J’aime la Côte d’Azur

The bright blue colours of contrast to the sky and what I liken to shades of lapis lazuli is the appeal of the crystal sea waters I’m so drawn too every time I visit the southern coastline of France.

I’m often asked what brings you here that you keep going back? The familiarity of the coast I liken to growing up in Perth and living in Cape Town. It’s the familiarity of the sea, the laidback cultural cafe lifestyle enriched with hills hugging the coastline as a backdrop into nature’s playground. Coastal water sports and marinas full of yachts baiting me to play at sea.

Fresh food produce markets to live a simple, nourishing and lifestyle full of flavours and soul food are a way of life. Shopping daily and locally for what I needed was so satisfying and in the moment compared to supermarkets back home.

Food is made with love from the fresh baguettes, tarts and pastries at the boulangerie to the bright red, gigantic, wonky looking tomatoes ripe and bursting with sunshine flavour. A flavour that only sun can create freshly picked paired with a good French cheese.

If you fancy a dabble at learning how to make croissants it’s worth finding a local pastry chef. I spent a delightful afternoon after a morning at the beach, rolling layers of pastry and butter to make these yummy delicacies. Croissants are a labour of love and there’s something very soothing and trancelike rolling layers of pastry. Thrilled with my pastry workshop learning I now knew how to make croissants and pain au chocolat pastries 🥐 🇫🇷💓!

I spent many hours exploring the cobbled streets and back alleys of the old town and I fell in love with Antibes a little more with each step and discovery. My curiosity took me to little nooks and crannies tucked away from the main square and centre. I was fascinated by the buildings, architecture and quaint French decor fuelling my creativity and topping up my mind with future ideas that I could use as inspiration for my next creative project.