France is fun

Yes, I did take a little 4-day trip to the South of France and yes, it was amazing and yes, it was at the same time disturbing. There is a lot of money being spent on the most fantastic self-indulgent luxuries. It was great and it was difficult. So many things are.

So, let me start with the adventure. During the middle of my trip, I decided to take a quick train ride to Italy because 1) I wanted to have lunch in Italy just because I could and 2) Because I have a friend addicted to a specific Italian brand of toothpaste and I wanted to find some for her. So, I made arrangements to take a 40 min train ride from Nice to the first town across the border in Italy. My French is horrible, I should actually not speak while in France, but I can't stop myself from trying. So it wasn't very surprising to me that I got off the train two stops two soon in Menton, which is still in France. From walking down the street after exiting the station I was pretty sure I was still in France, but it took me a while to work it all out. Eventually, I made it to the beach pictured above - that is Italy. The beach pictured below is Menton. A lovely town and a great and happy mistake to have made.







The beach immediately below is in the town that easily was my favorite. Antibes had great sand beaches, this amazing market where I am buying olive pate for my beach based picnic. I loved the town and had a great morning there. Next time I get to the South of France I will try to stay in Antibes a few days. It's really lovely and the towns people were completely nice to me, which was not always the case of course. The French, oh the French. I wish I was French. I could seriously get into throwing a mean French attitude around.

I was lucky enough to spend several hours in Monaco during my trip. It was a little weird if I am honest about it. I have never seen lavish like this town does lavish. Even the bird stealing peanuts from my cafe table pulled rank on me and would not go away. The Monaco hierarchy was clear, even to that lowly horrible pigeon. Sad, sad, sad.
This is me on my way to Monaco town where Monaco Royalty reside. It was there I saw the tombstone of Grace Kelly and her hubby the prince.

Here we have the Monaco Harbor. It's, what, 3 times the size of the harbor in Cannes AND it has boats 3 times the size. Amazing really, that there is that much money in the world.

When I was wandering around Monte Carlo I saw - oh, probably 7 Bentley's and I had to take a picture of this convertible, much to my middle class shame. I don't even want a Bentley. I think it's disgusting to spend that kind of money on a car. I did try to stop myself from taking this picture, but I couldn't stop myself. I feel shame so lets just leave it. I had never seen a Bentley convertible before and I just got carried away with what it all means. Perhaps the person that owns this car does feed most of the citizens of a small country where food resources are scarce. I just don't know but I have hope that it's at least possible.

Here it is. The Monte Carlo Casino. It cost 20 euros to get in, so I stayed out. I could not give that casino 33 dollars just to enter. I mean, that is no way to earn a buck. Big spender lose millions in cash in this place all the time and I am asked to pay just to get in and then pay again to get into the rooms to see it happen. I think not. The outside is pretty though. To me, it looks more like a big fancy house than a casino. I searched for celebs but saw no one. One of my fellow hostelmates saw a celebrity get arrested here the day before I visited, although they couldn't remember who. What they did remember was that this alleged celebrity just keep saying to police "do you know who I am" as they were guiding her to a police car. Now my new goal is to do something that allows me to say "do you know who I am" to an authority figure asking me to do something I am not interested in. Maybe I'll try it with my boss on Monday. Oh for heaven's sake, I might have too now.

I visited Cannes of course. Loved it. I saw the red carpet and have a photo walking on it. Sadly, it's just a photo of me on red carpet. You can't tell where I am, so it hardly seems worth posting. Instead I decided to feature this very pretty, very private beach where sun bathers were intentionally, or so it seemed, avoiding the sun. My beach, that would be the public beach, looked like any other beach photo already posted here. Not many umbrellas there. Why would that be true? Is that down to intelligence or vanity or something else all together? A girl wonders.

Doesn't it look a little bit like I own the boat I'm standing in front of, or perhaps one of the six docked behind me? They are all privately owned and all sitting in Cannes, waiting for me to free them from the tyranny of being owned by someone who can actually afford to own one or several.

Streets of Nice's "Old Town"

My central base was Nice and I really loved it. It's a posh town with a tangible edgy undercurrent. Perfect for me. The picture to the left is old town Nice. The architecture is absolute art. Old Town Nice, to me, looks like what a town would look like if you tried to mingle Paris with Pisa. It's great. I ate well, was entertained and felt myself being pulled down lots of streets and alleys. It was such a great trip.

This is a view from the Castle that sort of resides over Nice. On the way up is an incredible cemetery that I spent some time in. It was better maintained than the cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried, but it is the same kind of fantastic with huge headstones, statues etc.... It has made me want a statue somewhere in commemoration of the end of my body. I speak of death of course although not often because I am still really afraid of it. But, when it happens, will someone make sure I have a feminine statue that omits positive energy? I think that would be so cool. Maybe it could be in a park though, as I am not a big fan of being buried if it's possible to avoid it. I am talking about a park in the USA of course. I don't really want my statue in France, although they know how it's done. Am I being clear? :)

That was my trip. It was great and it made me feel great. I am so lucky. That makes me feel great too. Lets all keep hoping that luck lasts. There is so much more in the world that I am a little desperate to see.

Le Tour de Frangland

Yes, it was here. The first leg of the biggest bike race in the world. It started in London and it ended in Canterbury. Personally, I think it's incredibly generous of the French to so fully participate in the beggining of their bike race when it happens somewhere else. Really good. I did not take part in any Tour de France stuff in London, fearing chaos and masses of people, and instead choose Canterbury to catch the action, having never been there. Sadly, I missed the racers crossing the finish line. Gladly I ran into a fellow American living in London who caught the finish and who sent me a few photos. I did see the winner cross the line in the town center where a movie size screen projecting live TV coverage was set up somehow, so that was exciting. It just makes me happy to have been there. It felt neat.

When your down, go to London town

I was feeling bored, isolated and all together detached from my happy and content self last weekend. I had little money, no plans and decided that I would just take a little walk around town. London; medicine just for being there. I hopped on the bus, stayed on the bus for a random 30 minutes, and when I hopped off, this is what I saw: A street, quaint and cute in it's own right, but the sign made me laugh out loud. Only in England...


As I strolled along the river I shook my head in disbelief and murmured out loud "you are kidding me" making people passing me glance my way, when I saw this movie figure guy plastered on to the London Eye. Now that's an advert.


I love the art that is just a regular part of every day London. I mean, just look at the House of Parliment! It reminds me of Italy every time I see it. I think I actually have a crush on Big Ben!