The weekly blogger round-up today takes us to the French Riviera, with an excellent report on public art by Australian Phoebe from Lou Messugo (which is your favourite?) while another Australian, Chrisse from Riveria Grapevine takes us across the border to Liguria to the Olioliva festival where everything tastes better (what do you think?). Enjoy!
Public Art on the Côte d’Azur
by Phoebe from Lou Messugo, a traveller, francophile, expat, mum and foodie now living in Roquefort les Pins where she runs a gîte after many years of travelling and living in Asia, Eastern Europe and Australia.
Public art is everywhere in France, whether it’s a temporary installation for a particular occasion or something permanent, it’s all around. Most towns no matter how big or small take pride in making their public spaces attractive; you can usually find fountains and sculptures alongside well tended flower beds and attractive borders even in the tiniest of villages. There’s even art on the side of the motorways to brighten up your journey! And it’s not all old by any means. New commissions go up regularly, I’m forever spotting something I hadn’t noticed before and then realising that it’s because it’s new and wasn’t there the last time I passed by. Read more
OLIOLIVA, IMPERIA
by Chrissie from Riviera Grapevine, a Sydney girl living in Nice with an insatiable thirst for the wines of the Var, Alpes Maritimes and Liguria. She happily sells, drinks and blogs about wine.
A Made-in-Liguria Celebration
Everything tastes better on the other side of the border.
It’s an opinion I formed pretty early on and one which really shows no sign of waning.
Granted, there are some things the French do better, like rosé (of course), but, as a general rule, everything tastes better in Italy.
I’m not just talking about the stereotypical things like pizza and ice cream, either. I mean everything, especially the basics like a simple green salad or tomatoes. Don’t get me started on them. I’m obsessed. How good are Italian tomatoes? An amazing bright red and so flavoursome. Read more
Riviera bloggers all the way this week! Thanks for including me Rosemary and good to see Chrissie here too.
You’re very welcome! Great posts as usual.
Thanks for the links!
A group of 3discerning women, one of whom is a Home Economics teacher, travelled together for 8 weeks between various places in both France and Italy . Sorry, we think the French are better at both breads and pastries!
Thanks for including me in this weeks round-up Rosemary! I’ll give Butcherbird86 pastries, but a baguette over foccacia? Hmmm … 😉
@Butcherbird & Chrissie: I have to say that I much prefer foccacia to baguette but am not keen on the other breads and pastries. I love the pasta though! The first time we went to Italy (north), we were disappointed in the food, but as we got further south, we enjoyed it more and more. But then, Italy is my second love.