Jim & Happy : Returning to Larocal

Eze to Larocal – Sunday 15 December

It is another beautiful winters day and our last sunrise in Eze this morning was as spectacular as ever.

It is now 11am and we are on the train enroute to Bordeaux. We have just left Cannes train station. We will arrive in Bordeaux tonight at 7.15pm where we change trains for Bergerac. We will arrive at Bergerac at 9.30pm. From there we’ll catch a taxi to the airport to pick up Melinda’s car and drive to Larocal.

This part of the train trip runs along the coast, literally following the sea. It is very pleasant with the sun streaming in through the windows. The train has few passengers today and SNCF (French railways) haven’t bothered lighting up the seat numbers so everyone is sitting wherever they like which is great because we can spread out.

I saw the sign this morning on the train from Eze to Nice in regards to travelling without a ticket and I quote ‘ you can approach the conductor on the platform before boarding the train OR on the train’ Grrrr!!! wish we had enough courage the other day to find the sign and point this out to the nasty blonde. I must let it go!

Yesterday we caught the train to Monaco. What an interesting place with an interesting history. It was only a 15-minute trip round the coastline from Eze. We went on the open bus tour which is always worthwhile. It was a great way to have a quick and informative look around the place. Lucky for us we were in time to watch the changing of the guard at the Prince's Palace.

In the harbour area a Christmas park was set up similar to the one in Nice. We had lunch there – Jim had a hamburger that he really enjoyed and I had French onion soup. Thought I should try it at least once before we leave France. It was yummy not like eating a bowl of onions as Jim thought it would although I admit it did repeat on me later again and again.

Tuesday 17 December

Here we are back in Larocal. We arrived 10.30pm on Sunday night as planned. No hiccups - Whew! The girls, Lola & Fizz were happy to see us even at that late hour.

The weather seems milder than when we were here three weeks ago. It has been frosty in the mornings but the days have been reaching 9 degrees and the sun has been out for part of the day, that helps. Melinda turned the central heating on while we were away, what a big difference it makes to our comfort level.

Yesterday morning the girls were keen to go for a walk remembering that is what we do together. It is now Tuesday afternoon and time for our afternoons walk, so off we go. Talk again soon.

Have a look at Flickr; we have loaded photos of Grasse, VillaFranche and Monaco.