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.

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