We rented a stunning apartment in the tree lined boulevards of Cimiez, Nice, a one time favorite of the English aristocracy. This is clearly an affluent area it is littered with winter palaces now converted in to apartments. They made interesting viewing on our stroll to the bus stop! Mike and Malc were right at home!!!
We spent a week exploring what the beautiful Cote D’Azur had to offer and it certainly lived up to expectations.
Nice provided an excellent base with its miles of promenade perfect for biking, skating or in our case strolling! Unlike Italy, the private paying beaches (20 Euros per sunbed) were interspersed with plenty of free space (where we could set up camp and of course our very own boules court. It pains me to say it but Sgt Major Rainford came out champ and if there was a championship for gloating - he would have a gold medal!!!
We didn’t spend all of our time on the beach though, not when we had the celebrity studded resorts of St Tropez and Cannes on our doorstep. Our luck was out when it came to celb spotting (again) but we did manage a nosey at some spectacular boats (a bargain to charter at only 250,000 Euros per week) and a fabulous lunch amongst the yachting set overlooking the harbour.
The wonderfully elegant promenade at Cannes is lined with colonial buildings and designer shops that could make most women drool. That was probably the reason why Mike thought he was one of the Lambourghinis parked outside the Carlton and sped along it so fast I couldn’t get a look in! We did however manage to follow in the footsteps of many a famous movie star and walk along the red carpet in front of the Palais des festivals whilst trying out our hands in the imprints left outside!
Heading east we spent a peaceful day in the pretty fishing village of Villefranche. Its calm turquoise waters made a perfect spot for a dip followed by a stop in the shaded streets of the old town for some of the local beer.
No trip to the French Riviera would be complete without a visit to Monaco to try our luck in the famous Monte Carlo Casino. I’m not sure I have come across a quicker way to lose 100 Euros!! Having said that the experience was amazing. The building itself is absolutely stunning as is the neighbouring Hotel de Paris. (We popped in to use the toilet - it was much cheaper than buying a drink!!!). I cannot begin to imagine how much money was parked outside the casino on the night we visited. There are not many places where Ferraris, Mazarratis and bentleys could be considered common!
The week flew past - A sure sign that we all had a fabulous time!!!
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