Isle St. Honorat

This day trip off the coast of Cannes was an unexpected surprise. After a 20 minute ferry ride over the crystal blue waters of the Cote d'Azure we arrive on this tiny island that has been inhabited by monks for over 1500 years. Apparently they've been growing grapes and making wine all that time, along with protecting the mainland from the Moors and the pirates, of course. After walking around the entire island, we sat down to an amazing lunch that ended with a heaping bowl of mint ice cream, drowned in a mint liquor that the monks produce on the island.

Cannes

We booked an apartment for a whole week in Cannes without really knowing anything about it. Pretty town, fancy shops but public beaches were minimal. Most are taken over by beachside restaurants that charge much more than you'd ever want to pay for a small cocktail. No big deal though, we still got sunburned and tanned and therefore, i'm happy.

Yep

Petit Bateau

I forgot about one of my favorite parts while in Paris....we went on this great boat tour along the river.

Nice. Not so nice....

In between our stay from Paris to Cannes we stopped over in Nice for the day, the supposed hot, cultural spot on the French Riviera. It was nice but we didn't love it for some reason. Though rocky, the beaches were great because of the crystal blue water but the town itself reminded us more of Florida and less of the south of France that we were expecting. However, i did get to eat the escargots that i had been longing for....

No Connection in Cannes

Yep, that's right. The online connection at our apartment in Cannes does not work. That means there will be no updates until we arrive in Annecy on Saturday. Hopefully we'll be able to post some exciting news then. We are staying at the greatest little studio up in the hills of Cannes, drinking lots of wines and eating tasty cheeses and breads and all sorts of chocolate filled goodies.
Bon soir!

No real update for you all tonight. Just had a huge fiasco with getting home from dinner...no taxi. No bus. Big problem. Here are some pictures to keep you occupied....

oh my

Look at this! I was so excited to see this in the markets here. My favorite little cheese spread made into individual packets. We don't have these in the US, right? I don't think so....
I had to buy some immediately and we've been bringing them with us on picnics to spread on the many baguettes that we've been eating. Dee-lish!

15 miles...on foot

We hit ALL the stops today. Serious tourists is what we were. First thing in the morning we walked from our apartment to the Louvre which took a whole 10 minutes. For some reason i get a little emotional when seeing huge monuments or pieces of art that you have only read about or seen in books. No actual tears were shed but the same thing happened to me in Italy...it is just so overwhelming, especially while walking into the atrium and seeing that huge glass pyramid. Jesse was too busy getting harassed by a gypsy with a gold ring on the outer edges of the Louvre to see my emotional breakthrough but by his reaction i knew he was loving it as much as i was. You really can not believe how massive this museum is. We got lost again and again but i was glad to see my favorite Florentine paintings. And the Mona Lisa and Victory of Samothrace - of coarse! After the Louvre we walked to Arc de Triomphe - Napoleon's triumphant structure that pays respect to all French soldiers. We climbed to the top where you can see the most unbelievable view of the city (and the polluted, hazy sky of Paris as well). Next onto the Eiffle Tower, which was exactly as expected....
Lots of little stops were made in between, usually to pick up a bagette or other tasty treats, consequently having to make a horrible attempt at the French language.
* note the park above. it was only 60 degrees today and many Parisians were out bronzing their skin. i loved the men in their speedos trying to tan both the back and fronts of their bodies in a public park...