Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Day 9: Barcelona!

This morning we took the flight from Nice along the Mediterranean coast to Barcelona.  We had lunch and then explored the city, including nearby Catalunya square and of course the famous entertainment street of the Ramblas.  We stopped for some Sangria in beautiful Placa Reial Square before heading down to the harbour.  Our dinner was open air and above the Ramblas.

Some of the beautiful doors of Barcelona's Modernista style

Towards the main square

The Umbrella house

Placa Reial

Gretchen taking pictures

Enjoying a Sangria in the square

Placa Reial

A Don Quixote statue on the Ramblas

Down by the Harbour

The Harbour

Columbus pointing to the Americas

The old Port building


Watching the sky

Statues on the Customs building

The Harbour

Medieval street off the Ramblas

Dragon decoration

Ramblas at the day

Dinner above the Ramblas

Pudding! Yummy!

More pudding! More yummy!

Ramblas by night

Monday, September 30, 2013

Day 8: Eze, Monaco, Monte Carlo & Black Truffles

Today we enjoyed the spectacular drive along the Cote D'Azure with beautiful views out over the Mediterranean sea.  Our first stop was the medieval village of Eze, perched 1500 feet up this extraordinary village has some beautiful gardens at the very top and incredible views. After this we went on to explore the exotic gardens of Monaco, before heading the the outcrop of rock on the Royal Palace and much of Monaco is perched, including the church where Grace Kelly was buried.  After Monaco we followed the route of the Formula 1 cars, past the harbour with its luxury yachts and up the main square where the casino is.  After returning to Nice, we enjoyed a very special dinner of Truffle Risotto and multiple
Can't make up your mind what to have for dessert? Try them all!

Deliciously rich black truffle risotto

Black Truffles

Walt swirls the wine in step 3 of the  6 steps

Our Dinner

Decorations in Nice

On the bus

Peek-a-boo!

Outside Monaco Cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried

Monte Carlo Habour

A Cinquecento!

Azure Sea, Monte Carlo

Overlooking Monte Carlo Habour

The Royal Palace, Monte Carlo

Exotic Gardens with a view to Monac

View to the Royal Palace at Monaco

In the exotic gardens

Franny plays the accordian

Our driver, Alain, plays the accordian

A Rolls Royce Corniche convertible, names after the area

On top of Eze

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On top of the village of Eze

Coastal view
desserts!

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Day 7, Avignon to Nice via St Tropez

Our day started in heavy rain in Avignon, which turned to sky cracking thunder as we drove to St Tropez, the drive was interrupted by a tremendous hail storm and heavy rain, which only stopped while we were having lunch in St Tropez.  After lunch we marveled at some of the Yachts and exotica on display there.  After St Tropez we drove along the coast towards the Bay of Angels and the city of Nice, the 2nd largest in Provence.  After settling in to our hotel we perambulated on the Promenade Des Anglais and through the main square, where we had another delicious dinner.
Yummy


Via Massena, the main square

Nice 


Promenade Des Anglais

Street in Nice

View to St Tropez

Another Chanel shop...another missed opportunity!

Cute Alfa Rome

A typical shop assistant in St Tropez

At the Port in St Tropez

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Another sunny day in St Tropez!

Mussels for Lunch

Nice Yacht!