July Gone Wonky

LIFELINE GONE WONKY

Not long after I arrived in Nice last Friday afternoon, the screen on my MacBook Air, my lifeline to everything I do, went wonky. It was just the screen. The computer was fine, but that didn’t make it usable.

What were the choices?

The bottom line was that a repair made no sense until getting back to Paris where I could work on my desktop computer while the Air was in repair. Fortunately, there is an Apple-authorized repair shop and dealer steps from my apartment in Paris, but that wasn’t fixing the current emergency. The Apple Store at Cap 3000 did.

CAP 3000 is one of the largest and most popular shopping centers on the French Riviera, located in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, just west of Nice and next to the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. I have only visited it once or twice, unlike most Niçois who can be found there on a regular basis, especially in the heat!

Shopping centers are not my cup of tea, but a trip to the Apple Store was a necessary excursion. While I was blessed by a friend with a car who was happy to take me, the number 12 bus would have gotten me there almost as easily.

There at the Apple Store, within minutes, I purchased a souped-up 13-inch iPad with a Qwerty keyboard and all the fixin’s. I won’t tell you how much it cost—this emergency fix of mine—but it was a smart move. I was able to use the iPad as the computer’s screen by connecting them using Bluetooth or a connecting cable and a program called “AnyDesk.”

I’m writing this Nouvellettre® on the iPad now. The iPad has been my lifesaver, but it’s not a replacement for the Air…and when the screen is fixed, I may never use it again. On verra (We’ll see).

TOUR DE FAUX PAS

On the beach, I had Jonathan Weston’s new book with me, Tour de Faux Pas: Getting France Wrong One Village at a Time. Weston is a great writer and humorist. His take on touring France from the eyes of a naive American will have you rolling in the aisles—or over the galets, as it was for me. He takes you through the nooks and crannies of France while you feel as if you’re right there alongside him and his wife experiencing the trials and tribulations like a born trooper.

I highly recommend this read to anyone interested in France!

THE CRAZY CRAB

Folie Crabe opened up on rue Maccarani steps from my apartment in Nice in the spot where a Spar Supermarket once thrived…and then died. Rue Maccarani is one of those rare one-block-long streets that has every single thing any human needs: pharmacy, supermarket, bakery, hotel, smoke shop, Picard (frozen food store), athletic shoe store, sushi restaurant and sushi take-out, a Nicolas wine seller, etc., etc., etc. When you live in this neighborhood, you spend a lot of time on that one block on rue Maccarani.

Now, Folie Crab has made its mark there. It’s part of a French restaurant chain that’s brought the popular American-style Cajun seafood boil concept to France. They might call it “American style” but there’s only one place in the U.S. you find this kind of seafood and that’s in Louisiana! Of course, as a native New Orleanian, I had to try it.

First off, it’s a shock to your system. The neon lights inside the restaurant could scare you away, but don’t let them bother you. Find a table where your eyes won’t pop out of your head. Their specialties are combination seafood platters, that don’t come served on a platter. You choose from shrimp, crab, mussels, clams, scallops, crayfish, lobster—depending on availability—a signature sauce, a level of spice and extras like corn on the cob, potatoes, chicken sausage, rice, broccoli, or eggs.

We ordered Combo #2. The seafood came cooked, tossed in a sauce (we ordered a medium spicy Cajun mixture), sealed in a big plastic bag, then emptied directly onto your table that has been covered with a kind of plasticky paper. You’re given gloves (I hadn’t noticed them and dug in without them) and a bib. You’re about to eat with your hands. It’s messy, social, and a lot of fun…and for me it felt just like being at home.

But, it’s really weird. The atmosphere is for two-year-olds. The seafood was delicious, I have to admit. They now have three restaurants in Paris (Saint-Michel, Châtelet and Bastille). They’ve also expanded into the Netherlands.

Would I go back? Maybe. It’s the closest thing I’m ever going to find in France to a seafood boil in my home town.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

It’s shameful to say that I missed the July 4th festivities in Nice because I refused to give up my beach day. Democrats Abroad hosted an event or two, but the city of Nice did a more than respectable job of celebrating the holiday that isn’t theirs.

I heard they had great attendance and was sent a few photos from the activities. I understand why Democrats Abroad is celebrating American Independence Day, but why is Nice and France? Are they trying to butter up to Donald Trump or do they feel sorry for us Americans living in France with the understanding that a lot of them are here because of him?

There’s no question that the French still like Americans, if not America. And that while they don’t agree with the American capitalist ideals, they still admire our bold entrepreneurial approach to business and openness to living life to its fullest.

The American community in Nice has exploded and we take partial credit for that. But, Nice itself is its own best recruiter. It’s as perfect as it gets for Americans wishing to live in France with great public transportation, including airports and train stations for easy traveling, be confident of quality and accessible healthcare, have affordable housing for rent or purchase and the ability to meet people and make friends. On top of that, the climate is the best in France and it’s drop dead gorgeous. What more could you want?

LA PERLE DU PORT

We know that not everyone wants to be in France full time, so we offer Fractional Ownership properties for those who just want a few weeks a year. It’s a brilliant solution.

This coming Thursday, July 9th, (10 to 11 a.m. Pacific, 1 to 2 p.m. East Coast and 7 to 8 p.m. in France) we’re going to be talking about it all on a webinar co-hosted with Pacaso’s Head of Europe Joey Byrne titled “Is Fractional Ownership Right for You?.”

This is a perfect moment to learn about the benefits of Fractional Ownership, and whether or not the concept is right for your second home. Plus, we’ll preview a few of our available properties in France where shared ownership might suit you perfectly.

Here’s a little secret: we will be offering an air-conditioned two-bedroom (and possibly two bath) apartment situated directly on the Old Port in Nice, facing east, with a balcony, stunning views, just steps from the tramway, in a newly refurbished building (with an elevator of course) that even comes with a parking spot! We call it La Perle du Port…and that’s exactly what it will be when we get finished renovating and decorating it to the nines (by amazing designer, Martine di Mattéo)!

If you think you you want to learn more about La Perle du Port, we can put you on our special mailing list to be informed the moment the shares go on sale! Email us today.

To participate in the webinar, visit our website or register now directly.

ROCKY AND CHARMING

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin sits dramatically on a rocky ridge overlooking the Mediterranean. Its medieval village was founded around the year 970, and the roque refers to the fortified rocky promontory on which it stands.

Perched nearly 225 meters (740 feet) above the Mediterranean, the old village of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is one of the Riviera’s most enchanting—and often overlooked—medieval hill towns. While many visitors flock to nearby Èze, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin offers a more authentic atmosphere, with fewer crowds and a real sense of village life.

Conrad I of Ventimiglia wanted to defend the frontier between the County of Ventimiglia (now in Italy) and Provence, so its strategic hilltop position gave defenders commanding views over the sea and surrounding valleys. The winding streets still follow the original medieval layout, and many of the stone houses date back several centuries.

At the summit stands the impressive Château de Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, considered one of the oldest surviving feudal castles in France. In the center of town is a beautiful and very old olive tree, but it’s not the famous Millénaire one believed to be between 1,800 and 2,000 years old. This one, on the edge of town, is among the oldest olive trees in Europe. Its enormous twisted trunk measures more than 20 meters (65 feet) in circumference and still produces olives today.

Unlike many Riviera villages, it remains a place where local residents still live year-round. Despite its small size, the village has several excellent restaurants with terraces overlooking the sea. They tend to be quieter and more intimate than those in neighboring villages, making them ideal for a leisurely lunch or dinner. We enjoyed an excellent lunch at La Grotte & l’Olivier in the center of town.

We came not to just eat and wander, but to visit a village house that the owners wish to sell. We found it after much trial and tribulation, pathways and stairways. The village could not be more charming and the house itself was beyond our imagination as were its views.

It’s a one-bedroom home with other places for guests to sleep, with two full bathrooms, a patio where one can barbecue and magnificent views. The artisanal details in the house are beautiful. A buyer might not want to change a single thing.

We haven’t taken it on yet as a listing, but your response to this email would be very helpful, so if you think you might be interested in this property, do let us know by emailing us.

GYROTONICS

It was exactly one year ago yesterday that I slipped a disk in my back and landed in excruciating pain for months. Thanks to pharmaceutical treatments, daily Qigong, regular osteopath sessions and Gyrotonics, my back is back to normal.

Gyrotonic® is a movement and exercise system that combines elements of yoga, dance, swimming, tai chi, and Pilates into a flowing, three-dimensional workout. It was developed in the 1980s by Juliu Horvath, a former ballet dancer from Romania. The Gyrotonic equipment moves your body through natural arcs and spirals that mimic the way we move in everyday life.

It’s designed to lengthen the spine, improve posture, increase flexibility, build strength without excessive strain, coordinate breathing with movement and improve balance and body awareness. I’d agree with that and believe it has contributed to my current good health.

My Gyrotonics teacher in Nice is Alexandra Dufour. I see her at least once a week when I’m in Nice and I have an instructor in Paris as well. Alexandra is making a special offer to all of you…so give her a call and tell her I sent you! Visit her website for more information and/or contact her at +33 6 18 98 94 15 or by email.

AMERICAN BURGERS AND FRENCH CHAMPAGNE

Every July 4th, I go off my diet to eat a real American hamburger with fries and the fixin’s. Last year we made them at home in Paris, and that was the day I slipped the disk. This year, I invited my Niçois team to burgers chez moi, but made by the loving hands of All Star Burger, located steps from my Nice apartment. I’d heard they were good.

The ladies brought champagne and their furry friends. We popped open the bubbly, then ordered the burgers online with a delivery at home. They have a lot of choices, but nothing for vegetarians and almost nothing without cheese. None of them have bacon or fresh lettuce like you would think. You can’t construct your own. We tried it anyway.

They were burgers, but that’s as much as I can say for them. They certainly weren’t like the ones I would have made myself! No matter, a couple bottles of champagne got us indifferent and uncaring. We filled our bellies with ground beef and french fries, then said so-long to Independence Day in our own American way.

POETIC LICENSE

I left Nice early yesterday morning to arrive in Paris in time for a writers event in the afternoon sponsored by poet Cecilia Woloch, who runs private workshops for writers and poets wherever she travels in Europe. I’ve had the good fortune of participating in many of them—in this one I spoke briefly about writing our Nouvellettres®…and about all of you reading them!

A la prochaine…