Residhotel Residence Virginia 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 ...

It is Sunday and very wet and miserable here in Antibes. Quite a change from the glorious day we had yesterday. Ideal for computer work in fact... (Except that then things didn't pan out as planned and it is now Monday)

It wasn't my intention to have an entry before my departure but the response to my initial circular has been so overwhelming that I feel it merited an ...

... not limited by bus and train timetables. The other upside is that we are quite comfortably staying within our 50 Euro a day budget (25 Euro each) - yep that's fuel, food, the occasional wine or 3 out at a bar, entrance fees, the lot!! Downside of campervaning... it is a lot harder socialising and meeting other people. In a hostel this is easy especially if you are in an 8 bed dorm with a bunch of strangers. In a van you don't have this opportunity and most other vanners ...

... at the Monte Carlo Casino. Mark was super keen on feeling like James Bond. He so wishes he was James Bond. It is kind of odd because once you are in the casino it is really quiet and not busy at all. Mark won about 300 euro so we were happy.

We checked out the start and finish line of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, along with the famous hairpin turn. Even the locals fang it around that corner.

We headed ...

... Prince' (The Little Prince), a gorgeous and very well-known kids book which is also an allegory, was based there. So the monastery/hostel has little pics from the book everywhere and is generally really cute. They were so nice, had a pick up bus service into town (as the hostel is located on a mountain about 15min walk into town). The hostel had an awesome communal kitchen, but also came with a chef that we did not expect, and every night they offered 5euro pizzas or a roast and veggie ...

... the 17th century, so Vicki took me on 2 factory tours and spent her birthday money on smelly stuff. This probably was a good thing because we couldn't get a warm shower when we got in that night. Vic braved it and went the iceberg bath, I said too bad if I stink. Next day Vic worked out the trick. You hit the switch on the wall and it not only gives you lights, but ...

... seen a real one driving and today we saw about 20, just cruising the streets, not to mention mercedes, porches and even a rolls royce! We had a walk through the Grande Prix tunnel and lost 10 euro at the Monte Carlo casino. (The free part, not the part that costs 10 euro entry). After that there wasn't a lot left to do so we came back after only two hours there and once again cruised the streets of Nice. We saw a wedding about ...

... someone. We continued on our walk to the end of the beach (very nice beach... all sand). When we returned there were a group of guys in wetsuits in the water. We took a few pics and got closer. I asked a lady what was going on. She did not speak English, but I was able to figure out that one of the men in the wetsuits was Prince Albert of Monaco! We took a few more pics and we were soon on the train, back to Nice. Monaco was ...

... room was excellent with a patio overlooking the swimming pool and the town and valley. The bar had a plasma TV so I watched the end of the afternoon game, Portugal v Angola. We ate our fruit, and stayed in and watched TV . I dug out the Acer and caught up with some of this log. I watched another game downstairs in the bar. It was then we decided to stay two nights at this place. Mainly because the first Australian match was on Monday and I could guarantee a TV here.