Postcards from Provence and beyond

I will start with a very simple admission. I love Mimosa.

Not the orange juice and champagne version, although I won’t turn one away if it’s offered; but the bright yellow pompoms of the mimosa trees that herald the start of Spring, in the hills of the Cote D’Azur.

There is something simply joyous about the golden blooms that start to appear in the markets around us, in late December, or early January. It’s as if much needed sunshine is for sale, and a simple bunch, in a jug or vase at home, is enough to lift my spirits, in the depths of winter, when everything else is shades of grey and sepia.

Each year (since moving here), we try to pop down to Nice or Menton, at the end of February for our wedding anniversary. Thirty-seven years ago, we were mad enough to think that February would be a good month to walk down the aisle, but it is only since living in  Provence that we have really been able to enjoy it.

We didn’t realise at the time, but we managed to time our wedding, to fit in with the Fete du Citron, ( read more about that here ) at Menton; the incredible Carnaval at Nice, ( read about that event here ) and to land in the height of Mimosa season too.

Over the last few years, we have enjoyed spending days around our anniversary, on the Cote D’Azur, walking, cycling and seeing the spectacular parades of both these events.

All too often, I have finished watching the Bataille De Fleurs at Nice Carnaval with arms ful of mimosa blooms, thrown from the floats, as they are dismantled during the parade. And the scent lingers in my nostrils, long after we have returned home.

So you can imagine my joy today, when we took a little detour off the autoroute, to take a walk along the Sentier de Grand Duc, through the mimosa forest, high in the hills above Cannes.

We had spotted the path, when we were at Antibes, for my birthday in January (honestly, you would think that we could have planned some celebration outside winter – but no) –  the trees were just starting to turn yellow and then the rain started, which turned into the wettest 24 hours ever recorded in Antibes, so the walk would have to wait.

Today was the day, we had been waiting for, and with blue skies and delighfully warm sunshine, we drove up the sinewy road from Mandelieu-La-Napoule towards Tanneron  finding a place to park, near the upper entrance to the walking trail.

As soon as we got out of the car, we were hit by the scent of the trees that were in bloom, all around us. It was heady, honey-scented heaven, with the air filled with the gentle hum from the bees busy at work in the flowers.

We then took a walk along the well-made tracks that led through the woodland.

It was everything that I hoped it would be, and the sight of the flowers against the beautiful blue sky made my heart sing, as was wandered along.

Within a very short time, it felt as if the memories of the grey, wet days of the last few weeks had been crammed into a box in the furthest corner of my brain, allowing me to smile again.

It is a beautiful place to walk, with well-marked trails, some wide and easy to walk…

And others that head up steep banks through the heart of the forest, where the trees arched above us, and the path was covered in the fallen flowers.

There are also beautiful views across to Cannes, with the Mediterranean sparking below us

And to the Alps, with their snow-caps a stark white, against the blue sky.

It was such a delightful walk, and we could have spent much longer there, but had arrived at lunchtime, without any lunch, so hunger dragged us away.

You can watch a little video from the walk here

It was a perfect way to break the journey to the coast, where we’ll spend some time doing some of our favourite walks.

It’s such a glorious time of year to visit the Cote D’Azur, with a real sense that Spring is on its way, the colours of the new flowers brightening the landscape.

We may not be watching any of the parades at either the Fete du Citron, or the Carnaval de Nice this year, but the walks we have planned will fill the days with colour and we will simply enjoy the eight of these first shoots of Spring,

Although today will be hard to beat!