“The home should be the treasure chest of living.” Le Corbusier. We lived in an amazing city, Berlin, with its truly international, diverse history, architecture and challenging bureaucracy. We had a lovely apartment that felt as if it was in a treehouse and it had a gentle but fun energy. The colours were perfect with soft hues of sky blue, cafe latte and cream. But our hearts need to be near the sea in all seasons and I have a strong connection with the French culture. The South of France is an escape from the cold, grey Northern winters that seep in to your bones.
We wanted to find a small, affordable place where the sky is blue. We searched in various parts of France and even viewed Spain as an option and always with the following criteria:
- Direct flights, short journey with easy transport
- Near the sea or close by
- Warmer weather – particularly during winter
- Access to traditional and cultural events
- No need for renovation – been there, done that
- At least 1 bedroom and lots of light
- Some cafes and shops in easy walking distance
The Selection
Here is where the Feng Shui comes in – location first, apartment second. After visiting various villages, towns, small cities in Spain and France, we just couldn’t find the location that sang to us. Then we visited Fréjus late June as the sun was heating up and the tourists were appearing. It is a lovely mix of tradition, fun and near the sea. With the benefit of being close to the glamour of Cannes and Nice.
Having found our place, we needed to find our space. Looking at apartments, my practice is to go up to the entrance and pause, connect with my chi and walk in. It has to sing.
We had five apartments on our list after months of viewing websites. We found a wonderful, local agent who immediately grasped what we were looking for and is still taking us through the final processes. A sign of good energy. We visited the ‘wild ‘card’ first, a last minute find by the agent and we bought it. Since we bought the place, we have found a wonderful synchronicity between Fréjus and Antibes, meeting wonderful people and enjoying the culture and of course, the sea.
Update to 2019
We continue to love the Côte d’Azur and the culture and of course, the sea!
What made our hearts sing:
- Lounge views of a lovely market place
- Walking or easy transport distance to the beach
- Chic restaurant opposite – a cocktail or 2 in the future
- Wed and Sat morning French market
- Quiet at night
- Friendly people
And most importantly, we had found our place and space.
