Day 3139 (Sunday) 11th January 2026

This is the new poster for Villefranche-sur-Mer 

and this is the real thing

This is the poster advertising the Battle of the Flowers next month – one of the best days of the year.

It was yet another sunny day and quite warm in the sunshine so we walked down to the Jolly Whale (Baleine Joyeuse) for lunch. 

The square was busy with lots of people eating lunch.

The path along the citadel has been closed for months because they were fixing the walls but it was finally open, it was so good to see it again.

There are two sittings in the Jolly Whale; the first is at 12 o’clock and then again at around 1.30 pm. We got there at 10 to 12 and by midday there were no seats left.

We thoroughly enjoyed a chicken brochette washed down with a cold beer and on the way home I took lots of photos of pointus, as I always do.

Look at the colour of that sky…

Here is the rest of the article from yesterday

11. Languedoc 

This historic region was a true hidden gem. I thought it was very easy-on-the-eye — a sun-soaked mix of Mediterranean landscapes, rolling vineyards, medieval cities, and hilltop villages steeped in history. The vibe was wonderfully eclectic, blending coastal calm, rustic wine country, and a touch of old-world mystery.

After flying into cosmopolitan Montpellier, I spent a wonderful week soaking up southern France’s magic — discovering fortified Carcassonne’s medieval ramparts, admiring the mighty Pont du Gard, and tasting crisp Minervois Rosé surrounded by sunlit vineyards. I also cruised Sète’s picture-perfect canals, unwound on Gruissan’s golden beaches, and explored artistic Collioure, which was a jewel of a town nestled between the Pyrenees and the sea.

12. Giverny, Normandy 

I’d known this pretty village as Claude Monet’s home, but seeing Giverny in person was soul-stirring. I thought it was one of the most peaceful and romantic places I’d ever visited — a living painting of flower-filled gardens, a pink-shuttered house, a wisteria-draped bridge, and a tranquil lily pond glowing in the sunlight.

Just 90 minutes from Paris, it was worth every mile. I wandered the perfumed Fondation Claude Monet gardens, explored his whimsical pastel-hued house, visited the inspiring Museum of Impressionism, and ended at the Romanesque Church of Sainte-Radegonde, where Monet rests — it was a unique visit that actually felt like I’d stepped inside his paintings.

13. Strasbourg, Grand Est region

I loved how Strasbourg blended French charm with German flair. I thought it was very easy-on-the-eye — pastel half-timbered houses draped in flowers, the soaring Strasbourg Cathedral, and cobbled squares framed by Renaissance façades. It felt romantic and elegant yet full of life.

Just two hours by TGV from Paris, I arrived at the elegant 4-star Hôtel & Spa Le Bouclier D’Or and spent a gorgeous weekend wandering the half-timbered lanes of quaint La Petite France, admiring the cathedral’s famed – and ingenious – astronomical clock, cruising the gentle Ill River, and exploring landmarks such as the opulent Palais Rohan, the bold modern architecture of the European Parliament, and the folkloric Musée Alsacien.

14. Corsica

I completely fell in love with Corsica — a wild yet elegant island of turquoise waters, white-sand and pebble beaches, jagged granite cliffs, and pastel coastal towns perched on limestone bluffs. I thought it was breathtakingly unspoilt, with a rustic-chic vibe and a slower Mediterranean rhythm that felt worlds away from the mainland.

Flying from London to Ajaccio, I embarked on ten dreamlike days in Corsica — swimming in the turquoise waters of beautiful Palombaggia beach and secluded Saleccia, hiking the epic GR20, exploring atmospheric Bonifacio’s fortress-like cliffs, and losing myself in harbor-fronted Bastia’s colourful alleys.

I also loved wandering the ancient hilltop village of Sant’Antonino and dipping into the emerald pools of the pristine Restonica Valley, framed by thick pine forests and rugged peaks! I found that the mountain roads were often steep and winding — not for the faint-hearted, but the views absolutely make it worth it.

15. Colmar, Grand Est region

I thought Colmar was pure fairytale — like stepping into a storybook of brightly painted half-timbered houses, canal-side flowers, and cobbled lanes overflowing with blooms. It had such a dreamy, romantic vibe with a hint of whimsy that I couldn’t stop smiling.

A high-speed TGV from Paris got me there in just over two hours, and I spent three enchanting days wandering the medieval Old Town, admiring the ornate Maison Pfister, the historic Koïfhus, and the Gothic Église St-Martin. I cruised the winding canals of romantic Little Venice and marveled at the emotive Isenheim Altarpiece in the renowned Unterlinden Museum — I thought it was impossibly picturesque at every turn.

16. Palace of Versailles, Paris

I thought the Palace of Versailles was absolutely breathtaking — a masterpiece of fine Baroque architecture with gold-gilded halls, ornate furniture, and perfectly manicured gardens adorned with ornate fountains and sculptures. It felt majestic and extravagant, with an elegance so otherworldly it gave me goosebumps.

I took the RER C from central Paris, and after a short walk from Versailles Château Rive Gauche, I stepped through the iconic golden gates for a very photogenic afternoon. I wandered through the opulent Hall of Mirrors, explored the lavish royal apartments, strolled the immaculate palace gardens, admired the elegant Grand Trianon and the intimate Petit Trianon — two retreats built on the palace grounds — and visited Marie Antoinette’s enchanting pastoral hamlet, a whimsical countryside escape.

17. Brittany

I really fell for Brittany’s raw, untamed beauty — I found a pristine stretch of windswept coastline, golden beaches, dramatic cliffs, and medieval walled towns brimming with old-world charm. I thought it was one of the most soulful regions I’d visited, steeped in Celtic folklore with a touch of mystical intrigue.

Only four hours from Paris, I found a corner of France that felt very unspoilt and spent a week tucking into farmhouse-made cider-crêpes and exploring Saint-Malo’s weathered ramparts, Dinan’s medieval lanes, the mysterious Carnac megaliths, and the ethereal pink granite coast, where photogenic pastel rocks met the wild Atlantic.

18. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy

I was in awe of Mont Saint-Michel, a medieval abbey perched dramatically on a rocky tidal island. I thought it was a unique and striking spot – its spire rose high above the sea, steep cobbled lanes wound up to the Gothic abbey, and vast tidal flats that turned it into an almost otherworldly floating fortress with every change of tide. I have to admit it was a little too touristy but sill the whole place managed to feel mystical, stuck-in-time, and utterly captivating.

The 4.5-hour drive from Paris — and spending nearly a full day here — was worth it for sure. I toured its winding stone streets, explored the majestic abbey, soaked up the wonderful sea vistas, stepped inside the atmospheric Église Saint-Pierre parish church, and wandered past the quaint boutiques and museums that lined the bustling Grande Rue, the island’s main street.

19. Gorge du Verdon

Gorge du Verdon, a river canyon, was just jaw-dropping – here sheer white limestone cliffs plunged into a winding ribbon of turquoise water, framed by lavender fields, forested plateaus, and medieval hilltop villages. 

I stopped by as part of a road trip, driving 2.5 hours from Aix-en-Provence and spending three outdoor-focused days here, basing myself at the gorgeous nearby 4-star La Bouscatière. I was completely immersed in its wild, rugged wilderness and peaceful Provençal charm.

From paddling through dramatic gorges to hiking panoramic trails, swimming in translucent lakes, and browsing cute pottery shops in a cliffside village — it was a nature-filled stop but with a creative twist. I just have to mention that I discovered the ladders and hikes were pretty demanding, so sturdy shoes, water, and an early start made the adventure much easier.

This was Badger last night playing in his tunnel.