Travel
I must admit that when the weather does not cooperate the first thing that comes to my mind is a glass of red wine. This holds all the more true on Sundays when all the shops are closed in France which, well, leaves room for a long and boozy lunch. But back to the red stuff: when in France, I do very much endeavour to follow the local customs and try as many wines as possible! Because one cannot drink without eating and, apparently, before the vicinity of noon, my mind early on in the day turned to lunch otherwise known as the food necessary to accompany alcoholic consumption.
A few hours later, upon sitting at one of my favorite and very classic spots, l'Ondine, I was reminded of another reason to appreciate the South of France: fresh produce namely in the form of seafood. The selection of shrimp, local fish and oysters is just so difficult to pass on by. The winds were blowing, the rains were pelleting the restaurant's windows but l'Ondine, usually a beach side retreat in the summer, was well covered from the elements and properly heated.
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Travel
Rambling Through Cannes
The city of Cannes in the South of France usually comes up in the context of its famous film festival, its stars, the beaches as well as luxury fashion shops. Though the above activities undeniably represent Cannes in the summer months, coming to the South of France off season usually means letting go of any expectations of sun or warm temperatures especially in this year of snow in springtime. Though the terrible weather conditions would get anyone down, I tried to take them as a sign that I had to explore beyond the traditional and expected. After all, regardless of the rain and cool winds, no one wants to be cooped up inside while in Cannes!
I must admit that when the weather does not cooperate the first thing that comes to my mind is a glass of red wine. This holds all the more true on Sundays when all the shops are closed in France which, well, leaves room for a long and boozy lunch. But back to the red stuff: when in France, I do very much endeavour to follow the local customs and try as many wines as possible! Because one cannot drink without eating and, apparently, before the vicinity of noon, my mind early on in the day turned to lunch otherwise known as the food necessary to accompany alcoholic consumption.
A few hours later, upon sitting at one of my favorite and very classic spots, l'Ondine, I was reminded of another reason to appreciate the South of France: fresh produce namely in the form of seafood. The selection of shrimp, local fish and oysters is just so difficult to pass on by. The winds were blowing, the rains were pelleting the restaurant's windows but l'Ondine, usually a beach side retreat in the summer, was well covered from the elements and properly heated.
Our lengthy lunch at the Ondine underlined another aspect of Cannes that I appreciate: the locals' willingness to speak English with my non-French family and accomodate tourists in general. While you might deem this an obvious trait for a city that survives on foreigners, think again to places like Paris where they are prone to sniffing and staring down at those who do not originate from the city of lights... which is like everyone. That, by the way, is how Parisians treat all foreigners even those like me who, being Swiss, speak perfect French but are nonetheless not "local." Cannes however was the complete opposite with a taxi driver even bragging about how proud he was to speak English!
Fear not for I wasn't cooped inside for the whole duration of my stay. When the sun finally peaked through the next day, I took full advantage of my respite and decided to walk down whole length of Cannes. Though I would love to claim that it was an exhausting hike, it's actually totally feasible and takes you from the more modern parts all the way up to the old town, the Suquet, which overlooks the whole city. The latter part, I won't lie, is somewhat of an uphill battle. That said, if you are a young spring chicken, don't let it deter you. Not only do you get a sense of the city's medieval origins but the top of the hill offers a beautiful view of the sea, sand and fun or at the very least the port.
The markets are another activity I discovered during an off season Cannes. Though the biggest one is by far the Marché Forville, I full-heartedly recommend the smaller and less overwhelming one on Place Gambetta. I like to roam around the fruits and flowers even if it isn't to buy anything. You should know however that they are both closed on Mondays... What can I say France is a country with many holidays during which the Rambling Muse will always encourage you to taste its finest produce, wine.
About the Author: Clarisse is the founder of Ramblingmuse.com, a blog featuring travel stories, recipes, food reviews, snarky charts as well as videos all centered around the bon vivant lifestyle. For more travel tips and lifestyle musings, visit Clarisse at Ramblingmuse.com. Follow Clarisse on Twitter @FlutteringMuse and on Facebook. Planning on visiting London? Sign up for our free Maps that Matter here.
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- 6 French Dishes For Adventurous Foodies
Ah, France. Just hearing the name makes my mouth water and imagination floating away to butter croissants, amazing mussels with French fries, various Cassoulets and yummy hot onion soup. A year of life and travel in France, turned me into an absolute...
- The Top 5 Restaurants To Dine At In Paris
France has always been known for its exquisite cuisine. French food is respected and eaten all over the world, and those who choose to visit France in person are sure to stumble upon delicacies in every corner. Especially Paris is a paradise for gourmets...
- The Top 5 Summer Holiday Destinations
It’s not too late to book a last minute summer holiday, and if you do some research beforehand you could find a real bargain as the season winds down. So if you’ve been mulling over whether to get on a plane and get away from it all, we’ve found...
- 5 Places To Indulge In Luxury Camping In France
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