Perpignan is a city in southwest France at the foot of the Pyrenees, just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean. It has a population of around 120,000 people
Perpignan is a city in the southwest of France(Image: Getty)
If you’re looking to change your Eurosummer destination trip, or just go on a little holiday beyond the typical destinations, there’s one place that you must visit.
A stunning French city that’s “almost in Spain” offers the perfect alternative to Paris and Nice. Perpignan is a city in southwest France at the foot of the Pyrenees, just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean. It has a population of around 120,000 people.
Lonely Planet said that it “radiates out from the tight knot of the old town’s warren of alleys, palm-shaded squares and shabby tenements painted in shades of lemon, peach and tangerine”.
Being somewhat more tucked away, the city attracts far fewer tourists than France’s other cities like Paris and Nice, but delivers more Franco-Spanish coastal charm. It sits just 35km from the Spanish border but was considered the centre of the world by artist Salvador Dali. The Spanish surrealist said the city’s train station made him feel a “cosmogonic ecstasy”, reports the Express.
Perpignan’s main attractions include the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, which was built in the 1200s as the mainland castle for the monarchs of the nearby Spanish island. The tower offers the best views in the city.
Other spots on tourist’s to-see lists should be the Cathedral St Jean Baptiste, built through the 1400s with stained glass windows and a Moorish organ, and the Castillet, the city gate built during the 1300s.
There are also a number of art museums and galleries including Hotel Pams, an art nouveau gem that was once a cigarette paper factory, and Musée d’Art Hyacinthe Rigaud, a fine art museum with the baroque style and locally-inspired collections.
Just a short 13km journey from Perpignan, you’ll find the coast, boasting golden sands and azure seas at numerous beaches, as well as charming seaside resorts and towns.
Also within reach are the Pyrenees, the majestic mountain range straddling the France-Spain border. It’s a favourite spot for walkers and cyclists, offering a plethora of routes to explore, including its highest peak, Pico de Aneto. The range is also home to stunning cliffs, lush forests and cascading waterfalls.
For those keen on visiting Perpignan, it’s accessible via train from Paris or by plane from Stansted, Birmingham, Dublin and Leeds. There’s no shortage of accommodation options in the city and its surrounding areas.
When my father was crossing the U.S.-Mexico border like an undocumented Road Runner back in the 1970s, la migra caught him more than a few times.
They chased him and his friends through factories in Los Angeles and across the hills that separate Tijuana and San Diego. He was tackled and handcuffed and hauled off in cars, trucks and vans. Sometimes, Papi and his pals were dropped off at the border checkpoint in San Ysidro and ordered to walk back into Mexico. Other times, he was packed into grimy cells with other men.
But there was no anger or terror in his voice when I asked him recently how la migra treated him whenever they’d catch him.
“Like humans,” he said. “They had a job to do, and they knew why we mojados were coming here, so they knew they would see us again. So why make it difficult for both of us?”
His most vivid memory was the time a guard in El Centro gave him extra food because he thought my dad was a bit too skinny.
There’s never a pretty way to deport someone. But there’s always a less indecent, a less callous, a less ugly way.
The Trump presidency has amply proven he has no interest in skirting meanness and cruelty.
“The way they treat immigrants now is a disgrace,” Papi said. “Like animals. It’s sad. It’s ugly. It needs to stop.”
I talked to him a few days after a gunman fired on a Dallas ICE facility, killing a detainee and striking two others before killing himself. One of the other wounded detainees, an immigrant from Mexico, died days later. Instead of expressing sympathy for the deceased, the Trump administration initially offered one giant shrug. What passed for empathy was Vice President JD Vance telling reporters, “Look, just because we don’t support illegal aliens, we don’t want them to be executed by violent assassins engaged in political violence” while blaming the attack on Democrats.
It was up to Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem to try and show that the federal government has a heart. Her statement on the Dallas attack offered “prayers” to the victims and their families but quickly pivoted to what she felt was the real tragedy.
How ungrateful critics are of la migra.
“For months, we’ve been warning politicians and the media to tone down their rhetoric about ICE law enforcement before someone was killed,” Noem said. “This shooting must serve as a wake-up call to the far-left that their rhetoric about ICE has consequences…The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”
You might have been forgiven for not realizing from such a statement that the three people punctured by a gunman’s bullets were immigrants.
This administration is never going to roll out the welcome mat for illegal immigrants. But the least they can do it deal with them as if … well, as if they are human.
Under Noem’s leadership, DHS’ social media campaign has instead produced videos that call undocumented immigrants “the worst of the worst” and depict immigration agents as heroes called by God to confront invading hordes. A recent one even used the theme song to the cartoon version of the Pokémon trading card game — tagline “Gotta catch them all” — to imply going after the mango guy and tamale lady is no different than capturing fictional monsters.
That’s one step away from “The Eternal Jew,” the infamous Nazi propaganda movie that compared Jews to rats and argued they needed to be eradicated.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) as prisoners stand, looking out from a cell, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in March.
(Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Noem is correct when she said that words have consequences — but the “violence and dehumanization” she decries against ICE workers is nothing compared to the cascade of hate spewing from Trump and his goons against immigrants. That rot in the top has infested all parts of American government, leading to officials trying to outdo themselves over who can show the most fealty to Trump by being nastiest to people.
If there were a Cruelty Olympics, Trump’s sycophants would all be elbowing each other for the gold.
Politicians in red states propose repulsive names for their immigration detention facility — “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, for instance, or “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana. U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, Trump’s top prosecutor in Southern California, has trumpeted the arrests of activists he claimed attacked federal agents even as video uploaded by civilians offers a different story. In a recent case, a federal jury acquitted Brayan Ramos-Brito of misdemeanor assault charges after evidence shown in court contradicted what Border Patrol agents had reported to justify his prosecution.
Our nation’s deportation Leviathan is so imperious that an ICE agent, face contorted with anger, outside a New York immigration court recently shoved an Ecuadorian woman pleading for her husband down to the ground, stood over her and wagged his finger in front of her bawling children even as cameras recorded the terrible scene. The move was so egregious that Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughin quickly put out a statement claiming the incident was “unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE.”
The act was so outrageous and it was all caught on camera, so what choice did she have? Nevertheless, CBS News reported that the agent is back on duty.
Noem and her crew are so high on their holy war that they don’t realize they’re their own worst enemy. La migra didn’t face the same public acrimony during Barack Obama’s first term, when deportation rates were so high immigration activists dubbed him the “deporter-in-chief.” They didn’t need local law enforcement to fend off angry crowds every time they conducted a raid in Trump’s first term.
The difference now is that cruelty seems like an absolute mandate, so forgive those of us who aren’t throwing roses at ICE when they march into our neighborhoods and haul off our loved ones. And it seems more folks are souring on Trump’s deportation plans. A June Gallup poll found that 79% of Americans said immigration was “a good thing” — a 15% increase since last year and the highest mark recorded by Gallup since it started asking the question in 2001. Meanwhile, a Washington Post/Ipsos September poll showed 44% of adults surveyed approved of Trump’s performance on immigration — a six-point drop since February.
I asked my dad how he thought the government should treat deportees. Our family has personally known Border Patrol agents.
“Well, most of them shouldn’t be deported in the first place,” he said. “If they want to work or already have families here, let them stay but say they need to behave well or they have to leave.”
That’s probably not going to happen, so what should the government do?
“Don’t yell at people,” my dad said. “Talk with patience. Feed immigrants well, give them clean clothes and give them privacy when they have to use the bathroom. Say, ‘sorry we have to do all this, but it’s what Trump wants.’
“And then they should apologize,” Papi concluded. “ They should tell everyone, ’We’re sorry we’ve been so mean. We can do better.’”
PETER Andre has said he isn’t perfect amid his ongoing fallout with ex wife Katie Price.
The 52-year-old addressed his ‘nice guy’ image in a new interview, admitting “everyone makes mistakes”.
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Peter Andre has addressed his ‘nice guy’ imageCredit: Getty
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Things recenlty reached boiling point with his ex wife KatieCredit: Getty
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Pete with wife Emily and children Princess and Junior – who he shares with KatieCredit: Getty
The singer, who refused to speak directly about Katie for ‘legal reasons’, told The Telegraph: “’Well, look, nobody’s perfect. No-one’s perfect in this world. Everyone makes mistakes. But you get the measure of me by meeting me.
“You’ll either think I’m too talkative and annoying, or you’ll think, “he’s alright, he’s harmless.”
He added: “But over a period of time you build a picture of someone, it’s about consistency.”
His comments come just a few weeks after he publicly spoke out about his ex wife for the first time in 16 years.
Pete and Katie have been devoted parents to kids Junior, 20, and Princess, 18, since their split in 2009 but the former glamour model has taken every opportunity to slam her ex.
In her podcast, she claimed she had been frozen out of her daughter Princess‘s blossoming career, which includes glam photoshoots, brand deals, and a new ITV reality show titled The Princess Diaries.
Revealing plans to take legal action, Peter said: “Unfortunately, there are many more lies and baseless accusations that I have yet to address. Those will be dealt with in the coming months.”
Princess Andre breaks silence on Peter and Katie’s bitter feud after his blistering statement
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Pete and Katie have failed to see eye to eye since their splitCredit: Getty
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Pete with the three children he shares with wife EmilyCredit: Instagram
Its clear and tranquil waters are hard to beat, and I’ve struggled to find a beach that’s as pretty as this ever since I visited
I visited a lesser-known beach on the French Riviera that’s better than Nice(Image: Balate Dorin via Getty Images)
France has no shortage of beautiful beaches that draw in thousands of visitors each year, and while some are still relatively unknown, Nice is no stranger to tourists thanks to its location as the capital of the French Riviera.
While there are plenty of dupes for the French Riviera, there’s nothing quite like seeing the real thing, and a few years ago I decided to do just that. Attracting an estimated five million visitors each year, although I found the pebbled beaches in Nice fairly charming, it didn’t make for a relaxed seaside getaway. Fortunately, there are plenty of tranquil towns along the French coastline, and one of them is home to the prettiest beach I’ve ever seen.
Often hailed as the Jewel of the French Riviera, Villefranche-sur-Mer is a mere 15 minutes from Nice and a welcome break from the crowds of tourists you can expect to see in the capital during the peak summer season, myself included.
Arriving with little more than a freshly-baked baguette and a towel in my bag, lounging on the beach here was exactly what I’d hoped for from my trip the South of France — a laidback seaside with a touch of old-school charm.
Sheltered by dramatic cliffs adorned with pastel-hued homes gazing out over the azure waters, stepping off the train and glimpsing the shoreline felt like picking up a postcard.
The charming town houses roughly 5,000 year-round inhabitants and is often considered one of the region’s most beautiful, reports the Express.
Villefranche sur Mer is often described as the Jewel of the French Riviera(Image: Yann Guichaoua-Photos via Getty Images)
Though it was high season and busy with other sun-seekers, the charming bay known as Plage des Marinières never seemed excessively crowded either, and there’s a peaceful atmosphere to the beach.
Comprising rough sand mixed with tiny stones, it also proved to be a slightly more comfortable experience than lounging on Nice’s 10km stretch of coastline.
Charming bistros and eateries dot the seafront, and while I’d brought my own provisions due to travelling on a budget, which is, in fact, doable along the glamorous French Riviera, it ensures that grabbing refreshments won’t prove problematic for day-trippers.
Though my visit lasted just one day, it’s certainly deserving of an overnight break or even several days, particularly for those seeking somewhere slightly more easy-going than Nice.
Speaking of her own visit, Louise Scott who runs the blog All Things French said: “Discover charming architecture, worn shutters, wrought-ironwork, and colour everywhere. A few shops, weekly brocante and food markets, and a terrific variety of beautiful restaurants and bistros makes relaxing for a week (or a month) in this place an absolute joy!”
The charming town is home to just 5,000 residents(Image: Elizabeth Beard via Getty Images)
Catching the train is incredibly straightforward, and while I can’t recall the exact fare when I visited, a quick glance at Trainline revealed that a one-way ticket today costs just £3.
However, a word of caution — in all my travels to beaches around the world since, I’ve yet to discover one as charming as Villefranche-sur-Mer, complete with its slightly rugged landscape and peaceful shore.
Indeed, I’d even venture to say that the South of France boasts some of the world’s most stunning beaches, and while it’s renowned as a posh destination, it’s certainly achievable on a budget if you’re merely seeking a relaxed beach holiday.
While Nice is certainly worth a trip, I’d highly recommend using it as a base to explore the less-visited beaches nearby.
The message was loud and clear when Netflix‘s Korean thriller “Squid Game” arrived in 2021. Imagining wealth and class disparity at the heart of a high-stakes competition, it featured cash-strapped contestants playing a series of children’s games to the death while uber-wealthy spectators bet on their odds of survival. The show’s masked elites watched the carnage from a luxe, concealed spectator box, chomping on cigars and chortling as player after player met a gruesome death. The Korean-language show became the streamer’s most watched series ever.
Comeuppance for the hideously affluent seemed imminent and likely at the hands of protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae). The winner of Season 1’s “Squid Game” deserved vengeance after surviving a series of horrific scenarios — a hopscotch-type match played on a fragile glass bridge above a deadly chasm, a red light-green light contest where players who moved at the wrong time were “eliminated” by machine gun fire. He watched as good people were killed by pink guards, other contestants and their own stupid actions.
But no. The last six “Squid Game” episodes, now streaming on Netflix, did something entirely unsatisfying. They veered from the prospect of timely, eat-the-rich vengeance porn to unflattering commentary about the rest of us, the other 99% who aren’t Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos. What did we ever do to deserve a lethal game of double dutch with two giant mechanical children swinging a 10-ton metal rod in place of a jump rope? A lot, apparently.
“Squid Game” shows that under the right circumstances, regular folks are just as greedy and morally corrupt as the obscenely prosperous, no matter if their money problems stem from unforeseen medical bills, wanton gambling or generational poverty. Press the little guy or gal hard enough and they’re just as ruthless as the mogul that’s suppressing them.
The VIPs in “Squid Game” Season 3, who watch as the contestants trample one another.
(Dong-won Han / NohJu Han / Netflix)
Season 3 picks up exactly where 2 left off. Gi-hun, who’d found his way back in the clandestine gaming complex (situated inside a mountain on a remote island), is Player 456 again among a new round of contestants. He’d planned to infiltrate the operation from inside, staging a coup against the VIPs and Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) who run the games. But now it’s clear he’s failed. He’s cornered by guards, the players who fought alongside him are dead, and he’s thrown back in with the remaining players, many of whom survived because they’re the most craven of the group.
Free and fair elections are at the heart of every democracy, or so “Squid Game” reminds us each time the bedraggled players are asked for their vote regarding the next round: Continue to compete and thin the herd for a larger reward or stop and split their winnings with their fellow contestants? Majority rules, and each time the group opt to sacrifice their lives — and everyone else’s — in pursuit of money. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has spoken about his dwindling faith in humanity as it relates to his concerns about South Korea’s democracy, and you’ll hear him loud and clear in Season 3: Voting is power, but look what happens when the population increasingly puts its own self-interest above that of the greater good. It’s a scenario that should be recognizable to Americans by now.
“Squid Game” Season 3 takes that idea to the extreme, and quite fearlessly, Hwang puts the series to bed without punishing the rich. Instead he dares to lay bare a truth that’s become all too apparent of late: Wealth wins over morality and money trumps accountability. Nice guys not only finish last, they wind up pulverized like everyone else below a certain tax bracket, no matter their dedication toward humanity.
The Korean show’s run has ended, but not before a finale that alludes to a Hollywood sequel. The episode, set in Los Angeles, shows a familiar scene. A down-and-out man is approached by a mysterious, well-dressed figure who uses a simple kid’s game to test his want of money against his tolerance for pain and humiliation.
Those who’ve watched “Squid Game” will recognize it as the beginning of Gi-hun’s journey, which ended with a sliver of redemption in an abyss of darkness. The mysterious figure appears to be a recruiter for a new, English-language “Squid Game.” She’s played by an A-list celebrity — Cate Blanchett — operating in a city renowned for its self-involvement and privilege. “Squid Game” has a whole new playing field.
He is two places and 16 points behind Leclerc in the championship.
But Russell said that critics of the time it is taking Hamilton to adapt to Ferrari were “underestimating how difficult Formula 1 is”.
“Sometimes you can just jump in and it clicks, and it’s straightforward,” Russell said. “Other times, it doesn’t click.
“The second seat at Red Bull (alongside Max Verstappen), why has that never worked out? It’s because Formula 1’s bloody difficult.
“You know, you’re going up against the best drivers in the world and Charles is one of the best in the world, in a team that he’s been for his whole career, in a car that he knows exactly how to get the most out of.”
Russell also said that the quality of Leclerc’s driving this season should not be underestimated in any assessment of Hamilton.
“Charles has also gone a bit under the radar this year,” Russell said. “He’s having an immense season. He had a strong race in China with a broken front wing. He had a super-strong race in Bahrain and arguably the safety car stopped him from beating me. He could have had three podiums this season.
“Charles has been doing a mega job and you’d also be questioning Charles if a driver comes in and is on his pace straight away.”
Russell added that Hamilton getting back to his best was “all psychology – it’s not about working harder. It’s about your mental state. If you’re not happy, it’s difficult to drive quick as well.”
Hamilton’s struggles have led some to question whether he is past his best.
He struggled against Russell in qualifying last year, too, losing the head-to-head battle 19 times to five at an average advantage over the season of 0.171 seconds. They won two races each and Russell finished a place and 22 points ahead in the championship.
In their first two seasons together, the pair were separated by mere hundredths of a second on average in qualifying, Russell finishing ahead in the championship in 2022 and Hamilton in 2023.
