Gourdon for the day...

On Friday, my friends Chris and Elisabeth invited me along on a day trip.  Winding our way up in the hills on the narrow roads we first stopped at the lovely hilltop village of Gourdon.  What a treasure!  Beautiful views and the town is so lovely.  It wasn't busy which was great for us but I'm sure disappointing for shop owners.

Chris and Elisabeth

Used to make perfume!

What a day for hang gliding....I counted eleven!

Interesting art work

Checking out the local toilette is always a challenge!










We then headed down the hill to Coursegoules for lunch.  Great food, great company.  Finished off the day back at Chris and Elisabeth's...bread, cheese, meat and more wine!  Couldn't ask for more!

Last night and Bev's on her way

Bev's last day in Vence was restful...laying in the sun, reading, eating, etc.  Went out for dinner at Le Bistro de Peyra in Vence and had mussels....yum!  Bev's off to Paris...saw her off at the train station in Nice.

Monaco and Eze..

Bev and I took the train to Monte Carlo on Friday.  Bev toured the palace and then we met to share a sandwich in the gardens.

Good looking guard!

Took the little tourist train over to the Hotel de Paris, the Casino and the Opera House.  Saving wear and tear on my poor foot which is still on the mend!

Then we hopped the bus along the coast and up the hill to the hilltop village of Eze.  More shopping and exploring and eating!







 
After arriving back home in Vence we cleaned up and went to a music event at the Matisse Chapel.  Not exactly what we thought as it consisted of two violinists who were very good however after the first hour I was trying to figure how to exit without anyone noticing!  No luck....there to the end but the walk back to the villa was beautiful as the sky was clear and the stars were out!

The Matisse Chapel

This girl is looking rested!  Heading off to Paris soon!

Train day trip...

Bev and I headed off on the train for Mandelieu la Napoule, Cannes and Antibes.  Beautiful day but windy.  I had seen the Chateau Napoule before so Bev went while I waited at the beach.  Lucky for Bev they were doing the tour in English so she was able to get so much more out of it.  Fantastic place!

Then on to Cannes...

 and then Antibes...

Gelato?  Did someone mention Gelato???

Welcome to my yacht....go for a spin?

Where are we?  What train are we catching?

Cimiez for the day

Cimiez is the hilltop in Nice...it's where the Romans settled years ago.  Bev and I took the bus and spent most of the day there.  As I had already seen the ruins and the Matisse Museum Bev wandered through these on her own.

How does this thing go together??

 We then explored the Monastere de Cimiez and the adjoining gardens. 

New recruits????

 This time the roses were in all their glory.

 Lunch in the park watching the men play petanque and then gelato for desert (chocolate ginger!!!) in the Old Town in Nice before heading back to Vence.

While walking through Nice on the way to the bus stop we heard this beautiful voice singing opera in the Place Massena.  Her voice was absolutely beautiful!

         

Fete de fountaine

Bev was helping me out with the yard....what a hard worker!

After she completed her "duties" Bev and I walked into town and there was a very impressive pottery fair in the Place du Grand Jardin.  Some fantastic pieces and we took our time looking at everything.

 We then went into the Old Town where I ran into my hairdresser who informed me that they were going to be putting on a skit. 

Apparently the celebration is called "Fete de Fountaine" which means Celebration or Party of the Fountain.  In Vence they have fantastic water that is available to everyone.  Safe, great tasting water that runs non stop. 

You can fill your water bottle from any of the fountains in town.

There was music and entertainment.









Great day.  We finished it off with a trip to Le Clerc (the local grocery store) for mussels.  Went home and had a feast of fresh, steamed mussels!