We are animal lovers here at Susan Paradise Ltd, and we’d like to intoduce you to our pets.
Polly and Chloe are the two black cats often to be found hard at work here at our office here in the Devon countryside. Polly is, despite being considerably larger, Chloe’s daughter. She sees herself as a dab ‘paw’ at the keyboard, although her emails are generally quite unintelligible. Chloe’s main duty is to warm the seats in the office.

Napoleon, my lurcher, works from home in Honiton, guarding the house, but he enters into the spirit of things, and knows a few French words. He is a comfort seeking hound, and always opts for a self-catering cottage on holiday, as he really dislikes camping and cold weather.

Titou is our feline Côte d’Azur correspondent; he prefers snacking on foie gras and ice cream to doing any real work, but he is very sociable, and always gives us a warm welcome to the Côte d’Azur.

If you are thinking of taking your pets on holiday to France, call us to discuss our pet-friendly properties, or look at the Pets on holiday in France section on our website.

Gorgeous garden in Grasse

Isn’t this Plumbago flower a fabulous colour? The owner of one of our French holiday properties ( see picture of house and pool above) just sent me this lovely picture; for me it really conjures up memories of the wonderful clear blue of the summer sky on the French Riviera. The property is a nineteenth century Provençal farmhouse 2km from the centre of Grasse and the garden is a 3500m² oasis of calm with exotic and tender Mediterranean plants and a large private swimming pool. For more details of how to rent this house, click on C174A. And for plant enthusiasts, click on the regional guides on our website for ideas of fascinating French gardens to visit.

Pigeonnier holiday in peaceful Provence

P324D is a tastefully renovated pigeonnier for 4 people in a stunning location in the foothills of Haute Provence. It is part of a small private hamlet (consisting of an 18th century mill and a stone farmhouse) and there is a beautiful swimming pool which is shared with three other holiday properties and the French owners who occasionally occupy another cottage. We love the silence and the clear air here (it is claimed that this is the clearest sky in Europe, brilliant for star gazing, and the St Michel Observatory is situated just 20km away) – this one is strictly for lovers of the countryside. The owner takes a real pride in the sympathetic restoration of her properties, retaining the original features and carefully choosing colours and materials to create a warm atmosphere. The views are unbelievable; this is the perfect spot to get away from it all and completely relax. It’s ideal for walking or cycling, and the little village of Banon (which has food shops, a bookshop, a Tuesday market and a couple of restaurants) is only 4km away.

Holiday in St Rémy de Provence

Our September visit to the south of France included two properties new on our books for 2010:P349A is a holiday bungalow for 2 in a great position; it is an easy 500m walk from the centre of St Rémy, which is one of our favourite places to stay in Provence – there is so much to do and see in this area. It is famous for its unique light which inspired many of the paintings of Vincent van Gogh, and you can follow in his footsteps and pause awhile in places where he actually painted. This wonderful little town at the foot of the Alpilles mountains is a also a haven for lovers of history (visit the beautifull preserved remains of the ancient Roman town at Glanum) and gastronomy (St Rémy boasts an excellent range of restaurants, a lively market and a superb choice of really original food shops ( where else could you find coffee roasted on the premises, locally reared snails and an exceptional variety of cheeses presented as a work of art…? ) After exploring you can return to the peace and quiet of the little private terrace and garden at the bungalow, or enjoy a refreshing dip in the large shared pool.

The farmers' market at Pégomas

One of the highlights of my working year is a trip to the south of France, especially a stay in Pégomas. This was my sixth year of visiting, and I still get that little shiver of anticipation as I stroll down through the village to the farmers’ market before a hard day’s villa inspection! There is nothing like the morning air in the hills of southern France, and I never tire of the sounds and smells of a waking French village…. The market itself is a real treat for the senses with the aroma of fresh Provençal herbs, fruit and vegetables filling the air. Although the smell of warm bread, newly baked croissants and pastries from the artisan baker is difficult to resist, a scented sun-soaked peach and a plump fresh fig are my essential purchases to start my day. On the morning before our return to the UK I need to stock up on a hoard of French memories to tide me over until our next visit; Martine’s delicatessen counter is just the thing for rich locally made tapenades, delicious cheeses and mouthwatering saucissons. Not to mention the regional wines, fruit juices and liquers. No wonder I can hardly lift my suitcase on the return journey!

Garden apartment, sleeps 2, walk to Pégomas market, shops and restaurants

Old Antibes - recommended Italian restaurant

On Saturday evening Régine and her husband Pat ate out in the delightful old part of Antibes (le viel Antibes) in an Italian restaurant ‘Michelangelo’. During the Cannes Film Festival Régine had heard on a radio programme that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had been to Michelangelo for a pizza, so she was keen to see what the restaurant was like. She tells us that it is very nice; a warm atmosphere, chic surroundings for a pizzeria, attractive little round tables with pretty checked tablecloths. Very pleasant staff and delicious pizzas. The Italian wine is very good – and the desserts (tarte au citron, ice cream, tiramasu) are enormous! The walls are covered with a fascinating array of photos of the rich and famous who have dined here before – Régine recommends Michelangelo to anyone on holiday in the Côte d’Azur.

Holiday apartment in the centre of Old Antibes, sleeps 2, no need for a car!

The Côte d'Azur team

Here is the Côte d'Azur team - Susan Paradise, Régine (our local agent for the Côte d'Azur holiday villas)and Ghislaine taking a well-earned break at the Grill de la Mourachonne, newly open in Pégomas, near Grasse. This lovely sunny terrace is the ideal spot for a refreshing cup of tea or 'Diabolo Menthe' and a moment's relaxation in a busy schedule of villa inspections. We took the chance for a quick peek at the spacious dining room downstairs where evening meals are served -it looked very appealing.

Welcome

Welcome to 'Enjoy France!' This is the blog of Susan Paradise Ltd, a small independent agency for holiday villas in France. We have a real passion for France, and would like to share on our blog snippets on all things French, news from the other side of the channel, recommendations on places to go and things to do ....in fact anything we have found that would be of interest to our fellow Francophiles.


Are you looking for a family holiday by the beach in Brittany? Or a romantic break for two on the Côte d'Azur? A peaceful hideaway in rural Provence? You've come to the right place - visit our website http://www.susanparadise.co.uk/ for some fabulous holiday properties in Provence / Côte d'Azur and Brittany, or call us on 01395 597759 to discuss your holiday requirements.