Gypsy Kings at the Côte d'Azur

A flood of gypsies has descended upon Nice and Mougins in recent days with almost 450 caravans illegally advancing on public and private land. The pitch at Nice's Arboras Stadium has been churned up beyond repair and there are fears that Mougins' latest residents may have a serious impact on the wildlife park that they have chosen to set up camp in. The sports field at the Arboras Stadium in Nice has a new kind of competitor on the pitch this week. Photo: Marc Herstalle "This is an illegal occupancy and will not be tolerated!" said Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi as he threatened the gypsies, currently settled inside the sports stadium, with a forced police eviction. On Sunday 24th June, some 500 vehicles - half of which were caravans - and 600 people descended on the ground when they noticed that the stadium had been left unlocked. "We saw that the gates were open," the leader of the group, Franck Couchevelou, told reporters the following day, "and we came in!"

Following fruitless attempts at negotiation, the Alpes Maritimes Prefect issued a compulsory eviction order that the travellers have ignored. "We are peaceful and will leave in three weeks time," Couchevelou reportedly told the local government. But that has done little to appease Estrosi, who now says that he will call in the police if the gypsies do not leave by Saturday 30th June. For now, the gypsies seem relatively unconcerned, reportedly telling Estrosi, "We will go to the Promenade des Anglais if you make us move." The group of French travellers has presented its case before the Administrative Court of Nice in an effort to stall the forced eviction, warning, "Contact our lawyer, but for now, we're not moving." In Mougins, discussions between travellers and local councillors have been a little more smooth. The procession of around 180 caravans began early in the morning on Tuesday 26th and the gypsies have been accused of intentionally moving security boulders from the entrance of the Fontmerle park in order to gain access to the picturesque reserve. Despite the General Council immediately seeking legal advice, talks between the parties were resolved by the end of the day with the gypsies reportedly being allowed to stay in Mougins until Sunday 8th July. The land at Fontmerle makes up France's largest bird reserve and is home to a wealth of animal species as well as unusual flora and fauna.

by Elsa Carpenter for Riviera Times

Floating dinner-time in VilleFranche!

For thrillseekers, sailors without a ship, hungry mermaids and evrybody else that is keen to be on the water, book you floating tableship in VilleFranche via www.easyboatbooking.com. Have fun!

Hot dog.

For the taste of charcoal.

With six carnivores in the house, we became good friends with the butcher. My wife does not even in the queue; Jo is beckoned to the side of the counter and the chef personally looks after her order. Handy if you are a Brigitte Bardot lookalike. On our barbeque I weekly burn about 10 pounds of charcoal butred with a glass of wine, some music and delicious meated marinated in the queue for that game that part is a party in itself. Due to intensive use, the bbq slightly starts to deform and we ready for a new one. And then you have to make the choice: either you take a large gas grill with a planchata, a grill for fish and a hood it to steam it all. Or maybe just another charcoal grill. I've looked jealously at people with such a serious' youseehoweasyitisformetobbqs "face. It looks nice, it's fast, you keep your hands clean and you have more space for all your meat and vegetables. Disadvantage, the bbq smell is far from barbequeing. Also you neanderthaler instinct is smothered. That firemaking, poking the coals, a little flutter with yesterday's newspaper, they're the rituals from prehistoric times (except the newspaper bit). Actually an outdoor gas bbq is for the elderly. Beautiful and fast,  yes so what is wisdom, convenient and tastier? We discussed this very important matter as we lay in the hammock to dangle. Jo's eyes began to shine. "Honey, I'm going to let you taste the difference, why charcoal is better than a nice gas grill ...." . My darling who also love good food all left the house early next morning and came back with a steak that made the dog spontaneously drool. "I am going to make Cote de Boeuff tonight for us, and then you say what you like better...... " I could hardly wait until the evening. After the children had eaten and gone to bed, we could put our 'terrace for two' in order. That is to say, I opened the red wine and Jo stood with a serious look behind the bbq, in smoke , turning the meat over and over upside down. the piece  It smelled heavenly and after 20 minutes there were strips of meat on my plate, a little raw red inside with a delicious crispy cooked outside. The first piece of meat slipped on my tongue and the charcoal and the rosemary scent stimulated all my senses. The meat tasted like a wonderful combination of garlic (4 cloves into the meat), herbs, rosemary, pepper, salt and fragrance or actually it was the taste of hot coal. I was convinced. For us no gas, but only the 'real thing'. Charcoal so. Just like old times.

180.000 Sm in the South of France. Plus a B&B. And all the permits. 755.000 euro

It's not just the gray sky, the daily traffic jams and the rain that feeds your irritation and frustration. It is also the business climate, the administrative rules and regulations, the school system and the hardening of the society. And you probably have some personal reasons fas well to leave the country and start a new life. This can be done the best in France with a chambre d'hotel; nice hotelrooms in a villa where the owner resides. Many people choose this type of holiday and enjoy because it is affordable and fun. France has long been extremely popular as a holiday destination for lovers of nature, sports and delicious healthy food. Are you not afraid to make your hands dirty but you do not want to worry about permits? This villa with 660 square meters of living space is then for you! Make up your mind, will you continue to dream about another life or will you start your own Chambre d'Hotel in Haute Provence? 

On the south-eastern tip of the "Alpes de Haute Provence" we found this amazing villa with 660 square meters of living space and no less than 18 acres. The expansion possibilities are very interesting; you could put wooden chalets on your land, for rental or for sale. The place is a formidable mix of Mediterranean climate and beautiful nature of the Haute Provence. With this investment you start making money directly with the rental of a dormitory for 8 persons and a luxury chambre d'hôte. In addition, all permits issued for the completion of five Chambre d'hotes rooms, each for 4 persons with separate toilet and bathroom, 1 bedroom for tractors with sleeper beds for 10 people in bunkers, with shower and toilet on the corridor, two large Chambre d'hotes rooms, each for 8 persons, with lounge, kitchen, toilet and bathroom, a cozy reception area between the two buildings, 1 drink area of ​​140 m2 with attached kitchen, original pizza oven, toilets and bar. The 18 hectare site consists of two parts, over the public highway is a bunch of 8 hectares. Among the public road is the Villa on a central area of ​​10 hectares. 

A driveway of 400 meters takes you from the public road to the villa. The terrain is ideal for the construction of a lavender field (extra income). Currently there is growing grass that is maintained by a local farmer. Living and working as a God in France still exists. This villa with licenses and 18 acres of land can be found 80 km from Nice and the Côte d'Azur, in the Haute Provence, so with the sun of Provence, 30 km from three different ski resorts, 60 km from the Gorges du Verdon , located in the lavender fields, surrounded by nature, overlooking the valley, 15 minutes from the town of Annot. Annually tens of thousands of tourists flow into this region, for cycling and hiking surrounded by stunning scenery. Asking price is just 755,000 euros, excluding notary fees. Please call for more information Concierge Jolanda Marinus Marinus +3365 9910 425 or Junior Senior Ab Kuijer 3163 4354 895.

Time for Perrier!

The time is always right to do what is right.

How not to steal a yacht in Antibes.

Yacht thieves jailed - Two unemployed men from northern France have been jailed for stealing a 1.5-million euro yacht from Antibes. The pair aged 20 and 24 took the yacht around midnight Saturday. Sailors on the adjoining yacht believed they were friends with the vessel’s owner. After leaving the Port Gallis they headed into the Baie des Anges, in the direction of Nice. On Sunday morning, they returned to the Antibes port, where officers from Capitainerie boarded the vessel. The Grasse court yesterday sentenced the 20-year-old to six months in prison and his companion to a year behind bars. source: rivieraradionews