Matisse, amazing!

Matisse lived in Nice for quite some time and then moved to Vence where he lived out his life.  He designed this chapel, the Chapelle du Rosaire, done between 1947 and 1951.  It's really beautiful. 

 I was able to just walk to it on the way to a place called St. Jeannet.  Beautiful. 

 Unfortunately you can't take photos inside so you just have to come to Vence and have a look.

Just a sample of his work.  Very simple.

This is a picture of the old town of Vence taken from the Chapelle du Rosaire.  Amazing isn't it?










Off to tour Marseilles on Wednesday.  Klaus is home for a week and will be cooking us dinner (BBQ Lamb!) tomorrow night.  I will leave Wednesday morning on the train from Nice to Marseilles where I will stay for 3 nights and tour the town.  Have to take advantage of every opportunity to explore this wonderful place.  Stay tuned for pictures of Marseilles!

Cagnes sur Mer

Well the last couple of days (the weekend) was extremely wet.  Thought I was back in Vancouver!  Didn't expect this as it was non stop.  Just hunkered down, relaxed and read.

When the clouds finally parted I decided to make my way to a town called Cagnes sur Mer located approximately 30 minutes south from Vence.  This is where the train station is located that I would hop the train to go to several places along the coast.  Better than bus due to traffic.  Just a few of the places I intend to visit are Cannes, Antibes, Eze, Monaco, Ventimiglia, etc.  There are just so many!  After getting off the bus I located the train station and scoped it out.  Seems simple and straight forward.  Got talking to a young man who was going to Cannes and offered to show me the way.  He told me when he graduates in 2 years he is going to go to university in Quebec and he wants to play football.  He was so excited to speak English and talk to someone from Canada.  What a sweetie!



After deciding I've got the system down pat I head off to explore this town.  Quite charming.  I head up the hill to the "Old Town" which again is the walled city at the top of the hill.  Quite the hike but the view is worth it.  You look out over Cagnes sur Mer, Nice and the Mediterranean.  Beautiful.  Decided to take the little bus back down to hook up with my bus back to Vence.  Took a different bus home just to see where it goes and what the difference is between that bus and the other one.  So much to learn!

The view from the top of the hill looking north - see the snow on those hills!  Winter is not that far away!

Heading up the hill towards the top the castle comes into view.  You can just imagine the people and horses using these narrow, cobbled, lane ways hundreds of years ago.  Most of the roads are barely wide enough for a small car.  Riding down in the small bus that picked us up was like being on an amusement ride.  I'm sure he must wear out a set of brakes at least every year.

Nice is so nice for the day!

Today I actually set my alarm!  Got up early to catch the bus to Nice.  Got into town approx. 10:00 a.m. and found the tourism office which was a great start.  They provided me with a map of the city and some great suggestions of places to go and see.

 Lou Casteu or Castle Hill is considered to be the cradle of the town of Nice.  After a climb up lots of stairs you arrive at the top where there are some amazing ruins.  There is a beautiful park and lots of school children were enjoying outings in the park.

The mosaic tile designs were beautiful.

This is the site of the church that was built on top of this hill.  Archaeological work is still going on.

The view from one of the many lookouts is just spectacular.

This is the view of the port.  I am looking east.

Continued my exploration of the city.  Visiting the market in the old town, riding their great tramway line that takes you from one side of the city to the other.  Had a lovely lunch in an Italian deli where the clerks were so patient with my pigeon French.  Checked out the train station just to make sure I knew where it was and how it worked.  Best way of getting along the coast to see all those other places I hope to visit.  Cannes, Antibes, Monaco just to mention a few!
Headed back to catch the bus.  Back in Vence by 5 pm.  I'm pooped but what a great day!

A Day in Vence...

Today I started my day with a trip into town to pick up a few groceries and explore a few more little streets.  Met a fellow named Willie from Alabama who is here at NALL Art Association which is just down the road from my villa.  He was encouraging me to visit the Art Association as they are having a great sale!  Might check that out some time soon.

Love to prowl the streets looking for great photo opportunities.  Saw this bike propped up against the wall and just had to snap it.
Picked up a few groceries which is definitely a daily affair but everything is so fresh.  Still can't get over the wonderful smell of the tomatoes.  Oh, I'm going to be spoiled when I get home.

Couple of hours in the garden, an hour or so on my French and then it's time to prepare supper.  A glass of a nice red wine (only 5 euros a bottle) and then curl up with my book.  Ah, the good life!

Day at St. Paul de Vence

Well today I decide to explore the trail that will take me to the next hill where St. Paul de Vence is located. It's sunny but cool today.  Interesting walk that takes approx. 1 hr.  This is only about a 10 min. bus ride which I will do on the way back.

Had lunch in a small restaurant where my companion (Audrey Hepburn) had just gone to the lou when this picture was taken!

Saw a group of men playing pétanque which is just so representative of Provence!  Walked the narrow alley ways. Poked my head in a few shops.  It's so nice to explore without all the crowds.  Even managed to take the same picture that I had taken years ago when I first visited St. Paul's.  Love it!  You could just frame this one!

This is really not me but a very interesting piece of art.

This picture is just outside the great wall surrounding the old town.

Exhausted but happy I hop the #400 bus which winds its way back to Vence.  A short walk and I am home sweet home!

Friday market.....mmmm...c'est tres Bon!

Friday is the day that they have a large market with some wonderful products.  You want to make sure that you've had a good breakfast before going otherwise you will come home with way too much!  (which I found out the hard way).  
I found one product which I had heard Vence was known for and that is the honey.  Who knew there were so many different varieties of honey?  Delicious!

Sweet bread with raisins & almonds - lemon olives - fresh nougat - sweet little rounds I believe they call Rougelle.
The nougat was made locally and the recipe has been handed down through the generations.

This dish had everything in it.  I just heated it up and it did me for two dinners!  Paired with a crisp white wine, voila!

I will be a regular at this market every Friday now.

Let the truth be told...

Okay so it can change rather quickly here.  It's not nearly as warm these last couple of days and the skies have been cloudy.  Didn't want to mislead you thinking I am basking in the sunshine every day.  It was beautiful and sunny for the first couple of days which really helped but it has gotten cooler.  Positive side is that I didn't bring those warmer clothes for nothing!  It's kind of fun to "dress up" a little when I head into town.  There will be lots of time to wear the summer stuff.  It does stay light longer.  It's 5:15 right now and still quite light out.  Need all the vitamin C I can get however it seems that my cold is pretty well done.  Amazing!  Same thing happened in Vietnam.  Two days of full blown cold and then I wake up on the 3rd day and its done.
Went to town to get a few things and actually spoke enough French to be understood.  I will keep working at it.  Enjoying a cold Stella at the end of another day in the south of France! Sigh.....

Cure for my cold!

Today I didn't do much.  Just puttered around the property taking care of my cold.

This definitely helps!  Nice and warm on the deck.  Reading a book and sipping on a nice Merlot.  Did I mention how inexpensive wine is here?  I could get used to living here.

While going for a stroll on the property I came across this amazing looking plant.  I'll willing do a little gardening here as I find it a great past time.

 Been reading about the things to see in some of the villages and I think my first stop will St. Paul de Vence.  It's only a 5 min. bus ride or I can walk there in just over an hour.  I think I'll wait until my cold is better.

It's just me and the cat now

Well today was the day that I had to drive back from dropping the family at the airport.  A little scary as driving someone else's car always is but I didn't get lost and I made it without any trouble.  The traffic was light and it was another sunny, mild day.  I just kept thinking that this was nothing compared to driving in Scotland on the other side of the road!

Headed into town this afternoon and thought I would make my way down to the Old Town.  Only saw a small portion of it.

Lots of art galleries, restaurants and interesting shops but most of them were closed.  Funny for a Saturday.  Perhaps it's the time of year.  I can just imagine how busy this will be in a few months.   Saving some of it for another day.  Picked up a few groceries and relaxed in the garden relishing the peace and quiet (and it is so quiet!)

This is one of the many lanes in the Old Town. So picturesque!

The Eagle has landed!

Well here I am in Vence.  Getting here was an adventure as most trips are.  The flight leaving Vancouver was 30 mins. late so that started the ball rolling.  My connections were too tight and as a result I was going to miss my connection in Montreal however they held the plane as there were several people trying for connections in Montreal.  Mad dash for the gate.  Even got to ride in one of those carts that they reserve for the frail, elderly or physically challenged.  Hmmmmm?  By the time that flight left we were running an hour late and when we arrived in Brussels I thought I had time to make it however the terminal was miles away and the very nice airport employee said no way, take your time you have been rebooked on the flight at 2:00 pm.  Well that was 4.5 hrs. to wait.  Arghh!  Had to find WiFi and the only one I could find was a station that you have to peddle a bike in order to generate the power to run your device and supply WiFi.  How green of them however feeling as jet lagged as I did it wasn't a pretty picture of me on this bike pedalling my ass off and trying to type a quick email to Ulrike & Klaus so that they wouldn't make an unnecessary trip to the airport.  It was definitely a test of my coordination and endurance.
Finally got to Nice which was only 1.5 hr. flight.  Beautiful view of the Côte d'Azur and the temp was around 15 degrees.  Couldn't get better than that except now I have been awake 24 hrs. and just found out my luggage has not arrived.  It's in Montreal!  Go figure.  I guess that extra $100 that I paid Air Canada for the privilege of bringing a second piece of checked luggage didn't ensure I would actually receive my luggage.  As of right now I am still wearing the clothes that I put on the morning of Jan.2nd.  How lovely is that?  Thank heaven I threw in a toothbrush and toothpaste.  Oh yeah, in my rush to make my connection in Montreal my E Reader fell out of my bag and if it does get turned into Lost & Found I have to pick it up in Montreal!  Anyone going to Montreal soon?
On the up note it is beautiful here.  Walked into Vence this morning for my Latte and croissant.  Got lost on the way back but eventually found my way.  I drive the family to the airport tomorrow.  Should be interesting to see how long it takes me to find my way back.  This picture is of the patio and that is the Mediterranean in the distance.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  Stay tuned for more adventures.

I'm on my way!

I'm at the airport at YVR awaiting my flight to Montreal.  It's just part of the journey as I will then go to Brussels and then on to Nice.  I'm sure I'll be a train wreck when I arrive but that's the price you pay for travel.

The sun is out.  It's a beautiful day in Vancouver.  Cold....it's just about freezing but the snow on the mountains is beautiful.

Sue and Steve (my sister and brother) took me to the airport and we had a lovely breakfast before we said 'Au Revoir' for now.