During my visit to Village de Antibes, I walked around the Antibes Harbor(Port Vauban)and Fort Carre. I am told the Harbor is the largest private marina in Europe, they refer to it as the "Billionaire's Kay". It was specifically built to draw in the yachts of the wealthy by accommodating up to 190m (623ft).
The Fort's structure started in 1550 and now is a historical monument as well the front grounds (former Roman stadium(?)) is used as a sports and youth center. /pictures
Bonjour! The weekend here was very nice. Getting around town has been getting easier and easier now that I have come over my fear of getting lost. I was resisting going out and exploring because I was worried about making it back to the hotel each night. That lasted about two days. It is easy to get lost here and I've done it each day, at least once a day, for the first 4 days. So once the stress of getting lost has been dealt with, I now enjoy driving around. There are three keys to getting to the correct location, direction, distant town and paying attention to the roundabout. An example would be a visit to St. Paul, I would assure I am driving North East in the direction of Vence. Then for each roundabout I encounter keep driving in circles until I see the sign for the town I am driving toward, not necessarily to, and take that road. Sometimes it takes a few circles and sometimes I get it on the first try. ;) It's fun and I've only been honked at once!! I'll have to get a movie uploaded with me driving in circles. :)
So with that sort of driving process I found my way to four villages between Saturday and Sunday. They were Village De Mougins, Village De St. Paul, Village De Valbonne and Village De Antibes.
All were very beautiful and I think my favorites were Valbonne and St. Paul. Mougin actually had a huge Chef Festival going on. They had guest stared 130 chefs from France to entertain guests with their cooking. I visited St. Paul twice as I took a lunch break to attend a BBQ with a co-worked who lives in the foothills above St. Paul. Antibes was very very busy but I was able to get away from the crowds and watch a wedding take place in their church. Valbonne gave me a glimpse of how people live in the village as I watched a couple older women do grocery shopping and chat in the streets while two boys played soccer. Very picturesque.
/pictures
A visit to the grocery store this evening produced some rather fun and adventuristic pleasure.
This afternoon the store was closed because of lunch, I forgot about this as merchants close during lunch hour. So I wanted to be sure to buy some goods for tonight and tomorrow, not knowing when it will close next I headed down there at 5pm. That part was adventurous as many people were heading home and doing the same thing. So driving there and parking really was ok, a lot better than I thought.
Poking around the store I found some fresh bread, local strawberry jam and an inexpensive bottle of Bordeaux and some bottled water. (A tall bottle of water at the store was about $1/US while back at the hotel a short bottle is about $5/US.) I headed for the cashier with my a smile on my face thinking of the relaxing evening I'll have tonight reading my book and drinking a glass of wine on the patio in the warm French Riviera evening weather.
After the cashier and I exchange hello's she continues speaking in French, about what I have no idea, I forget what I said but in the corner of my eye I see all five people in line behind me look up at me. Oh what did I say? I do not know! Ah yes, I asked how much my bill was when the cashier informed me in French, no worries, but it was that sudden head spin from all five people that got me all freaked out. So I pay the bill and I wait.. no bagging... she is not bagging my purchases... oh ah.. what did I do? What do I do? As if I am not standing there she proceeds to assist the next person in line. So I grab a bag and start putting my groceries in it when ... wait... I have to BUY THE BAG TOO!? As ask this question now, a bit slow to the cashier and again everyone turns to me... YOH! The lady next to me kindly informs me that yes bags are a charge but that I could use the FREE plastic bags over at the vegetable and fruit bench. "Go ahead, they are free." She seemed very excited about being able to tell me about the plastic bag being free.
So I head out and make it back to work, second trip back to work without using a map! YEE-YAW! No map and no charge for a grocery bag... Happy Friday! :)
/pictures
Today's pictures are of the Industry Park that my office AND hotel reside in.
This area was once a state park which a portion was removed to incorporate industry, eateries and apartments. I am told, that the original concept was to create a comprised area for high tech workers, the office buildings connected by walk ways to eateries and their homes (apartments). But after building it they found that the workers did not want to live this close to work and did not care for the shabbiness of the apartments. Hence without as many people living here 24x7, the eateries are only open for lunch on weekdays.
I think they incorporated the office buildings nicely into the environment. I took some pictures in the hopes of displaying this. My hotel is a part of this environment and is only 5min away. I'll take some more pictures this evening when I go out for a run through the woods and around the streets.
I realized yesterday evening that the eateries are only open for lunch when I tried to grab a supper on my way back to the hotel. No luck. But I was able to enter a pharmacy and have a look around. -The "red cross" that hangs outside the pharmacy store is now blue.- On my way back from the pharmacy I took some pictures of the apartments. I think they are nice. Some of these, like the three story, have nice views of the ocean and some of the mountain range.
I made it back to the hotel without a map yesterday!
Good morning! Last night brought out some fun and adventure as I drove for the first time and made it, eventually, back to my hotel from Nice.
Interesting enough I made it back to my work office with almost no problem, trying to find my hotel was the challenge! This morning I set my sights on the map to find my way back and forth from work.
That was my excitement for yesterday as work produced a very long day and evening. Looking forward to an evening of sleep.
Cheers!
Bonjour! I arrived in France yesterday with no worries. It was a long flight that lasted "two days" by California time as I essentially lost a day traveling out to France... and it appears to be well worth it.
I am staying in Valbonne, located in the French Rivera, just Southwest of Nice and due North of Cannes. The area reminds me of South Lake Tahoe. Many tree's of Pine and Oak with dry underbrush and afternoon sun in the 80's.
This mornings temperature was a calm 60 degree's and simply beautiful. After a ten hour rest I enjoyed my very first cup of France brewed coffee with olive bread as I watched the morning sun light up the sky over the hills through the window of my hotel room.
Everyone is so nice and very welcoming here. The streets are very narrow and I look forward to driving them this evening after I pick up my rental.
Off to a busy work day as we kick the day off with a three hour meeting. Cheers!
