Des Parfums Hotel Grasse

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 dŽAzur (when you see the water you know why the name is Cote dŽAzur), 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 ...

... choice of routes and directions given. A classic is where we are on a main road with a slight bend and there is a goat track leading off the road. She tells us to turn right to avoid the goat track and stay on the highway... Sound advice, I would never have thought...Kim laughs as I often engage in conversation with Mary why she instructed me to go one way but blatantly ignored informing me about an important turn which I only noticed from looking at her screen. Maison d ...

... the Contiki group in a local restaurant, followed by some drinking games in a pub! All good fun really. As it was getting quite late (and I need my beauty sleep) I went to bed, whilst Mark took a trip to another casino. He didn't get in until about 3.30am all drunk! He swears he got lost on the way home for an hour but I reckon he was just enjoying himself too much to sleep. He was a bit rough on the journey the following day!

... was just pebbles, and has now decided that the women of Nice must be covered in cellulite from all the pebbles! Les sun-roasted locals did not seem to mind the lack of sand one bit and glared at Dani's lily-white arms and legs which were sooo pale they are almost see through (she bought some tanning lotion the next day... feeling very self conscious!). Dee balked when she saw boobs hanging out for all to see on a woman many times her age (sooooo not right!!!).

Despite the pebbles ...

... laid plans can go agley, and there was nothing between Roquebrune Cap Martin and Grasse, as we had chosen the shortest route via the spectacular and terrifying Grande Corniche, and the less spectacular Autostrada A8 (three lots of tolls - €1.10, €1.40 and €2.80 for a shortish trip). So brunch it was at Le Georgio's in the old part of Grasse.

Now for most of our time in Italy we believed that Italians learned how to make ...

... Real estate and boat prices are hideous! While there I ran into some others that I had met in Marseille. They are at another hostel, so we are going to meet them there as their hostel has a bar with ridiculously cheap beer for 1€, drinking out in a pub here requires a bucket load of money at around 6€ per beer. Yikes! Anyway, time for a shower and a bit of a rest, travelling is so hard! Just kidding! Update again soon Katharine

... the crack of dawn today because me and this other American (native Michigander!!) were going to explore Old City and take pictures. If you didnt know, the south of france is completely under construction. They are trying to build a tramway in the city in 3 years flat so its disgusting. But, nevertheless,t he French Rivera is beautiful. Evan ended up standing me up (grrr... I could have used more sleep!) so I had a last few hours on the rockiest beach ever (ouch ...

MONDAY, 12th June We had a great night's sleep. I don't even remember turning once...but I'm sure I did. Breakfast was also most enjoyable. We were helped by an African gent...in English...who was most concerned that we would not be able to operate his coffee machine. There was cereal and croissants and yoghurts. Even the coffee tasted good. All on tablecloths in a bright outdoor setting. A good place to stay. Pretty ...