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   Day 3374 (Friday) 4th September 2026   These photos of Villefranche were taken in the past.   It was another beautiful day and we’ve had a warning that the canicule (heatwave) is coming back, either this weekend or on Monday.   For my birthday Huw ordered a new poster of Villefranche for me and it arrived this morning. I bought the original poster years ago and when comparing the new with the old it was amazing how much the old one has faded. We went down to Les Palmiers for some lunch and it was packed, mostly with fat people from the cruise ship. 12 of the most unfortunate (or hilarious) place names in France     JOHANNA LEGUERRE / AFP   From towns apparently named after body parts to villages that seem to revel in describing themselves as miserable and dirty, there are some distinctly strange place names in France. Here are our favourites. Sniggering at foreign words that sound rude is an extremely childish pastime. But it's also fun, so her...
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    Day 3373 (Thursday) 3rd September 2026   This is Saint Agnes again and this is Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu. Important Things to Know About French Beaches   The beaches on the French Riviera have different rules and things to consider than the beaches in the USA or UK. Here’s what you need to know:   The French Riviera’s public beaches can get very, very crowded in July and August.   Public vs Private Beaches   The beaches on the French Riviera are divided up into both private and public beaches, with the former setting you back anywhere from €20 to €120 per visit. Private beaches provide loungers and umbrellas (and, often, lockers), and are far less crowded. You can reserve a spot for either half the day or a full day.   The private beach loungers are serviced by a bar and restaurant (usually with waiter service), making them a calmer and more enjoyable way to spend a peaceful day of reading and floating in the water. They’re a nice place to spe...
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  Day 3371 (Tuesday) 1st September 2026   This is Peillon and this is the flower market in Nice - Cours Saleya   It was another beautiful day and the passengers on this cruise had a prefect day to visit our town, there was hardly any humidity at all.   The 5 big challenges that France faces in September   France is facing a massive clean-up operation after a summer of devastating wildfires.  With France preparing to go back to work, politicians are now turning their attention to the challenges ahead - and there are some big ones looming in la rentrĂ©e.   (This was written last week.) The kids have one more week off school, but on Monday president Emmanuel Macron will chair the first Council of Ministers meetings since the summer break, acting as a signal that France is going back to work. Predictions of heavy traffic on the roads this weekend suggest that most French people will be returning from their holidays, parents will likely be doing some last-mi...