Wanna be on TV?

I was recently contacted by a representative of Shiver / ITV Productions London who are looking for people to take part in a show.

They are currently casting for the fifth series of the hugely popular ITV1 daytime show, ‘May the Best House Win’, this time they will be filming the show in France!

The series features interesting homes that have been lovingly created by their owners, real passion projects and properties that are distinctive and express their owners personality, whether it’s people who live in interesting conversions, fascinating period properties, or who have filled their home with fascinating objects or artifacts, or decorated in a particular theme.

Anything goes, so long as the homeowners really love their home.

In each episode, the show will feature four very different houses in a particular area.  The show will ask the homeowners to visit each of the other houses and award them marks out of ten.  The winning homeowner wins 1000 euros!  It’s a fun show designed to bring together people with different tastes and different properties to discuss and debate their own ideas of what makes a home.

The production company will be going to the South of France to film in a few weeks’ time.  So this is your chance to show off your treasured home in one of the most beautiful regions in France!

If you are interested, you may contact them through the details listed in the promo picture below:

Good luck to everyone that enters!

Sauna du Château

Bathhouses have been around since ancient times; the Romans were famous for them.  So it’s amusing to me how many people I come across that claim they have never been to a bathhouse, yet when they take me aside, I end up finding out they have been and love it or are very intrigued and want to know more about them.

Usually these establishments (if properly managed) are a much safer alternative than perhaps bringing someone home that you just met at a bar or nightclub.  

The people that operate Sauna du Château in Nice are, to me, in the group that considers every aspect of how their business should operate.  Sauna du Château is a safe, fun and very clean establishment.

Situated at the edge of Vieux Nice, on the side closest to the sea is Sauna du Château at: 17 rue des Ponchettes

 

This sauna is very easy to find, it’s just outside the touristy areas of Vieux Nice on a quiet, more residential street where it would be very easy to go unnoticed if discretion is a concern for you.

Noting the outside of the building, one would be very surprised by how big the space is inside.  I assumed because of the way the entrance looked from the street that it might be small and cramped inside.  That wasn’t the case at all.

But before I go any further, I should let you know that Sauna du Château is considered to be more of a mixed couple sauna.  If you happen to be a gay, you are still more than welcome.  Just don’t be surprised if you also see a woman in a towel.

Entering Sauna du Château, I could tell the place was buzzing, the staff was very busy making sure everything was ok and I noticed the customers came in every shape and size.

I felt very comfortable right away and any questions I had, the staff was there to help.  It felt like a great place to relax and get away from the outside world for a little while.

Sauna du Chateau

As it turns out, Sauna du Château is actually a big space! I was surprised how far back it went and is laid out over three different levels covering about 5400 square feet!
Who knew?!

The sauna itself is well lit, with very flattering, soothing lightly in most areas, everything seemed in place and the cleanliness was top notch.

There are small rooms in which to meet up, but also general relaxing areas.  Along with a generous steam room, infrared sauna, dry sauna, large Jacuzzi and even a small pool area, all within an uniquely designed space.

Something else that is a bonus, professional massages are available for a low additional price, just make arrangements with the staff at the front area of the club.

Even though Sauna du Château leans more towards being a straight couple type of bathhouse, if you are comfortable enough, fun can still be had here, to what degree you take that is of course up to you.

Sauna du Château is open seven days a week from 1pm to 9pm, on Sundays until midnight.

Take the plunge and play safe!

Lérins Islands (Iles de Lérins)

I love getaways, big or little getaways from it all, especially if it is to try something different.  Whether it’s for a couple of days or even just an afternoon.

For years when I had been on the beach in Cannes or even taking the train back to Nice I had always seen these islands just off the coast a short distance away.  I always wondered about them, never sure if they were inhabited or not, and I naively presumed they were part of some fishing project.  Wrong!

Turns out, when I finally starting asking friends some questions about them, I was told they are part of the Cannes commune and are called the Lérins Islands.  It is said that the presence of a settlement on the islands go back to the end of the 6th century BC!  And yes, anyone can visit them.

It just so happened when I decided to finally visit the islands that the Cannes Boat Show was taking place in the port area at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.  A friend from Montenegro was promoting his company ventures within that area, so after visiting with him and looking over all the magnificent boats throughout the port, I decided to go to the islands.

On the far southwest corner of the Cannes harbor is the ferry terminal to get to the Lérins Islands.  Make your way around the port opposite of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès along Quai St. Pierre, and at the edge of the port where the ferry terminal is located will be a large parking lot, walk through there and follow the signage to find the ticketing booth.

You just have to decide which island you would like to discover first.  There is a ferry for the Cannes-Saint Honorat Island and a separate ferry for the Cannes-Sainte Marguerite Island.  Keep in mind there is no ferry that goes between the two islands because of landing rights.  A round trip, adult ticket is about 12 euros.

It should also be noted that excursions also leave from Nice, Antibes, La Napoule and Golfe-Juan.

Transit Cote d'Azur 

The schedules for the ferry change throughout the year, but they run about every hour to every half hour from either side.  And depending on which island you were going too, it is about a 15-minute one-way trip to Sainte Marguerite Island (the bigger island) and about 30-minutes one-way to Saint Honorat Island.  Coming or going, it is such a leisurely, beautiful trip, I never felt like I was waiting forever either way.

My only serious suggestion is to make sure you do not miss the last ferry back from the islands, which, again depending on time of the year can be at 7pm.  The people working at the ferry terminals are very helpful and have plenty of information about scheduling, the islands, etc.  One thing I wasn’t told was hot the ferry captains are, totally gorgeous!  I was wondering if it was a job requirement or something?  I couldn’t stop checking them out!

One of my friends was telling me before I went on the trip how the Lérins Islands were so different from the rest of the Cote d’Azur.  How it was like a peaceful journey, a wonderful getaway.

I’ve been to islands around the world before, l listened to what I was being told but I wondered what could be so different about these islands?

Let me tell you right now, the Lérins Islands are like entering a whole other world compared to any type of city life.  Make a day of it.  Bring a camera, have a picnic! Prepare to explore but also plan to relax and take it all in.

You can feel the energy change as the ferry is heading towards the islands, passing by the massive yachts on the sea with Cannes and the stunning outlying area not far away. And even as the ferry is slowing down to dock at the pier on the islands, you will feel a calm energy enveloping you.  Life is different here.  There is no need to rush, it almost seemed like there were no rules.  The Lérins Islands are inviting and quiet, yet also interesting and itching to be explored.

My first stop was to Sainte Marguerite Island.  I was expecting to see more people around after everyone got off the ferry and made their way down the short pier, people just seemed to splinter off though, knowing exactly where they were heading.  Since I could see Fort Royal to the east as the ferry was approaching the island, I headed in that direction along one of the trails.  Fort Royal is where it is said the Man in the Iron Mask was kept for 11 years and here you can see the cell in which he was detained.

 

My initial feelings walking to Fort Royal were how charming everything seemed to be and how nice it was to be surrounded by the natural beauty of the island.  If you were hungry, there are two small restaurants and two snack bars quietly nestled in areas.
 

Approaching Fort Royal, I was taken back by how much bigger it was than I imagined, and especially for an island the size of this one, which I’m told is three kms in length and approximately 900 meters across at most points.

To get inside Fort Royal you have to pay a small fee, worth it though as it has some interesting buildings inside and provided some excellent vantage points.  I’m always up for a history lesson and was intrigued by the architecture of the fortress so I stayed for a while.

Afterwards I took the time to walk around the outside of the fortress, which again, there seemed to be no people around.  At times it was creepy and even freaky to be next to the fort’s outer grand walls surrounded by the absolute quiet of nature.

I enjoyed wandering along the many trails on the island, surrounded by Aleppo Pine-trees and exotic Eucalyptus trees.  It was lovely to have some quiet time and you didn’t feel like you would be interrupted by anything.

There are no big, real beaches surrounding the island, in areas you might be able to find very small stretches of sand here and there but it was mostly areas with flat rocks.  

I was told that there is a gay, nude beach facing Saint Honorat Island called, “Pierres Plates” or the “beach of flat stones” but I did not find it on this particular journey.  Perhaps the next time I visit.  Overall, Sainte Marguerite Island is a great place to explore and gain some time to yourself if you so desire.

Saint Honorat is the next of the Lérins Islands I got to visit.  This island is the furthest away from Cannes, and it also brings it’s own unique qualities.

 

Saint Honorat has a working Abbey on the island that has been held by the Cistercian order of Sénanque since 1869.  Here you will find there is a small gift shop where you can buy some of the local produced products on the island and they even have their own winery and restaurant!

 

I loved this whole island!  I am fascinated how some people can live their whole lives with such strict devotion.  I am told people can even come to the Abbey for week long retreats where they are not allowed everyday conveniences like television and the internet; there is also a code of silence in areas.  I can actually see myself doing a retreat at some point in my life.  It is so peaceful and beautiful on the island; the monks do an extremely good job of taking care of everything.  

You also won’t be able to miss the fortified monastery on the southern tip of the island of which you are allowed to discover throughout, I loved how it stands out, practically on the water.

So don’t do what I had done for years and just dismissed what was in the distance.  I've certainly learned my lesson and have starting asking more questions if something peaks my interest.

I’m very glad I’ve finally had the chance to take a look around the Lérins Islands off Cannes and I know these will not be the last of my visits, even if it’s just for a quick getaway.

Jazz Rock Cafe - Top 50 Event

It’s easy to assume on a Sunday night that the party is over for the weekend.  Especially when the overall mood of a Sunday in Nice is usually that of a relaxing, calm and even reflective time in the city.

But if you are still geared up and want to keep the party going from the night before, then I’d suggest you have a disco nap during the day, and then head over to the Jazz Rock Café later that night to attend the weekly TOP 50 event!
 

 

You’ll need your rest beforehand as the Top 50 party gets going at midnight and doesn’t end until the sun is practically coming up.

The Jazz Rock Café holds a myriad of events weekly catering to all sorts of crowds.  The Top 50 event held on Sunday night is very popular in the LGBT community and everyone is welcome to attend!

Finding the Jazz Rock Café could not be easier.  Located on the edge of Vieux Nice, near Le Chateau and directly across from the beach is where you will find the club at: 73 Quai des Etats-Unis.

Inside you will find the space to be a mix of everything, initially you might expect it to be a restaurant but it is more of a bar/club type setting.  Once the drinks are flowing and the music is playing, it doesn’t seem to matter, and everyone is having fun!

The crowd is very diverse, and I would say in the age range of 20-40+, everyone seems to mix well here too, it doesn’t feel ‘cliquey” in any way.

Top 50 is usually a free event to attend, unless they are raising money at the door towards a good cause for a charitable association, and even then they are only asking for a minimum donation.  Don't be cheap!

Music wise, you’ll never know what to expect since every type of genre seems to be played.  From disco to pop, some techno to house, its always great music and the dance floor is always packed.   

There is also from what I understand a lesbian night that is held once a month, usually on a Friday from 10pm until 4am.  From what I’ve heard of the events, if I were a woman, I would totally be going to those parties!  They look like so much fun!

Madmoizelles

All in all, attending the Top 50 event at the Jazz Rock Café in Nice is a fantastic way to cap off the weekend!  I hope you don’t have any pressing plans Monday!