Frenchie

Villefranche, France

Took a tour that took me to Nice, Monico, and Monte Carlo.
Nice was very charming. I wanted to spend a lot more time there! We were given time to look/shop at the flower/fruit market. So many gorgeous bouquets, fresh fruit, vegetables, real spices, olives, sun dried tomatoes (I bought some sun dried tomato paste in olive oil and local spices- good on toasted bread!)
Driving to Monico was very beautiful. The French Riviera is full of gorgeous views, scenery, cliffs, and the color of the water! “Beautiful! Wish you were here!” Actually getting to Monico we had to take three escalators and one elevator. Kind of weird because the elevator was inside a fake cave- I felt like I was waiting to get in line for a ride at Disneyland…maybe into the Tower of Terror? Haha. We walked past very pretty and unique looking French buildings (kind of like the place where Megan and Renaud stayed for their wedding!), and eventually into a large church. Then we were taken to the palace, where the changing of the guards occurred. There were TONS of people there, so I guess it was a big deal…but I don’t really understand what the fuss is about. I grabbed a salad at a local sandwich place and ate in the sun, over looking the water. Very nice.
As we left this town, our tour guide explained that they were already setting up for the Grand (gran?) Prix, even though it is about 5-6 weeks away. We saw where they start the race, and even drove on the same road where the race happens. She told us that people who live in the apartments on that street rent out their place for ONE DAY at 20,000 euros!
Last, we took a stop in Monte Carlo. Everything here is super classy and WAY expensive! There is the Gran Casino, a high class casino where you pay 10 euros to get in, men are dressed in suits, and there is an air of silence throughout the casino, it is very proper. Then there is the Café Paris Casino next door, where it is free to get in, and more Americanized with loud slot machines and whooping and hollering. There is also the 900 euro/night Hotel de Paris, a beautiful hotel for the elite. Brand new Bentleys, Royals Royce, BMWs…all these beautiful cars parked everywhere… Then, rows of expensive shopping: Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel… I felt like a poor, under-dressed, tourist in this place! But it was quite beautiful!

Cannes and Toulon, France
Just more ritzy type areas with endless amount of shopping, restaurants, cafés, bars, etc. Not much to right home about…just enjoyed the days, and have been continuing my training!