2021 - Fall in France

  A couple of days ago we took the regional train from Nice to Antibes - about a 20 minute journey.   Antibes  is an ancient town, first called 'Antipolis' by the Greeks when its port was used for trading.  It is now a famous resort town known for its old town enclosed by 16th-century ramparts with the star-shaped Fort Carré.  This overlooks luxury yachts moored at the Port Vauban marina. The forested Cap d’Antibes peninsula, dotted with grand villas, separates Antibes from Juan-les-Pins. I copied the following from the Antibes website: The ancient walled town of Antibes is one of the liveliest and prettiest on the Riviera with its relaxed beachy feel, thriving super-yacht port and gorgeous old town of narrow cobbled streets, markets and cafes.  Famous for being hoe to the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, Antibes certainly saw its fair share of glitz, glamour and a touch of the avant-garde through the 20th century, Of all the seaside towns of the Riviera...

The first time I went to Europe was in 1979 and, for some reason - back in the dark crevices of my brain - I knew I wanted to visit Villefranche sur Mer but now have no idea why.  So, my friend and I went and I fell in love with this charming and beautiful place; in fact, I fell for the entire area!  Perhaps, the real reason was, which I freely admit at times, I have momentary delusions of grandeur!  Regardless of the reason, I have been lucky enough to return many times since; sometimes for a couple of days and other times for a week.  I always know when I get here I will feel so blessed and happy, particularly being close to the sea.  It is my "happy place" - not the only one, however!  I have usually been here towards the end of September and into October at the end of the tourist season.  In spite of the weather being mild and summer-like then, many of the tourist-related businesses, restaurants and tours have been shut down.  I have always wa...

A few days ago, we left Lyon and took the TGV to Nice on the Cote d'Azur.  The train journey was quite scenic as we passed through northern Provence and then along the Mediterranean.  The stops were Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Toulon, Les Arcs-Draguignan, Saint Raphael Valescure, Cannes, and Antibes.  When we arrived, the temperature was about 20' so it should be lovely to extend our summer a bit longer. It was way too difficult to get any good photos from the train but here are a couple I managed to take. We have rented an apartment in Nice on the Promenade des Anglais.  The views from the living room are spectacular.  We will be spending five nights here.   On our first morning, after breakfast on the promenade, we walked all the way along it to Vieux Nice (the old town).  We have all been there before - once together when we did a food walking tour and me on my own several times.  The first few times I was in Nice it was driving t...