My name is Jen and I love the Cote D'Azur!!

This time of year, I start to get a bit itchy, itchy for the South of France, the area best known as the Cote D'Azur. I always feel a bit embarrassed saying that I love this area, I can virtually feel hardened francophiles turning up their collective nose and looking firmly down it at me; content in their their own superiority. The Cote D'Azur you see, is seen as a bit brash, a bit trashy, a bit too glitzy and glamourous to be a part of the France that so many Brits dream of escaping to. It is expensive, full of bling bling, and shallow people and I can't deny it does have these elements, but those who dismiss it for these reasons are really missing the point and are missing one of the most fabulously diverse places they could ever possibly visit. I'm starting a series of articles on the area with the glamour-spots, the most well known - either love 'em or hate 'em destinations - and in later articles will surprise you with some hidden gems....I am proud to know and love this area and refuse to be embarrassed any more!!! Vive la Cote!! What does the Cote D'Azur conjur up in your mind? Glitz? Glamour? Mega Yachts? Beautiful People? Fast cars? Casinos? Glittering beaches? St Tropez? Brigitte Bardot? Probably at least one of these images springs to mind, maybe all. The thing is, the Cote D'Azur is synonymous with hedonism and glamour. It is where the beautiful people have been coming to see and be seen for decades. But what is it about this region that attracts so many of the rich and famous, and other mere mortals, in their droves? Perhaps those of us who don't fall into the rich and famous category are hoping a little of their glamour may rub off on us, maybe we can have a little taste of their lifestyle - well we can dream. But it would be a mistake to think that this is all the region is about. The Cote D'Azur has so much more to offer. This region is very busy pretty much all summer and in July and August, well, just grab a spot on the beach and forget about moving... but there is so much that this area has to offer that it would be a pity not to venture out at least once during your stay. St Tropez Of course, we have to start with the Grande old Dame of the Riviera. I wonder if there is anyone in the entire Universe who hasn't heard of St Trop? Originally a little fishing village it attained fame (or notoriety maybe?) when Brigitte Bardot, decided to make it her home. Instantly, St Trop became the place to be. This once sleepy fishing village had to re-invent itself into an A-Listers must visit location, which it did in spectacularly successful fashion. St Tropez still attracts the rich and famous, and if you don't catch them parading along the quay, they are likely to be found sunning themselves at their scarily expensive villas in the surrounding hills, or partying the days and nights away at one of the trendy beach bars at Pampelonne . I have to confess to having been a little disappointed when I first visited St Tropez in 1985. I think I was expecting a mini Las Vegas, all neon lights and flashy hotels lining a sandy beach, (I am now extremely glad that it didn't live up to those expectations!). I think I was expecting something bigger with a huge sandy beach, but where was the beach? Wasn't this the home of topless sunbathing? The beach, I later discovered was a few miles out of town. Pampelonne Beach is an eight mile stretch of pretty good sand, lined with trendy beach bars and restaurants which rock with loud music and partying socialites throughout the summer. The beach being so vast has various sections with varying atmospheres. Tahiti Plage is the place to be for the in-crowd. Helicopters bring a constant stream of party-goers to the beachside restaurants, speed boats whisk people from their private yachts to the shore for lunch. You could people-watch all day here and not get bored. If it is a peaceful, getaway from it all beach you are looking for though, give Tahiti a miss and head for one of the quieter parts instead. There are areas of Pampelonne like Cannebiers that are quieter and more family friendly and lots of other smaller coves and beaches to explore. Some beaches have private sections which might be nice for a treat at least once during the holiday. Back in town, head for the Place des Lices where you can find a reasonably priced meal at the Sporting Bar. Situated right on the roadside it is full of locals - always a good sign, the food isn't bad and not too expensive, if a little noisy with locals and traffic! On the opposite side of the Place is Le Cafe. Away from the traffic it's a good place for aperitifs whilst you watch the locals play boules in the Place. The Place is also home the the bustling twice weekly market (Tuesday and Saturday 8am - 1pm). Shopping in St Tropez is pretty much high-end, but explore the labyrinth of streets in this delightful town and you may be surprised at what you will find, but if people-watching is your thing, linger over an overpriced drink at the famous quay-side Le Senequier bar. There are probably more tourists than famous faces these days but you will still find the mega-wealthy here relaxing on their enourmous yachts on the quay, where they overshadow the low-rise buildings along the quay. Artists love the light here (and the ready tourist buck), where they set up shop painting and selling their wares. The quay is a bustling hive of activity especially during high season and if you intend to drive into town there is a large car park at the eastern end of town, a short walk through the less glamourous but more traditional part of St Tropez. Driving though can be something of a trial on the nerves being as busy as it is, and you may end up in traffic jams that wouldn't be out of place on the M25. If you are staying over in Port Grimaud, Marines de Cogolin or Ste Maxime you can catch a ferry to deliver you right to the quay . Ferries also leave from other towns along the coast and it is a great, relaxing way of getting to St Tropez, and less frazzling on the nerves. If you visit out of season, you will find a much different aspect. St Tropez retains all it's old world charm and is still a working fishing village with a fascinating maze of cobbled streets and high Provencal buildings covered in Bougainvilla. St Tropez will survive anything that is thrown at it as it has done since the first tourism invasion of the 60's. Enjoy!

Harley Davidson Festival in Port Grimaud

If you like throbbing, noisy, shiny,  fast machines, with a dash of icon thrown in then the annual Harley Davidson taking place in Port Grimaud between 10th - 13th May this year could be just the thing you're looking for.

The festival is based on Les Prairies de la Mer, the large campsite opposite Port Grimaud, and directly on the beach, where you will find lots of stalls, and events organised specifically around Harley Davidsons, their owners and enthusiasts.

The roads around the Cote D'Azur are biker's heaven with lots of scenic, winding challenging routes to try - you could come to this festival year after year and ride every day and still be finding new and interesting routes.  The back to Praires for a lively evening, swapping tales with other Harley owners and riders.

With lots of like-minded people this time of year at Prairies is perfect for anyone into motorcycling and anyone who just loves the pure beauty of a Harley Davidson.

I remember many years ago a friend of mine had just bought his first Harley and he gave me a little ride up and down the side road to Port Grimaud - what a thrill!  If you are thinking of buying a Harley why not get yourself over to Port Grimaud and talk to some of the best informed people around, make new like-minded friends and have a break in one of the most beautiful parts of the world into the bargain

Contact BJ Riviera Holidays to see their deals for the festival. (www.bj-rivieraholidays.com)

Les Prairies de la Mer, Port Grimaud

As I mentioned in my previous blog, many, many years ago, somewhere back in the Dark Ages, myself and a friend took ourselves off on a coach to a campsite in Port Grimaud.  Les Prairies de la Mer was it's name.  We had booked a week's holiday in a mobile home intending to find work during that week and stay for the season.  Well, after the week was over, my friend decided it wasn't for her, she was missing her new boyfriend, so she decided to take the coach back to the UK leaving me behind.  I had given up a job with the local housing department and couldn't go back after a week for goodness sake.  I remember waving her off feeling very lonely and apprehensive - what did I do now?  I had to leave the mobile home we had paid for and find somewhere to live, find work to earn some money and make some friends. Somehow, I did manage to do all of this, and still have some of those friends today.  Prairies became my summer home for the next three years, so you see, it is a very special place to me. 


Well, the mobile home my friend and I stayed in all those years ago was beyond basic in comparison to those available today.  It was large but spartan, colourless, with just a toilet and handbasin - no shower, we had to use the campsite shower blocks for that. Today, if you don't have a shower you're in a tent. In addition, you can get air conditioning (most welcome as tin boxes, however luxurious, become sweltering in the summer sun of the Rivieria), flat-screen TV's, fridge-freezer's, en-suite shower-rooms and chic furnishings.


BJ Riviera Holidays are one of the longest-standing holiday companies who operate on Les Prairies de la Mer. They were there when I was and had just been taken over by a couple from the UK. The company is still in the same family but is now run by their son who was brought up in the area and in the business.  I can think of few people more qualified to run this type of business, and few who know Port Grimaud and the surrounding area better.  If you were recruiting someone to run this business, your list of requirements would describe their son perfectly.

BJ Riviera's mobile homes are second-to none and an immense pride is taken with their presentation. They are immaculate and feature a wide choice of models to suit all families and all budgets.  On arrival at their office near to the main-road entrance of Les Prairies de la Mer (as opposed to the Main Entrance - opposite the entrance to Port Grimaud itself), you will be given a warm welcome by one of the team - all of whom speak English.  You will be shown to your accommodation (there are shady or sunny pitches, some near to the beach and most around 200-250m from the water), and given all the information about your holiday home and the campsite.  If you need any assistance or information during your stay, the team will be only too happy to help.

Les Prairies de la Mer is one of the most popular campsites in the Riviera being situated on the large sandy beach of Port Grimaud, and just a short stroll from Port Grimaud itself.  Port Grimaud is a manufactured town conceived in the 1960's by Francois Spoerry - a renowned architect.  'Manufactured' might give the wrong impression though -  it conjurs up visions of concrete and souless streets,  but this is very wide of the mark for Port Grimaud. Port Grimaud is a triumph.  Built on a series of waterways, there is very little traffic, the houses are colourful and charming, and the main square is a very pleasant place to while away an hour or two, even joining in with a game of boules if you can muster up the energy.  You can hire a small motor boat to explore the waterways at your leisure, or you can take a waterbus trip.  There are also ferries to take you across the glittering Golfe de St Tropez and into that most famous of Riviera towns - St Tropez, where you can oggle at the enormous gin-palace yachts moored at the quay, totally overshadowing the buildings along the quayside.  Sitting here you can people-watch to your hearts content whilst sipping a cooling glass of local Rose.  Artists dot the quay taking advantage of the light so valued by artists such as Matisse who stayed here. The shopping is exclusive, catering to the yacht passengers, but you can also find some reasonably priced little shops, bars and restaurants tucked away in the maze of backstreets.  You might see a couple of old Tropeziennes indulging in a game of chess along the harbour, or the trawlers bringing in their daily catch if you are up early enough.  St Tropez is still very much a working port, although in the summer months tourism is by far the biggest industry and the town gets stiflingly busy.  The road out of town and back to Port Grimaud could take you hours - so I would strongly recommend the ferry option.  Don't come to St Tropez with your beach gear though, as the renowned Pampelonne Beach - a  3 mile stretch of soft sand - lies a few miles out of town.

I'd like to compile a listing of top ten favourite eateries in Port Grimaud, Grimaud and St Tropez in all price ranges.  If you have any tips, I'd love to hear from you - just include the name and location of the restaurant, a set price menu price if applicable, or alternatively an average 3 course meal cost, suitability for children, and details on ambience, staff etc.

A revisit to France For All

The understatement of the century might be what I am about to say - I have neglected France For All. I know, I know. What was I thinking? Well, I'll let you into a little secret....I totally forgot that I had started this blog. I'm only now beginning to fully understand the blogosphere and so, I revisit my old France For All Blog, and intend to keep it updated from here on in. You can quote me on that.

Sadly, I decided to wrap up the website. I found I just didn't have the time to fully develop it. It had evolved from my initial plans and I had decided to focus on the area around Port Grimaud primarily, and to sell mobile homes, offer holidays etc, but it needed more time (and a bit of money) that I just didn't have. That said, my passion for the south of France has not abated and I still want to keep in touch with the area.

The resorts will be revving up for the forthcoming season; the weather will be getting slowly warmer, warmer still, then hot, hot, hot; the numbers of people in the region will be increasing gradually day by day, and the summer madness will begin in earnest.

Many years ago (I can't tell you because I can't believe I'm that old... I'm in total denial of the number of years ago it actually is), anyway, many years ago, I worked on a campsite in Port Grimaud.  This was the start of my love affair with the region.  The campsite I worked on, Les Prairies de la Mer is a much more sophisticated place than it was all those years ago, and you can have a quiet relaxing time or a full on energetic time. You can experience all manner of watersports from the beach, take a boat trip across the bay to St Tropez, wander around the pretty streets of Port Grimaud, hire a boat to explore the waterways, drive inland to explore tranquil and stunning Grimaud with it's ruined castle perched high overlooking the village and the coast beyond.  There is so much to see and to do that you will want to return again and again. Prepare to be seduced.

Dreamy holidays

I'm quite liking the weather at the moment. Here in the north west we haven't had it too extreme - and today, sitting in an office 5 storeys up somewhere in Liverpool looking out across a park and church I really couldn't have had a prettier view anywhere. The area is covered in trees which today were 100% white - I wish I'd had my camera as it is so hard to convey in words - white delicate lace, a winter wonderland conjured up by Disney....all cliches, but so apt today. On my way home, the motorway was foggy and ethereal, and I realised I quite love this season when the weather's like it is...it's the Christmas season just as it should be. I would miss this if I lived on the Cote D'Azur....one of the few things admittedly. It also kind of makes me think of the holidays to come, the long summer days, lazing away your time soaking up the sun, leisurely lunches, candlelit dinners outdoors...aaahhh bliss.

France For All

I'm a bit of a dreamer, I admit it, I don't think it makes me a bad person.....!! One of my dreams - long held - is to move permanantly to France. I have lived there on and off in the past and truly love it. I have even started a website for similarly inclined dreamers - www.franceforall.co.uk which is primarly aimed at those who are hoping to visit or move permanantly to the South of France to the region known as Provence/Alpes/Cote D'Azur.

There are useful articles, hints and tips on places to visit, how to make decisions on where to go, a photography gallery, and pages for advertising your holiday property, holiday ideas and so much more, so why not pay us a visit and let us know your thoughts...?

Today, as I sit here freezing despite the fire burning gas at a heroic rate, my mind keeps involuntarily wandering over the Channel and down just about as far south as you can go in France.....it's probably a little chilly there now too, it might be a little deserted and barren in parts but I would love to be cosying up for Christmas in front of a fire made from logs collected whilst on a fabulous walk in the hills, eating wholesome meals ensconced in the warmth of the local auberge, maybe a little trip up into the Alps for a spot of skiing, going to see Santa on the quay in St Tropez, drinking mulled wine and eating crepes at the Christmas markets and enjoying it all the more because I know the cold will be relatively short-lived, and soon the sun will be warm enough to eat outside again. Meanwhile, back here in a frozen Britain things are less certain weather wise. The only thing we can be sure of , is that nothing is certain!
As I prepare for Christmas - 13 for Christmas dinner this year and I still have to decorate the living room, paint the kitchen/diner/hall and downstairs loo, arrange for blinds to be made for the living room, get all my presents bought and wrapped/ do the day job and generally wear myself to a frazzle - my Cote D'Azur dreams will keep me warm....