Since our last post we’ve been around the Cote D’Azur from St. Tropez in the west to Monaco in the east. It’s all been beautiful.
We spent our first day here getting our bearings in Nice before climbing the Colline du Chateau on the eastern side of the town. The hill used to have a fort on it that was home to the Dukes of Savoy but Louis XIV invaded around 1706 and had the fort destroyed. Now there are just great views, to the west across the Baie de Anges and the main city of Nice and to the east in to the port of Nice and Cap Ferrat.
To the west:
To the east:
There isn’t much of the fort and it’s chateau left, the hilltop is now covered in gardens and these neat mosaics dedicated to Ulysses who legend has it stopped here on his way back to Greece after his voyages.
Of course we didn’t spend long looking at the mosaics as I needed to get closer to the boats.
There are several hundred more boat photos from the harbour in Nice but there are lots more to come as we travel around the coast so I’ll spare you… for now.
The next day we explored old Nice, walked along the beach and just soaked up the ambiance of the town. Our PEI family will be pleased to know that the pebbly beach in Nice is a treasure trove of beach glass.
The key discovery of the day however came in the afternoon when George and I discovered our new favourite brews, Timmerman’s Kreik (cherry beer) and Timmerman’s Framboise (rasberry beer). 
We plan to begin importing it to Canada in bulk as soon as we get them to correct the slight typo in the name.
The next day we picked up our rental car (from the friendly and efficient folks at Europcar) and drove west to St. Tropez; capital of the ‘jet set’. We arrived in the town centre where we picked up a map and you guessed it started with the harbour.
From there we walked around the point and up another castle hill, this time with the castle largely intact as they managed to pay Louis XIV off before he got around to tearing it down.
Of course the boats were also visible from the hill…
…and this oddly pretty cemetary right at the water’s edge.
…and this striking cannon.
After taking in the hill top sights we began making our way back down through the old city…
had a great lunch at ‘The Citadel’…
and then drove off for the beach.
We were pleased that this part of the coast is covered in your more traditional sand rather than the pebbles of Nice.
In the late afternoon we drove back along the coast through Cannes (no celebs, just a quick ice cream) and Antibes…
Today we took off in the other direction heading east along the Corniches (basically a series of really narrow, twisty roads blasted into the rock; let’s just say I’m ready for Gran Turismo 4 when I get back) to Monaco. We passed through a bunch of great little sea side towns, with the first one being Villefranche-sur-mer.
From there we twisted and turned our way to the badly misnamed town of Eze. I say badly misnamed as it’s built into the side of a cliff and the whole place is one steep staircase. A really pretty staircase though.
There’s a five star hotel carved into the rock in what used to be the King of Sweden’s pad, lot’s of neat boutique’s and good looking restraunts, if they’d put in an elevator down to the beach I think I could live here.
Our next stop was the tiny principality of Monaco. Monaco is famous for being the size of a postage stamp, for it’s casino, it’s Grand Prix, it’s Princes and the big boats in it’s harbour. We saw evidence of all four. 
The Grimaldi’s who are Monaco’s Royal Family have a strange history, in front of the palace is this statue to the first Prince. He became Prince by dressing up as a monk, sneaking into the monastery on top of the hill and ‘overcoming’ (read killing) the monks before declaring himself ruler.
Perhaps as a result of this checkered past and to prevent anyone pulling the same trick on them, the Prince’s of Monaco have seen fit to make every second citizen a guard or a police officer. Including this fellow who arrested George for climbing in one of the Royal Palm Trees.
George was sentenced to be fired from a cannon into the harbour.
Fortunately, this kind fellow on his 58 meter long sailboat happened by and fished him out.
All and all a fantastic taste of the fabulous French Riviera. I’m going to sign off here as it’s getting late and we’ve got an early train tommorrow to Venice.
Cheers,
Mark & Ali
Hi kids!
Dad and I are getting lots of enjoyment out of your Blog. Ali looks great in the pictures. (of course you too Mark-ee).
Sounds like you had a wonderful visit on the Cote d’Azur which brought back a lot of memories for me way back to my first visit there in 1954.
2 Years later Aunt Joop, Uncle Rob and I left from Nice for a wonderful holiday in Corsica, going over by ferry. It had been my first airplane ride from Amsterdam to Nice.
I am sure you will just love Venice. Wonder through the little streets behind St. Marco’s Square and buy some bird feed. I know you’re not crazy about birds but do it anyway; it’s fun.
Looking forward to your Venice adventure and on. Curious to hear where your next stop will be.
Lotti di amore. Ciao!
Mamma!
P.S. Not knowing much Italian, I got this from Bablefish.
Hi you two. Great commentary and beautiful pictures. It’s nice to see you together in a few shots (and George too). It sounds like you are becoming quite a beer expert, Mark. Don’t come home with a beer belly. Ali is the only one we would like to see with a little belly. Haha. Keep on enjoying the sites – you will remember it always. Not much news from PEI – nice day – Mike is putting the boat in the water today. Fresh lobster in 1 1/2 weeks – yummy. The girls took their postcards to school yesterday and the rest of them have them on the fridge. Ali, did you get any beach glass? Any different colours? The beach at Grammie’s is almost unrecognizable – we found quite a bit of beach glass, mostly emerald green. I look forward to your next entry. Take care. Love, Sara
Bonjour Ali and Mark, Thanks for the postcard from Paris. How are your adventures? Love all the beautiful pictures.
Love Rebeca
Hi guys,
What beautiful pictures! I would love to visit the beaches there because I collect sea glass. I only every find blue, green, brown and white around here though. If you see a pink piece or any other color (besides the ones I mentioned above) please pick it up and save it for me.
LOL! I love the Timmerman’s beer! Just change the “T” with a “Z” and things would be much better. What did the beer taste like? Did it really taste like strawberry and raspberry?
Take care,
Trina
Ali & mark, just to reinforce your daily updates, we look forward every day to your wonderfull pics and your very charming insites and writing style! I loved the charm of Villefranche, & Monte carlo , and keep those boat pics coming! When in Florence you will see M’s fabulous David, you won’t believe this male nude in stone contemplating his slaying of the giant Goliath in such a beautifull composition.Just for a minute you you may find the male form more beautifull, but only for a minute, when you reflect on Maechelangelo’s Pieta on the right portico as you enter St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, see if you don’t find this sculpture the most moving piece of art, the most exquisite of all! Luv and hugs go safe and keep those dailies coming we luv em! Daddio
HAPPY 34TH BIRTHDAY MARK!!!! WHAT A TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY – WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELLING. BE SURE TO HAVE A BEER, OR TWO, OR THREE. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
SARA AND GANG
Happy Birthday Mark and many moreeeeeeeeeee!!!
Hey Mark,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Or in Italian FELICE COMPLEANNO!! We hope you’re having a great day with lots of nice Italian food and icecream!!yamm!!
Frutsel is doing great and says ‘hi’ too!
CU!
Walter and Jess
Hi Mark and Ali!
Mark: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ‘baby’. It was indeed a magic moment when you arrived as a tiny little sprout at 5lbs. 10 oz. but the doctor assured me you’d grow up to become a rather tall fellow and he was right.
Dad and I tried to reach your cell but had to leave a message.
Just in case the other commentators should think we’d forgotten about DEE day or we were late (heaven forbid), I think we beat you all to the punch (no pun intended) because I already sent an electronic wish 2 days ago!
It was nice to see that you’re not out-of-sight and out-of-mind Mark by all the wellwishers.
We’ll be thinking of you two as you see the Florence sites and continue to have this wonderful trip. Hope you already have a hotel in Rome; you will probably be there around the time Pope Benedict is being inaugurated Sunday?
As usual, the writing and pictures are wonderful and Ali, you are very photogenetic and you look so happy. Hope your nerves have calmed down by now.
If you want a nice restaurant in Rome, try Sans Souci (off Via Veneto) or George’s if it still exists – also in that area. May be big Euros though.
No news yet on the paper trail but we keep trying.
Love YA two!!!! Take care and ENJOY!
Love, Mom T.O.
P.S. Dad may even have a toast to your birthday tonight with a Bailey’s and as you know, that is a MAJOR event for him
Mark, wishing you a Happy 34th Birthday from Murray Harbour North. Have a great day. Weir and Almira
Hi Mark
According to Greek tradition, it is very important for the man to speak first after his wedding ceremony. The person who speaks first will be the one to wear the pants in the family. At this man’s wedding ceremony, when they were pronounced man and wife, the happy couple turned to walk down the aisle. Eager to be the first to speak, he opened his mouth to tell her that he loved her. But, before he could get the words out, she said, “Don’t step on my train.”
Happy Birthday, I’m sure you will always remember the year you turned 34. Great to talk to you today. I thought of you when I read this, in my favourite book, Reader’s Digest.
Have a great 34th year.
Love Lynn
Hi Ali
Great to talk to you today. A surprise, but a pleasant one. Sorry I thought you were Vanessa at first. I was not long awake. I can’t believe all the beautiful sites you are taking in. I’m very envious, but seeing through your eyes is the next best thing.
Remember the packet of forget-me-not seeds you sent me for Mother’s Day last year. I got the idea that I would save and replant the seeds, keeping a continuous link. I planted about 30 seeds off the first bunch. Only one plant grew, but I kept it on the window sill anyway. I though how appropriate this morning. After talking to you today, I went out into the kitchen and there in the sun, despite the snow covered ground out the window, and despite the odds, that one plant had burst into full bloom.
Big love,
Mom
Some very interesting comments from others…hummm?.
I guess my birthday wishes were not posted. ANYWAY…..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, maybe this one will show up!
Take care and be safe.