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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Monaco, Nice and Easy...... or should I say Eze!!

Today we were picked up by a tour guide that Ros found Sylvie..... all can say again is what a day... We decided that we didn’t want this day to be rushed. We took one town off our Itinerary just so we could savour the very pretty French Riviera.
Ros did a wonderful job in charming the powers that be and had us on the very first tender off the boat. Sylvie was there waiting and ready to introduce us to this wonderful region....So Pretty....
We took a quick spin around Monaco where she showed us the sights and much to Rays delight had us on Pole position for the Monaco grand prix.  Once around the track and up Rock to the palace just so we could take a quick peek.... The principality was all spruced up as the week before Prince Albert married Charlene from South Africa.
We then travelled along the coast road and headed up to Eze. A very small medieval village on top of a hill..... We climbed up the steps through the cobbled lanes to reach the top where a cactus garden had been planted and dotted around with lovely sculptures........ From the top there were wonderful views of the Riviera.  Having a little extra time on our hands we found a little patio that we sat and drank coffees, teas and juices.
In Nice Sylvie suggested we buy some lunch to have on the run to save some time... she took us to her favourite bakery and we all bought baguettes and pastries.  Nice has a very Italian feel to it which you can also see in the architecture from it’s long period of Italian rule. We wandered through the delicious produce and flower market where the colours and smells were just fabulous.  Everything from Tomatoes, olives, pastries and marzipan sweets were on display....
As we munched on our lunches we drove to another hill top 17th Century town St Paul De Vence.... this was Eze but on a much larger scale.... lovely shops and all very arty.... Many artists came here and it was the burial place for the painter Chagall.... 
Once again we walked through the labyrinth of cobbled streets.... stopping at some of the little shops ... though Garry told me I was not allowed to buy something from every shop as I had already done the in the first two. Garry and decided that we would stop for a quick drink and a chat with not locals but other tourists....
It was another great day, so much more relaxing from the hustle and bustle of our Italian ports.  Once back in Monaco Sylvie stopped at Monaco’s equivalent to a newsagency and I bought an English Hello magazine just so I could get see some  pictures of Prince Albert and  Princess Charlene’s  wedding.
We had an early sail away today, that being 4pm.  This meant that it was not open dining like it has been at all of our late departure ports. I presented the twins (separated at birth ) Garry and Arnold with a little gift from Florence as you can see from the pictures below.   We actually thought that our waiters should have worn them whilst serving us..... but I think the medical centre was already full and it didn’t need any more heart attack patients.... But it was good to see our mate Maurizio joining in on the fun.
Which reminds me... you have to laugh... there have been so many mishaps on this cruise that someone requested that there be a wheelchair race along deck 12..... And this includes all ages as it not just the oldies that are having the accidents.....
Tonight the entertainment was the Beatles Tribute Band that were very popular last year, especially after they were stranded for 6 days after the port of Dublin was missed....  They dressed and kinda looked like the beatles and they sure did sing like them.... it is one of the rare occasions in the princess theatre where there is a standing ovation and an encore.....


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