Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Property in Villefranche sur Mer, Alpes Maritimes | Houses & Flats for Sale & Rent | Primelocation
There are many online services purporting to collect real estate listings from Villefranche. I will try to list as many here as I can find, linked to Villefranche results (where possible) in each:
+ Primelocation.com (note that registration - free - is required before accessing individual listings)
+ Primelocation.com (note that registration - free - is required before accessing individual listings)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Remembering the Armistice
Each year, Villefranche - as do most French towns and cities - remembers those who fought and suffered, and the many - especially - who died, in the First World War. 11 AM is the remembrance hour.
In Villefrancher this year, anyone who wants to join in that remembrance can start off at 9;30 AM at a memorial service at the church in the center of the old town of Villefranche, and then join others in walking up the hill to the main crossroad (octroi) of Villefranche on the low (Basse) Corniche for more at 10:40. The local musical group that performs at such events is called the "fanfare de Villefranche".
In Villefrancher this year, anyone who wants to join in that remembrance can start off at 9;30 AM at a memorial service at the church in the center of the old town of Villefranche, and then join others in walking up the hill to the main crossroad (octroi) of Villefranche on the low (Basse) Corniche for more at 10:40. The local musical group that performs at such events is called the "fanfare de Villefranche".
Corks for cancer
Many places around the world produce a lot of otherwise discarded wine bottle corks or "bouchons". Villefranche must certainly figure prominently on any list of these places arranged by corks/person! Whether it does or not, two women are running a wonderful program to collect these corks, and by recycling them, generate significant contributions to cancer research. The contribution was reported by Nice Matin to be about 10,000 euros/year.
If you are about to discard one or more corks, you may want to consider how you can add to this ongoing campaign. If a a restaurant, ask the waiter if they participate and if they do, your cork will join the others via that route. If they do not, you can drop that one(s) and any others at any of these locations in the area:
SuperU in Beaulieu
[I will complete the list with an explanation of where each is.]
If you are about to discard one or more corks, you may want to consider how you can add to this ongoing campaign. If a a restaurant, ask the waiter if they participate and if they do, your cork will join the others via that route. If they do not, you can drop that one(s) and any others at any of these locations in the area:
SuperU in Beaulieu
[I will complete the list with an explanation of where each is.]
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Beneath the sea
One of the events that occurs in Villefranche - more specifically the "rade" or Bay of Villefranche - with surprising frequency is the discovery of something under the water.
On some occasions, it is garbage, literally. The bay has for far too long been the cesspool for ships of all kinds and residents all around the area. That is changing quite fast, finally, but divers and others occasionally find the remnants of something discarded into the water that continues to have an impact on sea life, or our health. New construction projects for handling waste from the land are likely to reduce dramatically, if not eliminate, waste water discharge, as it is often called. [I will add some links to more information about all of this.]
Similarly, there are the occasional sea dangers, perhaps irregularities is a good word. These run from various developments that cause the death of fish or other marine life to the arrival of jellyfish. Occasionally, one majestic creature or another rears its head in the bay as well.
There are a couple of good ways to check on sea water quality. [I will add the best links.]
Going further back in history, but still popping up, so to speak, now and again, are artifacts left over from World War II, and also from other 20th century conflicts that brought war ships to Villefranche. I do not recall any of these that resulted in anything other than safe disposal. [I will add a photo or link to show examples of this.]
Finally, since the bay has been here for a very long time and it has been used for commerce, or at least for safe anchorage, for a very long time, divers regularly discover archeological treasures on the bottom. These range from entire ships to bits and pieces of pottery and other items lost or discarded at sea. One never knows, in opening today's issue of th Nice Matin newspaper what new archeological find may have emerged from the bay. [I will add some links here, too.]
On some occasions, it is garbage, literally. The bay has for far too long been the cesspool for ships of all kinds and residents all around the area. That is changing quite fast, finally, but divers and others occasionally find the remnants of something discarded into the water that continues to have an impact on sea life, or our health. New construction projects for handling waste from the land are likely to reduce dramatically, if not eliminate, waste water discharge, as it is often called. [I will add some links to more information about all of this.]
Similarly, there are the occasional sea dangers, perhaps irregularities is a good word. These run from various developments that cause the death of fish or other marine life to the arrival of jellyfish. Occasionally, one majestic creature or another rears its head in the bay as well.
There are a couple of good ways to check on sea water quality. [I will add the best links.]
Going further back in history, but still popping up, so to speak, now and again, are artifacts left over from World War II, and also from other 20th century conflicts that brought war ships to Villefranche. I do not recall any of these that resulted in anything other than safe disposal. [I will add a photo or link to show examples of this.]
Finally, since the bay has been here for a very long time and it has been used for commerce, or at least for safe anchorage, for a very long time, divers regularly discover archeological treasures on the bottom. These range from entire ships to bits and pieces of pottery and other items lost or discarded at sea. One never knows, in opening today's issue of th Nice Matin newspaper what new archeological find may have emerged from the bay. [I will add some links here, too.]
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Cruise ships
Many cruise ships stop at Villefranche for very good reasons. This is the schedule, maintained by the town government, of cruise ship arrivals for the current month.
You may find this of interest because you are a passenger on one of these ships, because you may be meeting someone who is a passenger, or you just want to know when all these people may be arriving in town!
The cruise business is extremely important for Villefranche, and local merchants and government continue to look for ways to better balance the benefit. Often, passengers arrive on shore in Villefranche and immediately head off in buses to see the wonderful sites of Nice and environs. What Villefranche would most like is for more of these people to enjoy more of Villefranche and to spend a little travel money in the process.
Generally, the arrival of the passengers, their loading buses (which usually takes place in the parking area of the Citadel) does not cause much inconvenience for others. The town has worked with local merchants to set up a marche just opposite the passenger arrival area to allow visitors to explore a number of possible purchases.
[I will add more about the nationalities and the routes of the cruise ships, and maybe some comment from some of the local people about how they view the arriving passengers and what some of the success stories, as well as problems, have been. I'll also add some suggestions on how a visiting cruise ship passenger can get the most of his or her time in Villefranche.]
You may find this of interest because you are a passenger on one of these ships, because you may be meeting someone who is a passenger, or you just want to know when all these people may be arriving in town!
The cruise business is extremely important for Villefranche, and local merchants and government continue to look for ways to better balance the benefit. Often, passengers arrive on shore in Villefranche and immediately head off in buses to see the wonderful sites of Nice and environs. What Villefranche would most like is for more of these people to enjoy more of Villefranche and to spend a little travel money in the process.
Generally, the arrival of the passengers, their loading buses (which usually takes place in the parking area of the Citadel) does not cause much inconvenience for others. The town has worked with local merchants to set up a marche just opposite the passenger arrival area to allow visitors to explore a number of possible purchases.
[I will add more about the nationalities and the routes of the cruise ships, and maybe some comment from some of the local people about how they view the arriving passengers and what some of the success stories, as well as problems, have been. I'll also add some suggestions on how a visiting cruise ship passenger can get the most of his or her time in Villefranche.]
Guide and other books and sites about or involving Villefranche
There are so many books written about Villefranche, both as a place to visit and as place for great stories.. Some of those worth noting include...
Travel guide sections on Villefranche:
+ Frommer's
Books where Villefranche plays an important role:
Other websites:
[I will flesh this out with many links and more notes.]
Travel guide sections on Villefranche:
+ Frommer's
Books where Villefranche plays an important role:
Other websites:
[I will flesh this out with many links and more notes.]
Port of Villefranche
There are many different aspects to the port of Villefranche. This takes you the page in the website of "Riviera Ports" covering Villefranche.
When one thinks of the "port" of Villefranche it might be the entire Bay of Villefranche or it might be what is called the "darse", the area of concentrated boats that includes everything from sailing and rowing clubs and rentals to a dry dock for fairly good size yachts. (There is always something interesting there, and you can walk freely around all of it.)
However you think of the "port", Villefranche has an historical, existing, and likely continuing connection to all that floats on the waters of the bay and all those who operate and travel on those vessels, along with the many people who dive beneath the sea to find an entirely different Villefranche.
There is very little "rise and fall" in tide in Villefranche and because the bay is so well protected, it is very rare for any water to wash over the "quai" or wall in front of the many seaside restaurants or to endanger sunbathers on the several beaches.
[I will flesh this out in much more detail.]
When one thinks of the "port" of Villefranche it might be the entire Bay of Villefranche or it might be what is called the "darse", the area of concentrated boats that includes everything from sailing and rowing clubs and rentals to a dry dock for fairly good size yachts. (There is always something interesting there, and you can walk freely around all of it.)
However you think of the "port", Villefranche has an historical, existing, and likely continuing connection to all that floats on the waters of the bay and all those who operate and travel on those vessels, along with the many people who dive beneath the sea to find an entirely different Villefranche.
There is very little "rise and fall" in tide in Villefranche and because the bay is so well protected, it is very rare for any water to wash over the "quai" or wall in front of the many seaside restaurants or to endanger sunbathers on the several beaches.
[I will flesh this out in much more detail.]
Facebook - Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
I just set up a community page for Villefranche on Facebook and will add some additional information there and try to link it to this blog as well.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Christmas in Villefranche
There are several public ways in which the Christmas season is celebrated in Villefranche.
The first of the season is the hanging of the Christams lights in several places around the town. This began yesterday:
I guess they don't really turn them on, however, until 10 December at 5 PM according ot the town's website.
Then on 12 December, there is a "Noël des petits villefranchois" with the details yet to be announced.
The first of the season is the hanging of the Christams lights in several places around the town. This began yesterday:
I guess they don't really turn them on, however, until 10 December at 5 PM according ot the town's website.
Then on 12 December, there is a "Noël des petits villefranchois" with the details yet to be announced.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Austin, Texas
A delegation of about 10 people will be heading from Villefranche-sur-Mer and surrounding areas to Austin, Texas in coming days. Included in the group is Cedric CIRASA, a deputy mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer. In talking with CIRASA this morning, I believe the trip lasts for about 10 days. There is some sort of link between Villefranche and Austin, but it is still not entirely clear to me what it is. Whatever it is, it appears to have happened out of "coincidence" more than strategic thinking.
I asked for some more information from the City of Austin, and received this very helpful reply:
"The French Legation Museum will be facilitating a delegation visit from Villefranche-sur-Mer, led by Deputy Mayor Cedric Cirasa on November 10th. This is part of a continued effort by the FLM to support beneficial cultural and economic Franco-Texan connections, the Fall Fest kicks off a week ofAustin Austin
I am awaiting more information from Texas on the relationship between Villefranche and a member of the Texas state legislature.
I asked for some more information from the City of Austin, and received this very helpful reply:
"The French Legation Museum will be facilitating a delegation visit from Villefranche-sur-Mer, led by Deputy Mayor Cedric Cirasa on November 10th. This is part of a continued effort by the FLM to support beneficial cultural and economic Franco-Texan connections, the Fall Fest kicks off a week of
I am awaiting more information from Texas on the relationship between Villefranche and a member of the Texas state legislature.
Facebook - Villefranche-sur-Mer
This is the Facebook page referencing the Wikipedia entry for Villefranche-sur-Mer. Surely, it merits a lot more interest, no? Remember that you can attempt to edit and enlarge the Wikipedia entry, subject to review within the Wikipedia system. In the meantime, the Facebook page provides a way to make suggestions to others or to add anything else you believe should be included.
Conferences involving Villefranche
"Seatrade Med 30 November - 2 December 2010" - It's nice to see Villefranche as the photo on this site for what appears to be quite an important conference for people in the Mediterranean cruise business. The conference will be in Nice later this month, the first time it has been held in France, which is hard to believe.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Oceanographic Research Center
One of the least known and biggest pieces (180 people) of the Villefranche community is the oceanographic research center next to the Darse. It celebrated its 125th anniversary last month (Oct 2010). While its website is entirely in French, there is much information there about the center's work. (Here is an entry about the anniversary and another article (in French) from one of the area's weekly publications, Le Petit Nicois. You'll note from a typical local French newspaper photo that the well-known people attending the anniversary included Prince Albert of Monaco, the mayor of Nice, the president of the departmental council, and the mayor of Villefranche.) Here (in French) is how the town itself reported the anniversay events last month. The local French economic development agency uses something like this event for its advantage as well, as you can see here (in French).
A blog about Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
This will be a blog about a place and about people. It will try to capture some of the life and spirit, and indeed "specialness" of what is Villefranche-sur-Mer in the southeast corner of France on the Mediterranean Sea. In the posts that follow, we will try to tell its story through the bits and pieces of its life as we see it evolve. Travel with us, tell us what you think, and perhaps what you experience, and we will work your thoughts into what we present here. We intend to make this as coherent a picture as we can and so we will resist turning this into a community bulletin board, but we will also work hard to make sure that what we report reflects the diversity of perspectives and opinions we know exist about every aspect of life in this town.
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