life in south

Toulon: The hidden pearl

What is your impression about life in southern France? Is it the unexplainable summer feeling you have envisioned? Do you have a picture in your mind of narrow streets, lovely cafes, fresh baguette or croissant in the morning, market with all the varied local vegetables and fruit, lazy old men playing pétanque, beautiful beaches with palm trees and unforgettable sunsets? Yes, that is it. The bustling and - at the same time - lazy life in southern France, more precisely - in Toulon.

People don't really have an accurate image of this city. As I'm discovering more and more it's one of those cities that will surprise you. It is indeed like a hidden pearl. It's not only about adapting to the particular pace of southern life; it's about exploring the possibilities that this region offers. You can immerse yourself in all the extraordinary benefits of France. The simple pleasures - that’s what we cherish and remember with heartfelt feelings.

My life here in Toulon has been full of crazy events, people and bittersweet moments. The best part is taking time for the things you love most. Imagine a day like this. You wake up in the morning, go to a boulangerie to have a petit dejeuner, after which you dive into the market full of colours to buy some local fruit. You have a pleasant brunch sitting in a cafe on one of those little streets in the old town, reading a book or practicing French reading a magazine. The time is passing slow and you have all the day ahead of you to go to a beach, an island or climb up a mountain. You hop on a boat that will take you to a lovely area on a peninsula in just twenty minutes; the Mediterranean Sea is warm as milk and you can spend hours on the beach.

Chicag' Hostel Toulon

Hyères, nearby town

The evening is perfect to sit down with a glass of local wine and chat with the friends, while in the background there are noises of typical French conversations (hopefully not sensational dramas), scooters driving, kids merrying around and dinner forks and knives clinking from a nearby restaurant. A simple every day life though full of nuances that give you pleasure and the profound, soul-touching feeling of living in the moment.

Dive in and enjoy all of it - those will be the moments engraved in your heart.

july 2013