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Antibes and the French Riviera: Vivre la belle vie
- Laurie Hull
- Feb 16
- 2 min read
I wanted to know what it would feel like to do something completely different for an extended time in another country. I have always wanted to learn a little French, so I committed to one month of language school in Antibes. I started at Level 0, débutant, and finished at Pre A1. Am I fluent? Not even close. I still struggle to blurt out simple sentences. But I learned a great deal, kept up in class, and challenged my brain in a way I have not in years. That alone feels like a win, and now I am motivated to continue. The class grounded me. It gave structure to my days and made me feel part of a community almost immediately. Every weekday morning began with coffee at my favorite café, followed by the bus ride to school and three hours of French. I loved the rhythm. Our professor, Mireille, taught entirely in French, acting out words and situations so we understood through context. Part teacher, part comedian, she kept us engaged. When we Americans slipped into English during breaks, she was visibly annoyed, which was entirely fair. The diversity of the class made the experience richer. A Russian student selling high end furniture to luxury hotels in Monte Carlo. A retired Chinese engineer now living in the UK who shared stories of growing up near Tibet. A young Swiss student proudly showing photos of his family’s lakeside home framed by mountains. All of it unfolding in broken French, gestures, laughter, and patience.
The final weeks shifted toward exploring the French Riviera. For my birthday I spent two nights in Villefranche sur Mer, right on the water. Breakfast on the balcony watching sunrise over the Mediterranean, fishing boats bobbing below. I wandered through nearby Beaulieu sur Mer and visited Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, surrounded by scenery that felt almost unreal. Pastel buildings, bus drivers greeting you with “bonjour madame,” and even ticket officers calm and courteous.
Villefranche-Sur-Mer
Eze
Took trains and wandered through opulent Monaco, explored Biot, and strolled Valbonne. Each town/city distinct, each layered with its own rhythm. This formula works for me: language school for grounding, travel for inspiration, structure in the mornings to include amazing sunrises with “Delfi”, exploration in the afternoons, and the Mediterranean at blue hour whenever possible. Antibes has been more than a destination. It has been an experience. I traveled everywhere by train and bus, efficient and inexpensive, though the hills and endless steps left my body on fire. Still, the experiences, people and beautiful views made every step worth it.
Monaco
Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino and Hotel Paris.
Valbonne
