August and Avignon and about. 

 We have had a further 2 weeks in Avignon, with temps being slightly uncomfortable, up in the 30-36 degree mark, and we are very thankful if there is even a little breeze----- thats after last week when the winds were so high we had white caps on the river and our flag plastered to the back sun-shield.

        Needless to say we have had to keep hydrated. 

New drink on the boat is now Aperol Spritz.  Luckily I love plain bubbles so sharing a bottle works really well.

Decided to visit L'lsle-sur-la-Sorgue, a lovely town about 20 mins away by car. But unforunately we went on a big market day, so big you were shuffled betwen the stalls, along narrow streets, like being packed on the london tube trains and no chance to stop and look at the stalls- so we did what anybody would do ----- we left  😥😥😥😥.

 If only we had a garden.

We also visited Chateauneuf- du-Pape, for the Fete de la Veraison. This festival over 3 days, and  celebrates the local wines and the medieval history of the village. All the locals drsssing up - we loved it. Stalls, jugglers, birds of flight, processions and wine- lots of free wine!!!👍👍👍👍👍

So the procession starts with the drums and the scottish bag pipes ( still trying to work out the connection), followed by the 'Pope' and the town council ( of course) !!!

Then various odd and not all together nice looking other medieval characters ..

 

Stalls selling lots of articles of clothing and weapons- they are particularly fond of sling-shots...

NOW, It is said that whenever the Pope walked past the town square, the village fountain would start to spew fine local red wine--but whether a local legend or popular fantasy - there is no smoke without fire..

 

The barrel in the tree is a bit of a give-away😀😀😀

And just some locals hanging about........

Its getting a bit social here again in Avignon-- 3 other kiwi boats in at the moment so a couple of good nights with Aileen, Grahame and Sue-- oh why does 'pop over for a drink at 6 '   always lead to going home at 10pm or later, all very happy but realising you haven't eaten supper!!!  Still its not as if we have to work in the mornings....

 A little bit of cycling around over on the large island, Ile de la Barthelasse which is in the middle of the Rhone river, between old and new Avignon. Things are a work in progress on the green cucleways -- but a "road to no-where"??

This excerise is in the belief we have to compensate for excess food and alcohol intake--and to help the stepz counter. The island is full of acres of orchards with beautifully ripe apples and pears....

View back over the bridge.

We also had a wonderful visit from Peter and Lesley, (Skiing friends from NewCastle) who drove from their place in the Alps to visit us for the weekend.

Due to having Rosie, their beloved dog with them - they didn't stay on the boat but in a place 5 mins walk away - better safe than sorry with the pram after a long night.

Its been a busy few nights ( and Days) here. 

Our last night in Avignon and we have the locals onboard- Max, Grahame, Dave, Ann, Sue, Aileen and me!!!!

Finally setting off from Avignon before 8am, the mist on the river and the early sun on the Pont.

Saw no horses this time as we cruised along the Petite Rhone - only wild goats......

Now finally settled in Aigue-Morte on our mooring for the next 2 weeks-- showing the evening sun on the old city walls.

AND.... always a party boat---

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thought of the day.....

And second thought of the day.....

Can't think why everything revolves around liquid refreshments......

till next time....

 July/August,  2023.  

Our5day  trip to the Cote d'azur for Max's birthday ( golly these😂 things keep happening).

What a lovely surprise,, as we expected big cities/towns and marinas. What we found were lots of lovely little old harbours, squashed into small coves amounst hilly outcrops of rocky shores.   These small old fishing port size harbours, crammed houses on the little bit of flat ;land before they rise up the sides of the hills behind. And these lovely liitle old streets, narrow and winding though old houses. Colourful and picturesque.

NICE,   We walked to the waterfront of ?? newer Nice, still 30degrees at 6pm-- its been a hot summer here..... luckily we had a place in the old part of town which was prettier, and walked through the old narrow winding streets of Nice to the look-out. Not somewhere we lingered- preferring the old port and its ambiance.

The beaches are mainly pebbles, and this main beach at this end is so steep that you have to use a rope to get up the slope out of the water- up to your shoulders about 1m out.

 

Beer-time again😊😊😊😊😊😊

        This is the port of Nice- not the size we expected but they still manage to get some Superyachts in. Most just more out in the bays and have very very nice tenders!!!

 The bus to VILLEFRANCHE in the next bay to meet Janine from Sumner, NZ for lunch. Lots of old little steep street up from the harbour. You would need to be fit to live here all year.

These streets are where the old shopping street and markets were many years ago= all under the 3-4 storey houses above.

Next day, again by local bus going through VILLEFRANCHE and onto Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.

Lots of little bays, not too crowded with lovely clear blue water. We walked around on one of the coastal walkways and then back past David Nivens House and up to Villa Ephrussi, the Rothschilds Mansion.

 

Built in 1907-1912 by Beatrice de Rothschild. On her death in 1934 she donated the entire Villa to Academie des Beaux-arts.

They were busy setting up the flowers etc for a wedding that evening             💘💘💘💘

They have an international Garden here , 9 different gardens on different themes, and look what I found in the exotic garden!!!

On the plaque it says===== 

Muehlenbeckia Complexa, Muehlenbekie, polygonaceae, Nelle Zealande. 

We now have a little bit of Sea-boat envy!!!!!

or Summer bach envy !!!!

Big day --MONACO, again by local bus. It took one hour winding all along the coast line- so had beautiful views and all for only 2.5 euros each.

The Monaco Casino.

Look what we found !!😊

Amazing convex/concave sculpture- you can just see our reflection in the bottom rt hand corner.

Went in to have a flutter at the tables, but it was not open till 2pm 😢😢😢😢😢

Very easy place to walk around - mainly because Monaco is so small- 2.1sq kms in total, 38,000 inhabitants and 300 days of sunshine each year.  What did surprise was the building works and more high-rises being built and they can only go UP....

Again a small port- not what we expected.

This video shows the harbour and around the bay up to The Royal Palace.

This car is William Grovers Bugatti, which  won the 1st Grand Prix de MONACO, 1929.

Couple of super yachts in Monaco.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST - Back in NICE-- we go out for Max's birthday.....

Thats our resturant on the rock behind - a lovely meal- amazing night...

Le Plongier.

💕💕💕💕💕

We have been surrounded by big boats here on the monied South of France.   Its a different world!

But if you would like to rent this lovely 95m, 10 cabin (only 12 guests) with 28 crew, for one week, it will cost you 1,600,000 euros for the week with an avaerage of 150,000 euros for extras !!!