adapt caesar salad into some type of chicken caesar salad, not a real one but a nice adaptation of a salad and enjoyable. The best one was at Mirabeau in St. Remy which was enormous with a poached egg and very fresh ingredients, topped off with Ben and Jerry's for dessert. But the most interesting evolution is from all restaurants closing for several hours in the afternoon, changing into "service nonstop" from early to late, this was a new trend and a positive one for travelers looking for a meal at off-hours.

A clothes boycot

It was rather like the commercial where someone has gotten such high speed internet service that they have surged the entire internet. In this case it was that I just didn't need anymore clothes. I got to France, unpacked, look in the closet and realized I had too much and didn't need anything more. I made a commitment, and I stuck to it, to not buy any clothes. It was freeing in a way. to walk through the markets and admire what was there but not feel any pressure to buy. As always I bought a few scarves at the 5 euro level to spruce up for the fall, but no clothes, no shoes, and it was a relief.

A shorts invasion

For years, I have eschewed wearing shorts after realizing that French women don't wear them, and most importantly that any woman at a certain age doesn't look good in them. Sometimes I have seen shorts on young women in France, or even older women, but always foreigners, not French. Unfortunately, this year was different, an invasion from afar, from America and now seeing shorts everywhere even on French girls and women (not always a good look just as on American women) and seeing linen shorts for sale in the markets although not everywhere, certainly in several of the higher-end markets. Oh well. c'est la vie.

Gliders in Provence

When I was young, the county airport included gliders (as well as landing and rides for the Goodyear blimp). At a swim club about a mile away where we would spend time when we were not on cape cod, I loved watching the gliders dragged into the air, dropped, and then floating and sailing on the wind. It was always peaceful without the noise of engines, and quite spectacular. In a drive recently D. and I had passed the signage for a local airport Romanin, as well as a winery, so we decided to explore. The winery was not interesting but we were pleasantly surprised to find the airport is merely one dirt runway to support gliders! Now when outside at the pool, or driving to St. Remy we look for the gliders floating on the Provence air currents, near the Alpilles. It must be amazing in the air, but I am just not that adventurous to go up. I can enjoy from the ground and marvel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0e20fwsVu0

French nails in France

For the first time in all these years I have begun to see "French manicure" in France on several women, via a shop in Avignon (yes, we asked) trying to do American-style nails. We will track this down.

Yes there is a laundromat in St. Remy

Updating a post from several years ago when we were searching for a laundromat in St. Remy and could not find one, we were able this year to locate a laverie just off Avenue Victor Hugo (26), in a courtyard along with the new clothing and household re-sale shop (reasonable prices and interesting pieces) as well as the dog beauty parlor.

Knitting in France

Since being ill, and having taken up knitting to add crocheting and needlepoint, I am more observant of shops wherever I am now, in US or France. In walking St. Remy one day I wandered into a charming small shop on Rue Carnot, Pique et Paille, which had a small selection of yarn as well as needlepoint floss. But in trying to find a more substantial shop, since I have learned that knitting is very popular in France, I found a website and ultimately a store in Aix, Phildar (www.phildar.com) which had a wonderful selection of yarns, and reasonably priced. The colors were striking as soon as I walked in the store, wools, cottons, with ombre patterns, and making me wish I could buy everything and go crazy making gifts for family and friends and most importantly wishing I was no longer a beginner so I could make sweaters and more complicated patterns but it may take me some time to get there. At least I will know where to find yarn, even in France.

Outdoor movies in Aix

On a lovely summer evening in Aix if you are looking for something to do, a tradition is to see movies outdoors in one of the beautiful parks of Aix. the festival begins in early July and continues through August, Les instants D'Ete, Projections Nocturnes. As with events of this type in America, people bring chairs and blankets and food and enjoy the air, the company and the films, some American and others French. http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-manifestations-tipi.htm

French bread eating declining - shocking!

An interesting article from NY Times about the French eating less bread, declining from one baguette per day for a man to one-half? In 1970 it would a whole baguette! Thus, the French have begun a campaign to promote bread eating as healthy and low sugar and fat. Good to avoid weight gain? In America we would say definitely no, avoid carbs, but France the bread lobby has a different view. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/31/world/europe/a-french-dining-staple-is-losing-its-place-at-the-table.html?_r=0