Day 1636 (Monday) 30th November 2021

It was another lovely sunny morning and Huw went up to the villa to do some gardening and I caught the train to Nice.

The trains were horribly delayed but I managed to get to International House on time to see Jennifer. She was a bit late because of the traffic between here and Cannes so I had ten minutes in Parc Mozart, which is always lovely.

 

The time flew by with her as it always does and we were sad to realise that after today we only have three classes left but Romain has suggested that we go private, what a decent boss. She is going to phone the people who arrange these 30 hours of free training to see if she can get more but if they refuse we will go private – ‘black money’ as tax free work is called here – we love black money.

I had no problem getting the train home and I was happy to see that they’ve finished painting Villefranche station.

But the graffiti on the other building is still there

There were a few people on the beach but hardly any people on the streets – the ghost town has arrived.

 

I’ve done a lot of marking recently and today I tried to put the results up on Moodle but the system as always is too complicated so I asked a colleague in Paris to talk me through it and she happily agreed to do so tomorrow. I hope to meet this woman soon as we get on really well on the phone.

Here’s Badger looking like butter wouldn’t melt but he’s going through yet another new phase of biting us at around 5pm every day. We have no idea how to stop him and it’s really unpleasant. We love him dearly for the rest of the day but at 5pm he turns into a little monster. The invitation to the New Year’s lunch has been going around and we are now up to 30 adults and a couple of kids.

Here are some more recommended destinations in France…

7. Fishing Villages, Historic Ports & Beaches in Brittany

The walled city of Saint-Malo

A picturesque coastal region, Brittany has a rich maritime heritage seen in its historic port towns: Saint-Malo, surrounded by old ramparts; the medieval capital of Nantes; and the fortified 14th-century Concarneau.

The seaside also boasts stylish beach resorts like fashionable Dinard on the Côte d'Emeraude, the summertime vacation destination of La Baule on the estuary of the Loire River, and Tréboul near the lovely riverside town of Quimper.

The scenery is dramatic and unspoiled, with secluded sandy beaches and a rocky coastline, where wild Atlantic waves crash against the shore. Centuries-old fishing villages are sheltered in quiet bays and on tiny windswept offshore islands.

Breton culture can be traced back to the Celts (the local dialect is related to Gaelic). Similar to Ireland, it is a land of mythology and legends. Today, Brittany is strongly Catholic. Locals celebrate ancient religious customs called "pardons," special festivals when townspeople wear old-fashioned regional costumes.

The local cuisine features delicious specialties such as fresh seafood and savory buckwheat crepes. Brittany also has a famous regional pastry, the "kouign-amann," a buttery pastry made with croissant dough that is layered with sprinkles of sugar, has a moist cake-like center, and a crispy caramelised exterior.

8. Biarritz & Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Biarritz Beach

A blend of Parisian-style elegance and the untamed natural beauty of the Atlantic coast, Biarritz is an upscale seaside resort with fabulous beaches. Biarritz was favoured by Empress Eugénie, who loved this area of the Basque region. She chose a sandy hillside overlooking the Bay of Biscay as the location for her Imperial residence, the Villa Eugénie.

This Second Empire palace has been converted into luxury accommodations, the five-star Hôtel du Palais, which offers exquisitely decorated guest rooms and an oceanfront gastronomic restaurant. Next to the hotel property is the Grande Plage, a sandy beach that has attracted sunbathers since the Belle Epoque.

Another of the top beaches in Biarritz is the Plage du Miramar. A picturesque scene of colourful, striped cabanas and parasols during summertime, this sheltered beach has the delightful ambience of an old-fashioned seaside resort.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Just a half-hour drive (15 kilometres) from Biarritz is the historic fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a popular summertime destination with family-friendly beaches.

Traveling inland 25 kilometres from Biarritz is the traditional Basque village of Espelette. This small village boasts typical half-timbered, red-shuttered Basque houses decorated with rows of dried red peppers called Piment d'Espelette (prized for use in Basque cuisine).

In Spain's Basque country, 50 kilometres by bus, car, or train from Biarritz, the lively seaside city of San Sebastian delights visitors with its elegant architecture, sandy beaches, and gourmet tapas.

Speaking of food – today’s food vocabulary beginning with C

C

Caille – Quail

Cabillaud – Cod

Cacahouète – Peanut

Café – Coffee

Café crème – Coffee with milk

Calamar – Squid

Canard – Duck

Canard sauvage – Wild duck

Canelé – Cake from Bordeaux

Cannelle – Cinnamon

Câpre – Caper

Caquelon – Fondue pot

Carambole – Tarfruit

Caramel au beurre salé – Salted butter caramel

Carbonade flamande – Beef Stew

Cari – Créole curry

Cassis – Blackcurrants

Cassoulet – Stew from the South-West of France

Céleri-rave – Celery root

Cerf – Venison

Cerise – Cherry

Champignon – Mushroom

Chapelure – Dried breadcrumbs

Charcuterie – Meat store

Châtaigne – Chestnut

Chatini – Spicy chutney

Chichi – Donut type sweet

Chèvre – Goat’s cheese (and goat)

Chevrette – Baby goat (female); prawns

Chipiron – Small squid

Chocolat – Chocolate

Choux– Cabbage

Choucroute – Sauerkraut, a traditional dish in Alsace

Chou-fleur – Cauliflower

Ciboule – Spring onion; Welsh onion – I wonder why it’s Welsh?

Ciboulette – Chive

Citron – Lemon

Citron vert – Lime

Citronnade – Lemonade

Citronelle – Lemon grass

Citrouille – Pumpkin

Cochon – Pig

Cochon de lait – Sucking pig

Coing – Quince

Compote – a dessert made of fruits

Comté – semi-firm cow cheese

Concombre – Cucumber

Confiture – Jam

Coquillage – Shellfish

Coquille St Jacques – Scallop

Coriandre – Coriander, cilantro

Cornichon – Gherkin

Côte – Rib

Courge – Squash

Courgette – Zucchini

Couronne – Ring-shaped loaf of bread

Crème anglaise – Vanilla custard

Crème brûlée – Custard-like dessert

Crème de cassis – Blackcurrant liqueur

Crème de marron – Chestnut purée

Crème fleurette – Whipping cream

Crème fraîche – Sour cream

Crêpe – pancake

Crêperie – Crêpe Restaurant

Cresson – Watercress

Crevette – Shrimp

Croque Monsieur – Glam name for a ham and cheese toastie

Cuisse de grenouille – Frog’s legs

We had another gorgeous sunset today, not quite as stunning as last night but pretty wonderful