Next up was a 5 day road trip with Michael and Ruth. I’ve done three cruises with them, and it will be great to spend time with them again.
Micheal and Ruth were there to get me at the airport and off we set to Blanes (Blaaaa Nes) about an hour up the coast.
The coast from Barcelona to Blanes is sandy. Blanes is the start of COSTA Brava. The famous strip of coast from Blanes to the French boarder were rocks make an appearance. So, what we are used to seeing in Australia. Headlands and pretty beaches with rocky outcrops. It’s huge for holiday packages from France and Northern Europe.
Blanes is a seaside holiday town like Bateman’s Bay. Small winter population, exploding with tourists in the summer. But it was the start of the off season. Things were shut down. Like really shut down. All but one of the hotels were boarded up. Even the signs were wrapped up.
And the apartment block Ruth and Michael live in has 125 units and only about 20 of them are lived in over the off season. The season officially ended a few weeks ago – but it was still in the 20’s so many tourists still around in the bigger places.
They look straight out over the Mediterranean. Cruise ships and ferries all day. Fishing boats at night. Lovely.
We then went for a drive around ‘Lloret De Mar’. This was another tourist town but had not full closed down as it is still French and Dutch school holidays. These places are the ones you see in the movies where millions of Europeans holiday.
The beaches are normally full with chairs and umbrellas.
Waving goodbye to the sailors.
And a really pretty area. There was a great band playing on the beach and a very festive atmosphere along the promenade, with huge crowds. Must be sooo busy during the season.
Then tapas for dinner, as in a real tapas bar. It was funny to see an old fashion cigarette machine in a restaurant. Because most people smoke!
And a giant full moon.
Then home to bed for a great sleep.
Day 2 – Road trip
I got to see the huge golden sun rising out of the Mediterranean (at 8 am – how cooperative!) then off we went on our road trip.
We were going to Nice and Monaco. Nice is 600 ks up the coast and Monaco 20 ks from there. I hope Cousin Rainier invites me in for a cuppa! As in Prince Rainier lll of Monaco – but I know he will not – since he is dead….but maybe one of his relatives might.
Of course it was a great drive with many castles and forts along the way as someone was always trying to attack Spain. Moors, ………
Along the road we saw one of the road side prostitutes. They set up along the road side on chairs under beach umbrellas. They looked like any lady with a road side fruit stall. But where selling services not goods. Mainly to the long haul truck drivers. And wow. Talk about lots of trucks! Hundreds and thousands of them and from all over Europe – Lithuania, Estonia, all over.
Then onto France past the la Camargue the famous march lands. Its a massive march land between the two arms of the Rhone Delta and the Mediterranean Sea. Over 400 bird species including the Greater Flamingo and Camargue Horses. An ancient breed indigenous to the area. The area is also home to the famous guy from there who does liberty work and Roman riding with a team of horses. Lorenzo – the Flying Frenchman. He does amazing feats like riding a team of 7 horses – yes all at once, standing on two and controlling the rest while splashing through the water and jumping things. There are videos of him all over the internet. (Not my photo below).
I kept going on and on about him…(bet that surprises you!) …and how I was looking out for him. I did see some white horses in a paddock so declared that must be his place.
And then suddenly… too quick for a photo of his gate – we went past a property with a giant billboard at the front declaring that this was his place. How amazing!!!!!!
We then stop for lunch in Nîmes, a very old town. So old in fact it had a Roman Circus or Amphitheater – very similar to the Colosseum of Rome! Arènes de Nîmes – was built around 70 AD. Amazing building. The place of horrors then, but still in use today. Dire Straits and Metallica filmed albums there.
Nîmes is dubbed the most Roman city outside Italy. It was a regional capital, and home to 50,000–60,000 Roman people. Lovely place.
Lunch was at a Creperie – a place with French Crepes. And I’m so glad. Sarah and I had heard all about French Crepes and tried them many years ago – At the Eiffel Tower, and they were disgusting. These were glorious.
Main course were crepes with ham and cheese and an egg. The yolk was soft so as you ate it lovely runny yolk squished out. And for desert I had “Sucre Citreon”. Lemon and Sugar. All the while looking at wonderful (very) old buildings. And a cracking cider.
Then we drove the other half of the trip to Nice.
Farm houses were great long rambling places, with many extensions over the years and huge barns right near the houses.
The geology was great and changed so often.
Crazy roads and traffic with peak hour. But we did find our hotel – after many many loops and turn due to one way streets.
All very exciting.
We had booked a three star hotel……. but one star had been lost since then. And was over in tape. A bit funny. But it was a decent 2 star hotel. Tiny. But we survived.
Day 3 – Monte Carlo, in the Principality of Monaco.
Even the walk from the hotel to the car park showed us great building.
Then the drive from Nice.
Monaco is a tiny country on the Cote D’Azure – the Blue Coast, in the French Riviera, at the northern end of the South of France and almost touching the Italian boarder.
It covers 2.02 square kilometres and therefore the second smallest country after the Vatican.
It’s got a population of 19,000 people and a coastline of 3.83 km – most of which is covered in squillion dollar yachts. They made the country 20% bigger in 2005 with a land reclamation program.
Monaco has been around since a land grant from Emperor Henry VI in 1191 and was first ruled by a member of the House of Grimaldi in 1297.
Monaco is the home of, and or the playground of, the rich and famous. No income tax…just a GST. The climate is wonderful, the scenery amazing, fantastic harbours, and they have casinos so no wonder the rich like it.
Monte Carlo is the capital and is involved in anything rich and fancy. Formula One Circuit, super casino, Fashion parades, World Poker Championships, Motor Shows et al.
It’s set up on a huge escarpment over the sea. Stunning! So many tunnels.
First thing we did was a lap on the Formula One Circuit. Very cool. We putted around at about 40 kph. After going through the chicane, we roared into the tunnel, still at about 40ks. I was incapable of believing that these racing cars go through this tunnel at over 300kph. Unbelievable. And the vantage points for all the people watching – on their million dollar balconies sipping champagne worth more than we could imagine.
Starting grid.
A wander around showed us amazing buildings.
“Casino de Monte-Carlo”, the Monte Carlo Casino is a gambling and entertainment complex which includes the Casino, Grand Theatre, and Les Ballet. The casino was established by Princess Caroline in 1850’s to save the House of Grimaldi from bankruptcy. Spectacular building and spectacularly successful. Amazing mirror ball sculpture. No inside photos.
We did go in and give our donation. The tables didn’t open until later in the day, so we had to be happy with Poker Machines.
I could have bought a Dupont pen for 2100 Euro or a Dupont lighter for 1900 Euro. But since I don’t need a lighter I didn’t. And as for pens……well, I have one.
We then went up the other escarpment to the Palace and the museums including the Monaco Cathedral – the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monaco where many Grimaldis are buried including Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III.
The Napoleon Museum with many of his artefacts.
The Oceanographic Museum, a really important playing is the saving of the oceans. They had a great display of Antarctica and the Arctic, very out of the way places. And I had been to most of them!
Shetland Island, South Georgia Island, Franz Joesph Land, Iceland and Greenland. It was very funny walking along looking at the photos going “I’ve walked in that stream….. I’ve been on Champs Island!”
The Princes Palace – the official residence of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Built in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the Grimaldi family who first captured it in 1297. The Grimaldi family ruled the area first as feudal lords, and from the 17th century as sovereign princes. WOW.
At the top near the Palace were tiny alley ways full of food places and tourist stops. We went to a great Italian place.
Everything was stunning. The buildings were old and beautiful.
Nothing is allowed to be ugly. Not even construction.
After leaving Monaco we drove back to Nice on the lower coast road. More stunningness.
We went through the town of Eze – which appears to be two different towns. Eze dur Mer – Eze by the Sea, and Eze Village. They were only about 8 ks apart but pretty well up a cliff. OMG. What a road. Narrow, Hairpins, steep, often first gear. I thought it was great. Michael not so much as he was driving.
Our journey up the hill was to visit a Fragonard Parfumeur. One of the oldest perfume factory in the Cote D’Azur. Up on the hill over looking the Mediterranean. We did a factory tour. It takes three tonne of rose petals to make one litre of essential oils.
Perfume is made by a person called “a Nose”. They have specific skills, and are very rare. They blend the essential oils to make the perfect mixes. And the price they pay to have this job…..No coffee, no alcohol, no spiced foods, no strong flavours, no smoking, no cigars. Ever! Never Not at any time in their lives.
And then we headed home to Nice. Via lots of lovely things.
Excellent day!
Day 3
Was a drive back to Blanes. A wet day but so much fun on the highway. So many toll booths.
The GPS advised us of a ‘Bouchon’ – literal translation – ‘ a cork in the neck of the drinking vessel. A bottle neck!
I mentioned earlier the number of trucks. It was fun spotting truck number plates. Trucks from Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Bosnia, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Belgium, Netherlands. No wonder there are road side prostitutes. some were very far from home.
And of course there was much lovely scenery.
Next morning was off to join the ship!
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