Loulabelle's FrancoFiles episode 183
Guest: Caroline Riddell-Clark
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Recently I travelled for a couple of months in France, road tripping from the top of the country in Normandy to the bottom at the Côte d’Azur and towards the end of my stay I enjoyed a most marvellous visit with Caroline Riddell-Clark at her Villa Florente in Menton on the Italian border.
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Caroline has stayed in France each year for many years, spending much of that time in Menton staying with friends who had moved there a long time ago. So during the Melbourne Covid lockdowns it was not a surprise that Caroline was surfing the internet for the French real estate on offer and as soon as she could, she headed back over there! Whilst a long time ago Caroline had lived in France for a number of months near Toulouse, with her children even attending school there, it was Menton that had captured her heart. Caroline had decided to wait for a few years before purchasing a property but after 20 minutes in Villa Florente, she had bought the place!
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Menton has beautiful beaches with buildings of different colours, reflecting the colours of the Cinque Terre just across the Italian border. There is a long history including pirates as well as Russian palaces nestled in between Monte Carlo and Italy, and from Caroline’s Villa Florente one can walk between 3 countries before lunch! I loved how a stroll into Italy can result in wonderful coffee followed by market shopping for fresh produce in France and then some glitz and glamour in Monte Carlo! Caroline says after a walk like this, she comes home and feels like she’s the luckiest person ever to look over her amazing Mediterranean view.
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Whilst the view is captivating, Menton also has a gorgeous rustic side. The people are warm and engaging. There are special events such as the Lemon Festival each February which celebrates the humble citrus fruit but is now one of the largest festival events in Europe!
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Caroline now wants to welcome others to stay with her too, but first come and join us for a chat here on the Loulabelle’s and escape to the Cote d’Azur momentarily.
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Caroline’s links for Villa Florente
Instagram – @Villa_Florente
Email – crclark@bigpond.net.au
Recette
Salt crusted fish (a Menton specialty)
Musique
