Saturday, June 13, 2015

QUIMPER CLUB INTERNATIONAL ~ NICE, FRANCE TRIP





Postcards from France ~ Nice



The annual meeting of the Quimper Club International was held last September in Nice, France. I am a little late, but as promised here are a lot of many photographs I made along the way. Amazing views and scenery, come along for the tour.


Views from our hotel balcony and only a block from the the Promenade des Anglais







The first evening a cocktail party was held for members to gather and get reacquainted with friends and new members. This picturesque setting was the Beau Rivage Club and private beach overlooking the spectacular Mediterranean Sea. 









After a delightful evening it was a short walk back to the hotel.






Where all girls can’t resist a ride on a carousel!


Pretty little French girl




QCI members
Susan and me in a coach!





Valbonne


Early the next morning after a full American breakfast at the hotel, members boarded two buses to travel to the charming village of Valbonne as the weekly outdoor market was being held. The walk from the bus to the market takes us though beautiful quiet narrow streets.


















The market is a wonderful experience. Vendors offer their fresh produce, herbs, jams and jellies, meat and fish, home goods, pottery, tablecloths and jewelry. 








Here you see me along with friends selecting gifts for family and friends. 


















I find myself wandering away from the market to enjoy the quaint residential streets. I love getting lost here!











I eventually find my way back to more of the market.








Walking back to board the bus I wander into a few shops.








Leaving Valbonne we drove to the village of Gourdon. As the travel books describe, a town “perched high on a hill" where we had lunch on the terrace of La Taverne Provencal. I’m happy to say the clouds gave way to fantastic views of valleys and the French countryside!





See the town on top of the “hill”





Walking through town to our restaurant








Spectacular views






After a lovely lunch our group boards buses for a short drive to the Confiserie Florian in the Gorges du Loup. The factory as described on the web page, “is in a unique setting and climate, a high county of mild Mediterranean winters and glorious summers, so rural in ambiance that it feels like a confectionery in the country.” It sits next to a beautiful river flowing right next to the window! 




From Provencal sun kissed fruit to crystalized flowers







This was certainly a sweet treat and the location of this facility is perfection!




Next, we board buses for another drive through the scenic countryside. A short while later we arrive at the famous perfume capital of the world, Grasse, France. Home of Molinard Perfumery where we enjoy a tour and learn how perfume is made. 





As we gathered in the reception area glass cases hold old and very rare perfume bottles, some were Baccarat I believe and oh so very beautiful! 







Next we were shown the steps in perfume production.








Did you know you can be hired for your sense of smell, a “nose" job? Yes, you can train here to become a “nose” as it is called. I think I would love this job, smelling flower scents all day!




After a wonderful day in Provence we returned to our hotel in Nice!
I hope you enjoyed the tour. I made a lot of photos along the way and  I hope if you are still here you experienced a feeling of what life here is like in the beautiful French countryside. This was the second trip here for my husband and me. It was just as special the second time around! It was so nice to see friends from QCI and make amazing memories along the way.
If you are a collector or lover of Quimper or French faience and are interested in becoming a club member just drop me a note or click on the QCI link on my sidebar.

Stay tuned for more beautiful photos from the Cote d’ Azur. Next up, Saint-Tropez, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Antibes and Paris! As always, thank you for your visit. I hope you will leave a comment so I will know you stopped by.

Linking

Amaze Me Monday
Blue Monday
Show and Share
Wow Us Wednesdays
Outdoor Wednesday
Wake Up Wednesday
Inspire Me Monday

20 comments:

  1. Magnifique! Emily, your photos bring our trip to life once again. I need this today. Merci, mon ami!
    Truly you captured the spirit and beauty of the French countryside. I loved seeing your excellent photos.
    More please!

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  2. Your trip is the stuff dreams are made of! The markets,the authentic restaurants,the gorgeous scenery and quaint, cobblestone streets...it's all so lovely and I'm quite envious! You must be in heaven! It's been many years, but we went to Nice and I don't know if our visit included some of the places you visited, but there's a familiarity about them to me.

    Enjoy the rest of your trip Emily!

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  3. Emily, It looks like you had a fabulous trip! I was in Nice once in May and it is a vibrant city with gorgeous countryside so near. I remember landing at Nice airport and seeing that tiny slice of land in the blue Mediterranean. You have made me want to go back! I'm looking forward to your next trip! Linda

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  4. oh Emily, what a magnificent trip! Thank you for sharing all your fabulous photos and experiences! I swear I could almost smell the aromas in the open air markets! How did you ever decide what to buy and bring home, I would have needed extra suitcases! You are so lucky to be a part of such a fun and special group~
    Jenna

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  5. I so enjoyed my armchair tour! This area is on my list (if I can ever pry my husband away).

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  6. Really enjoy the music accompaniment.

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  7. Your pictures always make me happy. Your loving friend fifi

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  8. OMYWORD...this must have been a trip of a lifetime...such beauty...just breathtaking...and I am so amazed at how colorful every thing is.
    I know I'll never go there...I wish I had planned years ago, started a fund for a trip like this....well, at least I can enjoy your lovely photos. Thanks for taking us along. xoxo

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  9. Thank you for taking us along, Emily. As usual, I was lost in your wonderful photos and music (La Mer's one of my favorites).
    Hoping to get around to traveling with Mr G again some day...after wedding...woohoo! Can you tell I'm ready?!? ;)
    Have a great week, my friend.
    xoxo
    PS-THOSE PERFUME BOTTLES!!!

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  10. Wow! What an adventure and beautiful photos ~ I want to visit there! Lots of Blue in your photos too for Blue Monday!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  11. I love this part of the world! Funny enough, I posted about a French village on Blue Monday today we well. :) Glad we were both able to experience the beauty!

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  12. Magnificent photos !
    Europe is such an incredible part of the world - we used to go to Paris often for business - never made it to Nice though
    Thanks for sharing !
    I'm going to pin some of these :)
    xox

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  13. So much beauty, Emily. You have given me France as I remember it from when I traveled through the countryside so many years ago. Thank you so much.

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  14. Merci pour la visite. Votre photos sont magnifiques!

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  15. A wonderful your of your trip! Love the photos and thanks for sharing.

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  16. Emily, every photo is dazzling. This is a part of France I have not yet explored and oh, how I would love to. Those market and fabric shots have such energy and vibrance, I just want to crawl into them! I can practically smell the wonderful market fragrances. Oh, what a glorious experience!

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  17. Emily, These photographs are just unbelievable! You could make a small coffee table book out of these photos. Don't you love all the colors and textures? The open markets are always a treat to walk through. Everything is SO fresh. What an incredible trip you had. My husband has been in Paris for the past week attending the Air Show. It was so tempting to go but it did not work out. I do enjoy this part of the world and look forward to going back! Thanks for sharing :) xxleslie

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  18. I've actually never visited Nice, so I really enjoyed your post!

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  19. Only in my dreams...and through you taking us with you! So enjoyed this!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  20. STUNNING photos Emily...thanks for taking us along!!

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