Atel Moderne Hotel Menton

ok, it was more "collecting a new country" than being really interested in Monaco. Strange, when you go there from Nice airport by bus it costs you 18 € one way, when you go from Nice bus terminal it costs 1 € one way. Monaco is a very clean city. I have never seen so many big and expensive cars. I saw the casino and the castle. Nice, but not spectacular.

I know I always write the same...great weather, such a nice city, good food....but I have to say that Nice was a (very) big surprise for me, I can say that it is my favourite city in Europe (ok, number 2 after Lisbon). You have the mountains, the Cote d´Azur (when you see the water you know why the name is Cote d´Azur), the market with fresh vegetables, fruits, honey, oil, soap, you have great restaurants ...

... Not only have the donations received already far exceeded my expectations, but the kind words and general interest and support that I have received have been amazing. So thank you all. It is all very much appreciated and I can't believe that between us we really will change these little lives. It is my motto here in Antibes, but this is the ultimate "think globally; act locally ...

... Moochelin star cooking It is my job to drive everywhere and keep Scoobs in good health, in return it is Kim's job to cook and clean... sounds like old school type casting but it works! The food has been great (and so has the driving) Kim has even joked about writing a Cookbook for campervaning. We have a 2 burner stove, griller and oven, as well as a small fridge/freezer and limited storage space, so our food is always super fresh. The day always starts with our ...

... of Prince Albert - no joke), then walked along the harbour. The harbour had a full fairground atmosphere with rides, games, food, lights etc. We had the most delicious kebab for dinner from a stall :-) So posh!

We then followed the curve of the harbour to gape at the boats moored there. The amount of money people obviously have is just obscene!

Next we thought maybe we would have a go at trying to win ...

... meager with dinners, eating whatever the roast of the day was at the hostel for 6.50 or slightly dodgy pizzas, which were sometimes nice, and sometimes not. So yeah, nice to treat ourselves.

Our stay in the hotel was was lovely and we've decided to try and treat ourselves before we get to that shabby state again. Its amazing how quickly you forget the basic luxuries; one bed without a seam or a bar in the middle, one doona to share rather than two small single ones, a bathmat and ...

... montréalais") et après une rapide razzia Internet pour prendre rapidement des notes sur comment me rendre à l'Auberge de Jeunesse de Menton, je fais le check-out et je vais attendre la 40, qui est méga pleine à craquer ; je suis pogné dans la porte arrière avec mon gros pack sac, coincé entre une mémé compatissante et un jeune rebelle à la coupe de cheveux dont la laideur n'a d'égale que celle de sa moustache. Bref, j'atteins la gare de Piazza ...

Menton was so on the border of France and Italy that u can get away with either language (thank god!) Very nice beach side town...didn't stay long coz the sun would of melted me. 40 degrees. Good if you love the beach though but you need a mat and shoes coz those pebbles hurt!

... got our room and it is great. I am writing this note on our beautiful balcony overlooking the promenade, the Mediteranean and Menton itself, thanks to our WIFI connection. Tomorrow we head off to Italy and we will be in a farmhouse near Florence where we will be helping with the feeding of the chickens ( one of your favourite pastimes Neil) and other assorted duties. Until then take care.

... otherwise he would had had to pay the 100 euro taxi fare back to Nice. Some people got dropped off in town to go out but after a huge last night last night alot of us just went back to the hotel and hung out in the rooms chatting for awhile. It was nice to relax after having a bis one last night. COSTS: 10E- black top 8.50E- Vanilla Room spray .90E- postcards 8.99E- sparkly bag 10E- brooch 13E- dinner&desert .80E- postcards