July 16, 2009
Historically, the French patronize a wide variety of sole proprietors for virtually all of their basic needs: meat, bread, vegetables and a host of other supplies. Of course now much of these needs are provided by large grocery stores, corporate behemoths where one never meets le partron. I still believe there are advantages to developing personal relationships with those from whom we purchase life’s necessities and consider the sole proprietor as my first choice when seeking daily provisions.
Here is my list of the best shops in Le Grau du Roi, these shops are open year round:
Le Panier des Fruits – near the Post Office, offers Keep reading →
June 21, 2009
One of the best things about le Grau du Roi is the food. The restaurants are inexpensive and the fresh fish are plentiful. If you like fish and can prepare it yourself, there are four or five fishermen selling their catch every morning along the port. If you ask, they will clean the fish while you wait.
Marche au poissons, le port du Grau du Roi
If the fish is to be cooked in the oven (au four) it will be scaled. If you plan on Keep reading →
June 12, 2009
It’s the end of the first week in Jun, today we depart for Paris and connect through to le Grau du Roi in the south of France along the Mediterranean coast. Le Grau du Roi has been a six year pilgrimage for us, its beaches and activities are a perfect detraction for our daughter and the seafood and inexpensive restaurants are a perfect attraction for me.
We first depart IAH on Continental. This is our first trip on a Boeing 767 as Continental recently downgraded to this aircraft from the B777 it had been using since retiring their DC-10s. In a word, the flight was disappointing. An earlier departure time, just after 3 pm, means one is less likely to obtain the required sleep and the aircraft itself does not compare in comfort with the previous model. Cramped seats and older audio-visual systems lead the list of disappointments, food and service were OK but for a Business Class fare, we were underwhelmed.
We easily connected to AF for our flight to Montpellier where we were met by our landlord. M. Coviesec always finds time to pick us up at the airport and drive us the 20 minutes to our apartment . Wow, what a view! The 4th floor of an apartment building at the end of the canal’s entrance into the sea with a view not only of the port entry but of the beach as well.
It’s been a long trip but we cannot wait for dinner. Tonight it’s le Rose des Sables, a very popular restaurant for us as well as with the locals. Le Grau du Roi is a working fishing town which unlike many of its neighbors is open and thriving every month of the year. Le Rose des Sables remains open even when the summer tourist return home, a testament to its reputation, excellent service, and always fresh seafood.
As we settle in for our first night, I can hear the waves slap against the sand on the beach below me. Vacation is underway.
May 8, 2009
I could very contentedly spend weeks vacationing in Paris without ever feeling compelled to leave. Many visitors though wonder about the surrounding country side and there are some fascinating destinations just an hour or so from the center of Paris.
Here is my list, sanitized from long, boring, and expensive tour bus rides which offer little but the reward of fatigue and the advantage of hours of transportation boredom.
For instruction on how to reach Auvers-sur-Oise by train
For instruction on how to reach Chantilly by train
May 7, 2009
Though certainly no expert, I have followed the topic of money exchange carefully for some time now and have drawn several conclusions. Here is a summary of money exchange options and how you may benefit from the advantages of each one:
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Credit Cards
1. While your bank may not charge a currency conversion fee, Visa and Master Card does on all transactions made outside of the US whether the charge is in dollars, euros, pound sterling, or any other currency.
2. Most banks, particularly the large well known variety, add a 2%-4% service fee to all international charges Keep reading →
