Thursday, June 26: Oh how wonderful it was to have a full night’s rest! With everything so far away and no public transportation system we were “home” by 9:00 last night and I was in bed by 10:30 and we had a late wakeup call this morning …8 hours of sleep…I feel like a new woman. The entire group felt much better today; between adjusting from jet lag and much needed sleep we all could face a full day today.
First we loaded up the bus and drove along the very blue Mediterranean Sea to Monaco. How beautiful the countryside is!! Homes and businesses hang on the steep mountainsides, terraced farms, and rushing rivers to the sea, rocky coast…ooh, la la. Driving through tunnels through the mountains makes you appreciate modern technology, those poor people in earlier times that had to climb up and down the mountain for days in what took us 45 minutes to do by bus. Cameras snapping scenic panoramas of the bluest water I’ve ever seen, oohs and ahhs galore from the impressed tourists would make any chamber of commerce proud.
We were amazed at how easily Antonio, our bus driver, was able to make the hairpin curves of Monaco…think Grand Prix and now imagine a bus making that curve…at least we weren’t driving a hundred miles per hour. The boys were all drooling over all of the expensive cars they saw, Ferrari, Mazarati (sp??). We all laughed when someone said, “look, a Honda”.
We all enjoyed the Changing of the Guard at the Palace, the shopping, the gardens with sweet smelling flowers and the beautiful warm day. Have I mentioned the view?
Next to the tiny medieval village of Eze, high atop a mountain top. We toured the perfume factory and learned how they process the oils and make the expensive liquid. Two tons of pedals to make less than an ounce of perfume, only 50 “noses” in the world…no wonder the stuff is so expensive. I’m sure they loved to see us coming. I think just about everyone walked out of the factory store with something! I’m pleased that my allergies didn’t bother me at all!
Up the mountain to the medieval city…what a climb…Matteo was kind enough to allow us plenty of time to ascend the mountain whose pathways were very rocky and slippery in places…Definitely worth all of the huffing and puffing to get there. Last time I was here I was feeling bad and did not enjoy Eze and chose not to climb up. I’m thankful for the rest and glad I was not under the weather this time!
Back on the road to Nice for dinner and a walking tour of the oldest section of the city. We were caught in the rain for a little while, of course my umbrella was on the bus, but luckily we were able to find some shelter…they are called shops. I’ve been to other medieval towns and marveled at how narrow the streets were but I do believe Eze and Nice had/has some of the narrowest streets so far. Once again the scene was picturesque.
Another early night tonight and a road trip tomorrow. Ouveroi France…Bojourno Italy.
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