South of France-The Side People Don't See

When people hear I went to "Sud de France" they automatically think I'm loaded to be able to travel to such places. Most of us know Monaco, Nice, Cannes & St. Tropez , once you've reached Marseilles you know you've gone too far but my vacation wasn't to those places it was to the real South of France.
We started our journey from Rhone Alpes at about 6a.m. and arrived by 11a.m. to Vias Plage( we had to wait for our friends to arrive that evening before we could drop off our stuff) midsummer and averaging 35oc fantastic. It was my first camping holiday and I loved it. We saved  so much money just camping and left us with a lot of green to have a crazy holiday or as the french say "profiter bien".
What we did and how we did it :

• Vias is amazing the beach is fantastic , water is so warm and there are a hell of a lot of companies who rent mini pedal boats 12eu got us one for an hour( an hour peddling is enough for me!) and had such fun actually being able to practise my diving .
• I like a drink and with all the beachfront bars I could indulge in a few cocktails "bounty bar" I'd reccommend.
• On the one overcast day we were booked to go jet skiiing . This was an experience to say the least( wore the wrong type of shorts and if anyones been on a jet ski you'll know that your derriere gets a bit of a beating, ouch) for 40mins and two people we paid 70eu which is reasonable.
• We took a day out and decided to go to Spain , why not eh? The journey took two hours and once we arrived, shopping shopping and more shopping! We ended up buying a ton of alcohol as it was more than reasonably priced . D&G Martini I think I  paid 9euros for that. Although fantastic shops,  I'd be careful a lot of vices can be found on the border so watch your money
• Cap d'Agde , we ate the most fantastic meal on the sea front beside the yacht's , I felt very bobo then (bourgois-bohemian). Also if you have a bit naturist in you they have a huge naturist village which I think can get as many as 40,000 people coming there in the summer months.
• The child in me tells me to put europark down here and what can I say they have rollercoasters, water amusements, casinos and a pretty cool bungee jump which gives you a great view of the park from above .

 

The one significant moment on my trip was an evening with my other-half where we went to the beach quite late, lit only be the moonlight;. It was coming up to our birthdays 6th august and 8th(me:) and I was given a love letter and a beautiful chain which says " tu as vole mon (heart)" So romantic ! The best part is always the unexpected and to our luck just a little further up the coast they began letting off fireworks. Never could I have expected such an amazing and in my opinion 5* holiday as I did "slumming it" :)

 

Best October Memory

About two years ago in Dublin I was staying at a friends place and a German girl who was staying there also  showed me this song. Such nostalgia for our bottles of 5.50eu Hardy's Chardonnay, making the best pasta ever and being quite hammered so forgetting the recipe :( Virginia I'll never forget the hilarious ad's you showed me as well ;-)

 

How To Charm a Room Of Strangers( The Professional Way)

So tonight is my first event since arriving in France and I couldn’t be more excited but I know nobody who’ll be there, many people would never go to a party where they knew nobody right? Well it’s a great way to gain friends and enjoy festivities. I will tell you anyone can go to party but not anyone can leave the party with new contacts and even new friends so here is my foolproof way to be the belle or the beau of the ball.

• You have to do a little research before these events, what kind of people will be attending, where is the venue and what is the ambiance. These are vital in preparing for your event you wouldn’t show up to some casual event in a tuxedo nor in a t-shirt and trainers to a gala so know where you’re going to first.
• Fashion is always important in my eyes. When I look my best, I feel my best and a little belief that you look sexy or suave is a great confidence boost, for me I know I feel best in proper slim-fit shirts( Gucci got me covered there) for example. Everyone has that wow effect outfit so why not wear it and trust me you’ll have complements galore.
• Once you arrive at the venue don’t walk straight in, go to the bathroom and do a once over so any flaw or any hair out-of-place can be put back order.
• Entrance is key to attracting people. Look up be confidant and have a focal point in the room( at this stage a lot of people become overwhelmed by crowds or stares)
• It always helps to have a beverage but don’t start downing it like you’ve been in a desert without water. Most of the time this step leads up to No.5
• Casual conversations mainly happen at the bar and there is ALWAYS someone there on their own whether they are getting drinks or avoiding people , this is a great opportunity to chat , come up with a theme, statement, compliament anything to get this person talking to you once you’ve started if you’re like me you can stop!
• I should have mentioned this step earlier but it really does help to know whats going on in the world so NEWS/NOVOSTI/NOUVELLE is a must know. It separates the people who have a little more going on upstairs and the ones who don’t .
• For me personally I have five themes I know quite a lot on be it art, music, culture or language these are vital when engaging in conversation they show character and depth.
• It always helps to have business cards even if you don’t have a business these are much more professional than whipping out a phone taking every number email and piece of info from your new acquaintances and for us lazy people they save time and energy.

So I hope these steps are worth taking into account and become useful to you. Before long it will be second nature, just make sure you remember the people you talk to well and most importantly keep contact they could turn out to be your new best friends.