Modamoma

A final chill out day before returning to UK was fine. Watched sand sculpture being made.

but we left before it was completed ….

We made the trip to London successfully on Friday. We travelled 13 hours – left at 7.07am and arrived at 7.07pm (plus hour time shift). Ate with Lewis 7 Louise then slept at Stan and Kathy’s.

Good holiday. Back to Perth tomorrow.

Having checked out a photoshoot at the beach

we bumped into just about the only people we know in Stanley who do not live at the Mills (Isabel (ex RDM teacher) & Steve Lavery).

We caught a bus to St Paul de Vence. Lovely village perche – now one of our favourite places ever! Winding streets that felt a bit like St Giamaniano in Tuscany.

Ate at the place where the famous modern artists ate – at the prices, no wonder they paid with paintings rather than cash! It now houses many artists’ work on the dining hall walls.

After being inspired by a statue for a quick kiss 

we went to the Fondation Maeght, which stores many modern artists work in what was a private collection.

(Cure for water on the brain? – a tap on the head! Never thought I would get a picture for that joke!)

There was a lovely chapel (St Bernard) where a rendition of “He is here” (by Dad) reverberated like nothing ever heard by us before and would put Gregorian chanting in its place!

and after a quick necklace purchase we were off “home” to Cannes after a lovely day.

Went to Nice which is a bigger place than Cannes with a pebbly beach and a bit dirtier. However it has its nice bits.

We also went to the Chagall Museum he built and dedicated to getting people to understand the Bible and the later story of the Jews.

Good window for Perth Baptist Church!

It is interesting how even in the stories like creation he includes the cross as a sign of hope and restoration.

Here’s the car we went in – NOT!

So a day of rest sur la plage. Good old Catholic France closes down on a Sunday.

Lovely to relax on the sun lounger, watching the sun glistening on the water, looking out to the yachts and motor boats on the horizon, listening to the waves on the shore with a light breeze to keep the temp down.

Had a delicious lunch at the beach – very flavoursome Lebanese dishes. That’s our daily budget almost spent!

Internet access also shut on Sunday! now it’s Monday and we’re off to Nice.

What is it that makes these French women so chic? Is it the Mediterranean diet, sun or Yves St Laurant? Do they get lessons in chic at school? Today quite a few are wearing very chic boots and scarfs. Maybe it’s not as hot as I think it is!

Anyway coffee and croissant over – now we’re off!

Isn’t it devastating when you get up and go for your morning coffee and pain du chocolat and find that the place (with Wi-Fi) does not open ’til 12 noon because it is Sunday – and then you have to hang about for 20 minutes!

Here some pics from yesterday.

Today – the beach.

Surely we were made for slow!

Dug says it’s wonderful to be somewhere where we have nothing to do and no-one to ask us to do anything!

It’s 10′ish (neither wearing a watch, of course!) and we’re in a little cafe drinking good coffee and eating, of course, croissant for me and pain aux chocolat for Dug. We chose this cafe for the free wi-fi.

Our only thoughts for today are to walk to the castle up on the hill, look where the film festival is held and maybe take in a movie! Or we may just sit and watch the sea. Slow is good!

Okay so no cheap WI-FI in the room so trying to find a free method. Tried to pick up free WI-FI but it needed a phone number – tried for Stanley with no luck!

Now trying a …local cafe – and it works!!

The night on the train was not a good night’s rest, but a fine way to travel. It’s been a while since Mum shared a room with four men (did she ever?). Did not get a pic but imagine three bunks and three bunks with the space of a bunk between them and you’ve got it. Get in your bunk or get in the way!

Day 1 was good. Nice place – despite what Marcus thought! Nice day with reasonable beach and neither too crowded or too hot. Very pleasant. Mum tired though so sleeping.

Cannes is NOT cheap. Two coffees and toasted cheese with ham (albeit with a French name!) comes to 25 pounds. However a trip to the SPAR gets a bottle of wine, two litres of water, 6 small with gas waters, a packet of cashews (my holiday treat), 3 litres of fruit juices, a bottle of grape juice and two bananas comes to 20 pounds.