Minotel Hamotel Nice

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 ...

... Dee tentatively organised herself an appointment for some 'girly stuff'. She had inquired at the hostel if they knew of anywhere, as she was a bit scared to wait til Spain, unsure of what she might end up with. After locating the recommended place, Dee tried to explain what she required to the lady - who spoke no English - so there were some very amusing hand gestures. Dee was dreading the experience slightly as she hoped her request had been understood ok. She should not have stressed as ...

... everywhere and had decorated the main rooms with an Impressionist Art Theme. Just as I had anticipated at 7 PM when the Cocktail hour was to begin, only the three guys were ready. Stee, JC and I were all in Tuxedos and chatting on the main stern deck and the crew cast off the mooring lines and headed out of the harbor on a scenic tour along the coast at sunset. Over the hour the girls slowly trickled in and we sat ...

Today we journeyed from the West of France to the East. We left Carcassonne reasonably early, and our first train trip was uneventful – except for the very end! We arrived at Marseille St Charles at the very time our connection was due to depart (over 40 minutes late!) and had to literally run from platform B to platform F as the train was preparing to depart. Fortunately we got on about ...

... visited but we were on a mission to get to France. Back at the station we worked out where to go only to hear that our train was delayed. We found a (pretty cold) waiting room and sat patiently. Other travellers tried to work out when and where the trains would come and although 85 minutes late, we were not too worried. That was until a girl told us that we were going to be changed over to busses at the French border, the French Train people were on ...

... this visit, and it was exciting and enabling to use them to commuicate with a French cultural that is not English friendly in the least. I've been spoiled by being in Helsinki where everyone knows English and doesn't mind using it. After taking the airport bus to the La Gare Central, the central train station in the center of modern Nice, I took the 4-5 block walk to my parents hotel, which was located on the city main commercial drag ...

... with a gushing thank you and every sentence of hers seemed to end with 'it is normal' or 'it is nothing'. Elisabeth (as she was named) even phoned around, made an appointment and took us to the next town when Elni was sick and needed to see a doctor. Her hotel is named Bona Casa. Go there. Collioure has some medieval attractions, but really the forts and the chapels are only props on the set of the quiet, postcard beach. Our first night was ...