Cannes 9-29-17

Everyone was slow getting up this morning but me more than the rest.  I said they should go on and I would meet them at breakfast.  Before I even left the cabin, they were calling for those who had signed up for tender number one which was us.  I went upstairs and found them and we headed to the rear of the ship to meet until they would take us down to the tender.  This was an unusual setup in usually when you tender, the ship tours go first and everyone else gets a ticket that lets you know what number tender you are on.  We actually signed up the first day we were on the ship because Lindsay found the option on the ship app.  No one ever confirmed and they didn’t tell you what time they would  call tender number one but obviously it was earlier than we thought it would be.  We don’t meet our guide/driver until 9 AM and it is not 7:30 yet.  Really by the time everyone went to the restroom and were ready, we were heading to the tender and shortly after were on the dock in Cannes, France! 

There were lots of tours and people with signs but we didn’t see one with my name but we were about a half hour early.  Almost right at 9 we saw Sasha and talked with him about what we wanted to do.  He gave us some options about dining and we all decided the picnic sounded like fun.  Paige wanted to see the Yellow Submarine which is in Monaco and Sasha said we would try but they were having a huge yacht show and they have had restricted access to Monaco all week for security reasons.  We pile in the van and head off as he explains the buildings to us and how the film festival came to be held there.  He said it was basically a summer only vacation place for the rich Arabs and Russians until the American movie stars and writers came.  If something can be commercialized, leave it to us to find a way.  It still is a place for the wealthy.

 

 

 

We drove along the shoreline to several gorgeous seaside towns.  One was perched high above the water and there was an ancient church there and a beautiful overlook where we took some photos.  Sasha is also a photographer so he also took photos for and of us.

 

Juan-Les_Pins was one that had a beach with beautiful sand where we walked and got  cappuccinos and the kids got drinks and we soaked in the scenery.  As with most European beaches, there were some women topless on the beach which we didn’t think about warning the kids until we were all staring at it.  It was quite amusing.  We drove through Antibes and Mougins on onto St Laurant-Du-Var all with breathtaking views of the Cote’d’Azur. 

 

We moved onto Nice and drove along the beautiful ocean plaza where the Bastille celebration is held and sadly where the terroist attack took place.  It is unbelievable that there could have been such evil to take place is this beautiful and peaceful place.  Sasha explains that he and his wife live just two blocks from where the truck began.  The plaza is filled with people and bikers enjoying the beautiful weather.  He takes us to a bakery where we buy sandwiches and pastries for our picnic.  It all looks so good we have a hard time deciding what we want.  When we get it all and get back to the van, we head on to another store to get some wine and then start up the mountain.  Elton John has a home at the top of this mountain.  We sang “Rocket Man” as we passed his house.   At the top of this mountain is a fort with an amazing view and drop off.  Sasha explains that there were two forts and this upper one would signal the lower one when they saw ships approaching…and you could see forever from up here!

Every bit of this was gone...all delish!

The pig was chocolate

 

Entrance to Elton's house

 

We drove through these winding mountain top roads until we came to another overlook and a small park with picnic tables where we stopped for lunch.  We all enjoyed this food and there was nothing left!  The kids are getting used to this having wine with their meal European thing…well the girls were but Chris not so much.  Paige is convinced she is meant to live here…she loves the area and everything about it.  

 

We head on to Villefranche.  This city is good size and as all of the French Riviera is inhabited by the rich and famous.  The yachts in the harbor here are amazing.  Sasha again tells us that there are a lot of Russian wealthy here.  We are next viewing the gorgeous St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat where the richest of the rich live….no commercial property here at all…just homes that are not seen from the road…purposely.  We pass a couple mountain top houses for sale and Paige says she wants to buy one of those.  I said I would live there with her and do her laundry and cooking.

Where Paige and I will be living...

 

Our next stop is the ancient village of Eze which is perched on a mountain top.  We did not have time (or for me the stamina) to climb to the top to see the actual village as we were heading onto Monaco for Paige to see the Yellow Submarine.

When we get to Monaco, the police are blocking the entrance.  Sasha has a conversation with them and we are advised we cannot go there because of the yacht show and security today.  Nothing we can do about it but I felt bad for Paige.  We drive on to Monte Carlo.

 

We drive the route of the Grand Prix…the actual start and finish line is painted in the road!  We park and head to the casino square.  The cars parked around the casino and Paris Hotel were amazing.  We take photos and walk around the square and go into a shop to look around.  Chris and Keith got a commemorative coin and the rest of us just looked.  Sasha was telling us about the Starbucks and McDonalds there…you don’t see them because they are underground.  The rich and famous don’t want to be seen at either of these establishments so they were built underground so they could drive in without being seen.  Wow.  There really isn’t much to do here other than look at how the other half lives and plays.  We can’t afford to play here so we move on.  When Debbie and I were here we went into the casino.  It cost 10 Euros 11 years ago just to go inside!  Now the price is 17 Euros…yikes!

By now it is time to start heading back to Cannes and the ship.  We take the inland expressway back as it is the faster route.  The kids wanted to do some souvenir shopping so Sasha took us there first.  As you can imagine, there are not many souvenir shops in Cannes.  We did find a little place and the kids bought some gifts for their friends.

Our next stop was the theater where the film festival is held.  There are some interesting things here as some stars have done their handprints on a path that heads to the sea entrance.  We are not able to walk the stairs as they are setting up for an event.  Teresa and Keith went in a different direction looking for a restroom that they found on the beach not far away.  Teresa said it was unisex which they found out with a guy using the urinal when they walked in  There was also a carousel there that was playing Michael Jackson.  We are all worn out by now so Sasha takes us back to the tender area and we say our goodbyes.  I am amused as they have now changed where we must get the tender which it at the very end of the pier.  Now we must walk not only the length of the pier but out to where the lighthouse is to get on.  It would be so much kinder to make people walk this way in the morning rather than when they are tired….what’s another quarter mile huh?

 

The kids take off as soon as we are back to go find their friends.  We have reservations at the tappanyaki  tonight .  We all meet outside the restaurant and really enjoy our dinner.  We were all really hungry by now.  As soon as dinner is done, the kids head back to the teen room and I went to bed.  Obviously the rigorous schedule this week has done me in.  I always hear the girls when they come in as they want to tell me how much fun they had but I had no idea it was 2 AM! 

I have to say that I like a bit of motion in the ocean to gently rock you to sleep…the Mediterranean Sea has been like a sheet of glass since we boarded last Sunday.  If you weren’t watching us pull away from the dock, you wouldn’t know we were moving.  Good thing I was exhausted every night because I slept well without the motion this trip!

 

Day 6 of the cruise is done!