Day 3182 (Monday) 23rd February 2026
This is Nice with the Alps in the background
and this is the Old Port of Nice.
I had to get up at 7 this morning as I had to do a Zoom lesson with Bertram, it was much lighter today, thank goodness. Badger was quite naughty during the lesson trying to climb onto the laundry basket where my computer sits, he even came and hello to Bertram, luckily Bertram is also a cat person and he introduced me to his cat. Huw went up to Ken’s villa and worked all morning. It was nice and sunny this morning but it’s quite cold out of the sun.
As always on a Monday, here’s What’s happening in France this week. The Local. France
Who will win the Best Directing Cesar this year? (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy is back in court, MPs debate end-of-life care, the UK ends a tolerance period for its Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, and France’s film stars get their best outfits out for the César Awards
Monday
Court — A hearing on France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s bid to have his prison sentences reduced is scheduled to take place in Paris.
Trial — The captain of a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker intercepted off the French coast goes on trial.
Prisons — France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin will visit judicial and penitentiary sites in Mayotte.
Tuesday
Champions League — Paris Saint-Germain host Monaco in the second leg of the Champions League knockout round play-off. The defending champions hold a 3-2 lead from last week’s first leg.
Politics — MPs in France’s National Assembly are expected to vote on two bills on palliative care and assisted dying after a second reading debate.
Thursday
Travel — A ‘tolerance period’ for the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is due to end on February 26th, meaning those travelling to the UK on foreign passports who are not properly registered will not be allowed to enter the country.
Champions League — The draw for the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final takes place.
Europa League — French Ligue 1 side Lille have a 1-0 first-leg deficit to overcome in their knockout phase play-off second-leg match at Crvena Zvezda.
Awards — The 51st annual César Awards presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, takes place at the Olympia in Paris. The event is the French equivalent of the Oscars and will see all the biggest stars of the screen turn up.
Friday
Europa League — The draw for the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final takes place.
Saturday 28
Skiing — The winter sports don’t take a pause after the Olympics, with the Women’s World Cup heading to Soldeu in Andorra.
Sunday
Holiday time — It’s the last day of the staggered winter holidays for children attending schools in Zone B (Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, and Strasbourg). Those in Zone C (Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles), meanwhile, who waited the longest for their break, have another week’s holiday to enjoy.
Sunday is also March 1s t- which means a bunch of new laws come into effect;
Vehicles — The cost of registering more polluting vehicles increases from March 1st, 2025, as the threshold for triggering the tax falls to emissions of 113g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
Flights — The solidarity tax on airline tickets will rise, reaching €40 for long-haul flights in economy class.
Tobacco — Smokers beware. The cost of a pack of 20 is set to increase, with rises varying according to brand.
Parcels — From March 1st, retailers importing goods valued at less than €150 will be subject to a new €2 tax, which will rise to €3 from July 2026.
Energy — The reference price of gas will increase to €0.14010/kWh including VAT . This represents a 3.93 percent increase compared to February 2026, or more than €0.51 per kWh.
Airport — The RoissyBus shuttle connecting the Opéra in Paris's 9th arrondissement to Charles de Gaulle Airport will be discontinued, replaced by the 9517 at Saint-Denis-Pleyel. This new bus line is intended to avoid traffic congestion on the A1 motorway.
Here is the rest of the article from yesterday…
The Best Places to Go in The South of France
Villefranche-sur-Mer
This pastel-coloured village which is quite small in size, has so much character. I loved that in a 10-minute walk, you could explore the town, and then be right on the beach with clear waters. It’s one of those must-see villages while on the French Riviera.
Favourite Things in Villefranche-Sur-Mer
Exploring the village, walking the old streets like Rue Obscure and Rue Volti, and enjoying the sunset out on the port.
Spending the afternoon at Marinieres Plage, we often grabbed food from the weekly farmer’s market to bring with us.
Enjoying the restaurants in town like La Mère Germaine, Alma, and daily coffee and pastries and Bakaro.
One of the best day trips was to Menton on the Italian border, known as the “Pearl of France.” It’s an idyllic seaside town that has the most lovely shades of yellow across the city. Menton is somewhere in Southern France you don’t want to miss. I’d recommend spending a full day here to maximise everything that there is to do.
Favourite Things in Menton
Getting the famous lemon tart from Mitron Bakery.
Strolling the old town (Vieille Ville) and seeing sights like Basilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton and the square in front, Rue Longue, and La Chapelle des Pénitents-Blancs.
Having a drink along Plage du Marché, one of the many wonderful beaches in Menton to enjoy.
An afternoon trip to the small mountain village of Sainte-Agnes, great for mountain views.
Dinner at Pizzeria 430 gradi for their famous Napoli-style pizza, followed by sunset from the Vue Panoramique de Menton.
Perched on a small hilltop that overlooks the entire coast of the Côte d’Azur, the medieval village of Èze is incredible. We arrived late in the afternoon much after most crowds had left and enjoyed the jaw-dropping views which the village is known for.
Favourite Things in Èze
Walked Le Jardin Exotique (ticketed entry).
A very simple, but cosy dinner at La Taverne d’Antan à Eze.
Strolling the village at sunset.
Travel Tip: Consider joining a small group half-day tour that includes Èze, Monaco, and Monte-Carlo to get around.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
About 30 minutes away from Nice is the village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the Alpes-Maritimes department. It’s an absolute haven for artists, there is quite a bit to enjoy here in terms of walking around, enjoying a museum, and dining. I loved my afternoon here which went well into the evening.
Favourite Things in Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Visiting Fondation Maeght and seeing all of the Miró pieces.
Strolling through the village itself, enjoying sights like the Fontaine de Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Saint Paul de Vence Cemetery, and Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs.
Having a coffee at the famous La Colombe d’Or Hotel and Restaurant.
Dinner at Les Remparts.
As one of the largest cities on the coast aside from Cannes or Monaco, Nice has a lot to do. I would concentrate most of the time in the charming “Old Nice” area. This is where most of the best things to do are. A day or two will give you plenty of time to enjoy the old quarter, visit the parks, and ports which make Nice quite famous. Keep in mind that Nice will be the busiest on the coast, so the earlier start the better before the crowds.
Favourite Things in Nice
A morning at Marché Aux Fleurs to shop the markets.
Trying the original socca at Chez Thérésa and then a coffee at The Service Course Nice.
Strolling around Colline du Château and enjoying the views of Ponchettes Public Beach.
An afternoon in Port de Nice Lympia, strolling around, dining at places like Rouge, Restaurant – Bar à vin, Brasserie de Castillon, and Le Plongeoir.
Favourite Things in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
An afternoon exploring the gardens at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
A morning at the beaches, Plage de Passable and Plage Paloma were my favourites.
Known for its sparkling blue water beaches, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was one of our go-to places for day trips. There’s quite a bit here to enjoy outside of the town itself, which is why we ended up spending so much time. It’s easy to access by bus as well, so consider that as an option since there is very limited parking. (Uber is also the easiest.)
Other French Riviera Cities
There are many other French Riviera cities and destinations to enjoy, and even other day trips to consider. If you want to experience natural sights like the lavender fields, just head north to Provence. Along the way, stop by Aix-en-Provence, and even add on the Gorges du Verdon, a natural gorge known for its blue waters.
Cannes
Cannes is one of those glitzy Riviera towns that is a historic part of France. Many think of it for the annual Cannes Film Festival, but as a traveller, you’ll enjoy a charming downtown, beaches, and other things to do. Don’t miss views from Eglise Notre Dame d’Esperance, enjoy the historic neighbourhood of Le Suquet, and shop along Rue d’Antibes.
Antibes
Another Côte d’Azur gem, Antibes, is another place to add to the itinerary. It’s home to the iconic Provence. The old streets are full of art and boutiques and home to the Château Grimaldi, a 14th-century palace that was the former art studio of Picasso. You would need a proper day to see all that Antibes has.
Monaco
Known for the Monte Carlo Casino, Monaco itself is worth a pitstop if you’re training along the coast. It could be a good addition to Menton, as it’s right along the way. Remember that Monaco is its own small city-state.
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