Villefranche sur Mer is a gem in the Cote d'Azur. It's a small beach village with a small low key lane of shops, one boulangerie, one tabac store and many harbor restaurants. It feels relaxing and it's beautiful and quiet. I am so excited to be based out of here. I love that even in these beach villages, you feel the French culture. I can never spend the amount of time as I have here in a place like Cabo .. no culture.. I'd get bored. Villefranche is also a very convenient bus ride away from the likes of Nice and Monaco... all buses in this region cost 1 euro!
I did a day trip to Nice and felt immediately validated by my decision to base out of Villefranche. Nice is beautiful too but different. It's big, glitzy, glamorous and definitely a lot more touristy with the promenade of beach vendors ready to help you to a beach chair and umbrella for 20 euros. Old Nice reminds me much of Italy ... it's predominate color of buildings is this vintage old mustard color. Fitting, I think.
During one of the non beach weather days, I also ventured out to Monaco. While Monaco is in the country of France, it isn,t really a part of the country of France. It's Monaco of Monaco with it's own Prince and Palace. The wide and curvy roads of this fun place is made for the Grand Prix (Monaco- google for photos) and while I am not into car racing, the Grand Prix Monaco would be fun to watch here!! The Monte Carlo casino here makes the casinos in Vegas seem like a poor copy. In fact, Vegas should be embarrassed, IMHO. The feel of the Monte Carlo here is so much more authentic ... the people... definitely classier... dressed classier... there's culture.. not a feel of trashy at all! A glacier (ice cream) here is 3.90 euro vs Villefranche at 2.50. Nice is 2.90.
After Monaco, I detoured to this hillside village called Eze Village Mer. Nothing to write about really... not worth a visit but now I know! I did see a bunch of Liquigas riders out .. they looked way too pro to be posers. The bus ride back from Eze however was quite adventurous. The driver door was broken so imagine... windy roads, rain, slick wet roads and driver is driving with one hand as the other is trying to fix the latch on the door. Two bus transfers later and I am back safe and sound.
I've been here in the South of France for 5 days now and am so sad to leave tomorrow. A few things I've observed here on the Cote d'Azur... the French are very creative in the way thet change with a towel. I've learned a thing or two. The speeds at which folks know how to clear out a beach when it rains impresses me. There is no ryhme or reason as to when the tide comes in.. one day it's at 3:15...another it doesn't even show up.. oh but yesterday... it started to hit the sea wall from the get go. My book and sarong was soaked so spent most of the day on the sea wall with much company...improvise!Being at a small place like this for that amount of time, you start to make connections with familiar faces and I will miss those. The French grandma who shows up at the beach at 9:30 sharp with her chair and umbrella. Her posse comes later. At 10:20, this Italian Stallion as I refer to him shows up in his rainbow speedo... he and I usually tries to see who can stay the longest. The waiter at Les Palmiers... Bonjour Madame as I go there for my morning hot chocolat and usual dinner spot. Did I mention how sad I am to leave this place?
On to Paris and the last leg of my France experience tomorrow!
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