Last day in Menton 2012

Today is the last day of this wonderful vacation in Menton. we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the patio, with the delicious croissants given to us yesterday. We. Then we ran along the Porte de Menton enjoying the sounds and the scenery. The temperature was 28degrees today and many people were on the beach. We saw little dogs panting and running around, little kids playing soccer with their grandparents, and couples sitting in beach cages, sipping rose. We cooled of half way through our run, by walking along the beach and splashing in the sea. The water is still quite cool.

We then walked up our 227 steps and passed out on the patio. Since we are not buying food anymore, we had(!!!!!!)to go out for lunch. Down again those blessed 227steps we went, hungry and ready for a great meal. We found a beach restaurant and sat under a canopy. Peter had the salade nicoise and I had a bowl of ice cream. We watched people just lying on the beach, two little boys forever throwing rocks into the sea, and little dogs just running around and having fun.

Finally, it was time to return to our apartment to pack our bags.Tonight, we ate at this charming restaurant downtown. We both had delicious salmon. We are now ready to board a plane in the morning.While we hate to leave, I think that we are now ready to return home to the rock. I can't wait to be closer to our boys , to see Sam and Maggie, and to get back to routine. thanks for reading...Bridget

Day on the beach

Today was the warmest day here in Menton so far. It was 25degrees, no wind, and not a cloud in the sky. The sea was crystal blue with a gentle surf. We ate our breakfast on the patio at 11am, drank our tea and coffee and planned our day. Hmmmmmm! How about a picnic on the Menton beach that extends along the harbor front. With cheese and bread in hand, we made baquette sandwiches, a punch of orangina, lemonade and white wine, we headed down to the beach.

Of course, with our holiday 'efficient' schedule, we reached the beach at 2:30pm. There were little kids playing in the Mediterranean,people swimming, couples playing cards.....the atmosphere was wonderful. We put out our beach towels, one Tweety, the other snakes and Ladders and ate our lunch. The water was very clean but ? Cold. Our lunch was fabulous especially with the punch!

We decided to return back to the apartment....rough day!!!!Before we headed up our 227 steps, we stopped at the local pizza shop and bought pizza, a fresh baguette, and was given 2 croissants.

Well, that was wonderful. Arriving back at the apartment, we sat out on our shaded patio, and read .Tonight, we watched 2 Madmen episodes,that were great. Tomorrow is our last day here.

Au revoir

Isole 2000

Monday, we decided to tour a ski lodge here. Armed with our knowledgeable, quiet, and trusty GPS, we left Menton and headed to the mountains. The A8 is the main connector highway and we were quickly transported to the valleys of the French Alps, within 30 minutes. Soon, we were at the base of these rock faces and behind a big bus. The speed limit was 70 kms and cars were passing each other. Soon, we came to the base of a peak and we zigzagged up 20 60degree turns until we. Finally reached Isola 2000. The season is basically over, but there were still skiers enjoying the spring conditions. We sat outside on a restaurant patio, enjoying the sun and the view. The mountains were spectacular...pictures to follow.

Driving back was a lot easier, and we were soon back in Menton. We picked up a baguette and lounged on the patio for the rest of the day.....A Demain.

the IPad decided to post without consulting me!!!!! We stopped at a restaurant, perched outside on a Mediterranean beach. Peter ordered a glass of white wine and I had a rose. I watched the sea and the waves. Peter watched thePosches, Ferraris, and one Maserati . We then picked up fresh baguettes, and headed back up 227 stairs back to our apartment for a nice relaxing supper. I am really enjoying this pace of life!

While inNice, yesterday, the girl in the bunny costume,was the bride to be. She was enjoying her stag and she was accompanied by several girlfriends. They were walking on the main promenade in Nice. She and her group singled out Peter to wish her Bon chance. This seems to be a custom here. 2 years ago, we were in Saintes, in NW France, and eating at a restaurant in the town square. A similar group of females approached our table and asked Peter also to wish the bride to be "bonchance". Maybe, he is hot, or just maybe he looks like a safe elderly man.I don't

Know!!!!!

our time is here is getting quite short, so tomorrow we are heading out for our last 2012 Med adventure. I will keep you posted. A Demain!!!!!

Guess what we are doing! No, close, yes!!!!We are watching Wheeler Dealers. A 2004 BMW,bought for $4500.00,is being fixed up. it has a broken gearbox and needs to be replaced.Theyhopeto sell for a little profit, usually in the $1000.00 range. Earlier tonight, they fixed up this 1985 Ferrari....I'm scaring myself.

Did I mention that we walk up 227 large stonestepsback up to our apartment from the main road.

I would complain, except locals, in their 80's can do it. Well, we had rain today, all ten drops.

The water was still and sailboats and yachts were just hanging out. lots of people were out walking and sitting on the beach .We walked again to theoldvillage of Menton, once we had read our newspapers. The little streets just weave all through the old villages. Many of the ten story old houses are a golden stucco. there are flowers everywhere, cascading down walls, woven through shutters, and decorating stone steps. Some of the paths are just footpaths, and the roads between houses are single car only. There were two large churches in the middle of all of the crammed houses.

Eventually, we ended up in the town square, where there was lots of activity. people eating in outdoor cafes

Sorry, I did not blog yesterday, because basically we did nothing. We had a strenuous 30 minute run, against strong sea winds...there were actually surfers in the Harbour yesterday. once we had climbed the thirty stairs back to our apartment, we decided to blob on our patio.We have a little lizard that visits us. at 4pm, we drove to the grocery store and bought a quiche for supper( a much more simpler meal than the night before). there is a lovely main series of streets in Menton, that are pedestrian only. Parents are sitting while little kids run around. Dogs walk with their owners and sometimes snarl at each other. There is an old carousel in the square that is still functional and young and old alike ride the horses. as well, around 7pm, restaurant owners stand in front of their restaurants trying to entice the hungry pedestrian. marvellous!!!!!!

I forgot to discuss the historical features of the Hotel Ezra that we stayed in 2 nights ago. the village of Eze was founded in the 8th century. It is a walled village atop of a rocky point, 1400 ft above the Mediterranean Sea. This little village has been attacked multiple times, finally by Louis XIV at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1920,the prince William of Sweden visited Eze. he bought Chateau Eza and lived there for 3decades, and even governed Sweden from the chateau. This chateau has now become the hotel that we stayed in.

Today, we decided to return to Nice. It was a beautiful, sunny day, around 20 degrees. we took the A8 through several tunnels and , within half an hour, we were inNice. We found this parking garage in Massena, right in the city center, and we parked our little Skoda 4 floors down . You really need a small car to drive here. driving down the four floors, Peter had to manoever very narrow hairpin turns in the parking garage .

we then ate lunch at this lovely cafe that we ate at last year. We both had the jambon Roquefort , which is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. The square was full of people, enjoying the sun and the beautiful surroundings. feeling wonderfully content after our lunch, we then walked the main pedestrian streets, There were many bookstores, clothing stores, bike shops, and patisseries.

Finally, we arrived at the Promenade d'Anglais, which extends along the beachfront in Nice.Thousands of people were walking the beach and the promenade today. Kids were swimming in the sea, people and their pooches were sunbathing. Peter (for the second time!) was introduced to these young females, one of which was getting married. The pre? Bride was dressed in a bunny costume, pink, and fluffy. Peter's ego had a major boost!!! The market was on , as well! Stalls of flowers, orchids, fresh fruit, fish, antiques.......sandwiched between restaurants on both sides of the street. Usually, when the markets close and the sellers take their wares home,the restaurants then move more tables out into the center square.They differentiate their tables by having a specific color scheme. Time flies when you are in a dynamic city like Nice and we packed up to return to Menton. Our reliable GPS, with the voice turned of, lead us to the A8. As we were leaving the city, we were stuck in a traffic jam. We finally saw the problem, there were riot police everywhere and people marching and chanting. it was a tad scary. It was so nice to return to the old town of Menton. Tonight, we ate some chicken at home and are watching Taxi Driver. CIAOOOO!

Today, we were extremely lazy. We woke up in this amazing old medieval stone house, our apartment, listening to the voices of the little village. Breakfast was served in this patio, 400 m above a valley, on a rock face . The Mediterranean provided a beautiful view...pictures to follow.

Leaving the medieval town of Eze, we descended down many winding roads, hairpin turns, and endured many crazy drivers to return to our temporary 'home' in Menton. It was just plain wonderful to sit out on the patio and blob in the beautiful sunshine and blob we did. we were both recovering from the luxurious meal of the Restaurant Eze, and decided just to do nothing today.

I have been catching up on my reading, having just finished "Left Neglected". what a great read!

In Eze, I bought a bracelet with dangly bits on it...I think that the book probably influenced my decision. tonight, we ate a pasta at home and chilled. A Demain.....