The playground of the rich and famous!

...the Côte d’Azur!

It was an entire day’s ride to get to the French Riviera – but it was pretty. Italian countryside, that became Italian coastline...have not seen blue blue oceans in yonks!
Eventually we say Ciao to Italia and Bonjour to the Côte d’Azur ...still driving along the coast and getting our first glimpse of Monaco!

Thirty people a year are allowed to apply to become citizens – only costing $1 000 000.00 – and this does not guarantee that they will get citizenship. I can’t recall which famous celebs are citizens of Monaco – no tax here! But I do remember that Michael Jackson applied and was rejected!

The decadence of Monaco is INSANE! When the grand prix is on the one hotel (forget the name) is booked out – at only 8000.00 euro per night.

Drive through small towns and then we hit Nice.

Check in – bit of a hiccup here. I’d booked 8 bed mixed dorm, was put in 10 bed - and wasn’t very happy at all, no lockers or anything – just didn’t work for me! They expected payment upfront – in cash! Silly people, so I wander off to find an ATM, get back ask for a receipt...and then I was asked how my room was, I told the manager person I was expecting an 8 bed dorm as that was what I booked...he was like he could move me to a 6 bed. I accepted on the spot – no difference in cost! Much better room – and it had lockers underneath the beds!

I don’t like hostels without lockers...but other than that minor issue, it’s a decent enough place. I’d rate it better than the hostel in Siena for sure!

Opted out of the group dinner this time – and was glad I did. I didn’t like the menu options anyway – wasn’t in the mood for pork.

And guess what, they ate at an Irish Pub whilst along the French Riviera! And I only know this because there was supposed to be a walking tour to orientate us before hand – but it was just a walk to the restaurant.

Of the people I met in Florence also came to Siena, so had dinner with them at a French restaurant near the markets (or at least where the markets are during the day). That was good food – three course meal and of course I was stuffed by the end of it. Really need to stop with the three course thing – my waistline and my budget won’t be happy with me if I continue this way!

Had to have gelati – from a place with 96! Flavours – things like tomato and basil and thyme flavours! I had rhubarb, lavender and walnut – was good; the lavender surprisingly so.

First full day in Nice –and I day tripped Cannes. Walked the promenade and then I lay on the beach catching some rays and a much needed tan! Months of iffy sun in the UK I revelled in the sunshine of the French Riviera! I was surprised at how time flew when I decided to head back it was early evening; I couldn’t believe how long I just lay on the beach and chilled for. A welcome change from all the walking I’d been doing.







Another French meal – grilled swordfish and veggies – was so good!

Friday - cruise to St Tropez with a stop in Port Grimaud before hand - it's called 'Little Venice' I guess because of all the bridges but other than that - uh, not like Venice at all!

The boat we were on supplied free drinks...a potent Captain's rum punch, beer, wine and soft drinks...

Heard gossip about all the stars in who presently live, or have lived in the area. In Millionaire's Bay we were shown Bridget Bardot's house, Mohammed Al Fayed's house ( Dodi's dad) and this house with a green dome where apparently uhm, adult films, are made.

Who knows how much of what we were told was true...but it was a pleasant cruise and St Tropez is a quaint town (when all the tourists disappear - yay for not being there in peak season!). The sun was just starting to set when we cruised back...and it was just beautiful!



Saturday wanted to go to Monaco but the trains (well staff) were on strike. Not sure why; so there went that idea.

Nice it was instead – a walk up the one end of the Promenade where an old castle stood gave a beautiful aerial view of Nice – new town, old town, beach front. Walked along the promenade afterwards and then lay on the pebble (and very eina) beach of Nice! Many people have straw mats and some have the inflatable pool floats – great idea!

But with a beach towel and correct positioning you can get comfortable :p Swimming is another story – when the tide pulls you in, you sink...in rocks! And it is quite sore – unless of course you could be bothered to get past the pain, and wade deeper – or wear shoes (although some people – kids mostly where playing in the water).

Catching rays is awesome...and this time ‘round you can see I got a tan (surprisingly had no tan lines from lying on the beach in Cannes; I guess the regular application of Spf 50 sunscreen works!)

There are of course topless bathers – the beach is perve central for men not used to seeing topless women bathers! And even men...wearing speedos but having paunches – wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!

Nobody cares, everyone lets it all hang out – flab, paunches everything.

Dinner and a wee night time walk around Nice and along the beach front – lovely evening.



Sunday and off to Monaco. Great views, all along the coastline and plenty of uphills! Saw the changing of the guards at 11.55 – nothing overly exciting really, tourists are funny people though (and yes, I know I am one :p )

Was going to attempt walking to Monte Carlo Casino, but the heat, and the fact that I was going to have climb downhill and uphill made the decision to use the bus easy!



Pricey, beautiful cars everywhere, but alas no famous folk.

Then it was back to Nice – after waiting for an hour due to train delays...repack and then an early start tomorrow...to return to Italia!