A Month (and a Half) in the South of France
After experiencing unseasonable rain nearly everywhere we’d traveled up until this point, we truly needed some steady sunshine and warmth. So, a few days before we left Switzerland, we expanded our search and determined that we should travel to the south of France for the next month and a half.
Also known as the French Riviera or the Côte d'Azur, it was practically guaranteed to be warmer than what we’d been experiencing. And with such a glamorous reputation, we couldn’t ask for anything more.
We decided to base ourselves in Antibes, as it was centered between all that we hoped to see along the French Riviera (this meant we could enjoy easy day trips by bus or train). We even found an affordable old town apartment that opened onto the stunning fort tower you see above. It was heaven.
Our front door also, literally, opened up into the hustle and bustle of the Antibes Provencal Market, under this beautiful tree canopy.
This small area was usually filled with so many people and autos, that it was impossible to navigate, unless on foot. We loved it.
The outdoor market was operating six days a week, selling fresh produce, spices, and goods. It’s a favorite with tourists.
TIP: Since organic produce is hard to find in the south of France—even here, at the market—we ordered organic produce online from local bio farmers, and still enjoyed walking through the market.
Steps from our apartment, we could walk through all of old town Antibes, in all its glory.
We spent hours photographing everything we saw.
I could photograph the front doors, alone, forever.
In fact, just one lane past the market was the seafront, where my boyfriend walked nearly every day. Straight ahead we saw sailboats upon sailboats. If we looked to the left, we saw Nice, France. If we looked to the right, we saw Cap d’Antibes.
Special Note: Upon arriving in the south of France, the first thing we noticed was how soft everything looked and felt. The view, the air, the water. Even the way the waves moved. Have you noticed this, too?
And just a few blocks to our left, we could step into one of the largest luxury yachting marinas on earth, where I may have muttered less than mindfully about a foreign criminal docking one of the biggest, and most unattractive, yachts in the world. This is where I’m imperfect, for sure. Oops. Breathe.
Walking through old town Antibes was a rich and warm experience.
There were outdoor French antique markets.
(Including annual EU visitors and their grandmas.)
We also climbed every fort wall possible.
We took a historical tour.
And we snuck into old kitchens.
And on windy days, while walking from Antibes to Cap d’Antibes, we’d pause for a brief moment, right here.