A la prochaine! Saying Goodbye to a Long Hot Mediterranean Summer

As John Stark (Game of Thrones) would say, “Winter is coming!” Time to put away the sunglasses and swim suits. The days of lounging on warm Mediterranean beaches has ended for another year, and now begins another year of waiting for their return. Here is a short tribute in photos to my home away from home, a toast to another perfect summer on the Côte d’Azur.

It all starts with the water. The essential ingredient to the beauty and luxury of the French Riviera are the ever-present shades of blue, the buoyant waters, and the salt-filled air of the Mediterranean Sea.

Add Hundreds of People Searching for Beauty and Warmth. Nice is the second most visited city in France after Paris with around 5 million visitors each year. The beaches are dotted with colourful umbrellas and towels and happy people (no one seems to be having a bad day there).

Opéra Plage, my favorite private beach on the Baie des Anges, near the Old Town in Nice. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Coco Beach. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Something for Everyone. From sailing to swimming to strolling and lazing, the French Riviera has something to make everyone a little (or in my case, a lot) happier.

A wedding on the beach. Perfect! Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Peaceful & stunningly beautiful hiking trails. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Kids playing with joyful abandon! Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Hidden beaches. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

All That Jazz. Every city along the Côte d’Azur celebrates summer with their own spectacular jazz festival, from the Nice Jazz Festival to Jazz à Juan to Saint Jazz Cap Ferrat. What could be better than listening to world-class jazz on a warm summer evening in the South of France?

Ola Onabulé at the Saint Jazz Cap Ferrat Festival 2017. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

The best jazz fans are in France, Nice Jazz Festival 2017. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

A Sense of History All Around. Medieval villages with turreted castles and cobbled roofs begin to feel like the norm.

The historic village of Roquebrune. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

The castle in Roquebrune built in 970 by the Count of Ventimilla. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Got Art? You Betcha! From Picasso, Chagall, Matisse and Cocteau to hip new artists, the French Riviera has it all.

Musée Matisse in Nice. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Still Life Photography by Natacha Nikouline at an exposition at the Château de la Napoule. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Feasting on Fresh. The outdoor markets and speciality food shops, and dining al fresco, make everyday meals a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Restaurant/Bar at La Reserve in Nice. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

A beachside restaurant in lovely Menton. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

The Drink of the Gods. This year the shelves were lined with rosés of every shade of pink. So lovely! And so delicious! I tried as many as I could!

A Glass of Rosé. Photo: Mary Kay Seales

Not Adieu, but Au Revoir, A Bientôt, A la Prochaine! I’ll dream all year about my next swim, my next dish of moules frites, and another summer of life by the sea.

Beach at La Mala. Photo: Mary Kay Seales