There's nothing the editor of La Provence likes more than bashing rich foreigners. And the story becomes even spicier if there is a Hollywood star involved. Today the paper's headlines screamed of a gladiatorial battle being waged at the Oppede Mairie (last time I visited the only live thing I encountered was a cat, and that was so sleepy it might as well have been dead). The Hollywood star in question is Ridley Scott director of among other films Gladiator and Peter Mayle's A good year.
Anyway Ridley is upset that some locals have built a chicken coup at the bottom of his land, ruining his view and contravening local planning restrictions. He's hired some big swinging dick lawyers to sort the problem out. The offending locals can't of course afford lawyers and here's where La Provence comes in. Ridley is depicted as a typical second homer - knows nothing about the area, visits for one week a year, the type of person who couldn't tell a chinese truffle from a Provencal one.
It's all a bit of fun to liven up the quiet winter months. Speaking of truffles the season is about to officially open - prices are described as inflamed.
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