On the Waterfront

Dad and Una arrived yesterday so it's a Hobday invasion of Villefranche.  Went for dinner at a little waterfront restaurant, Les Corsaires which provided an unimpeded view of the valet parking for all the restaurants along the waterfront.  

It was like being an episode of Top Gear and even more fun spotting the number plates of each car and working out the nationalities.  The Swiss narrowly had it over the Russians.

I also love the way that each waterfront restaurant has its own tender so when you get bored with the menu on your super yacht today, you can call up your restaurant of choice and they will collect and deliver you to and from one's floating gin palace.  
Marvellous!

Another thing I love about Villefranche is the dilapidated apartment buildings on the waterfront with million dollar views, perched above all the glitterati passing by underneath, and looking for all the world like a third world suburb of Buenos Aires.


You really wouldn't think that there's a EUR45 million dollar wedding taking place next door today!

The sights and sounds of Villefranche

My street

It's actually really noisy living in a little old village like this, but rather comforting once you get used to it.  All the are house are cheek by jowl and you can hear everyong going about their daily business in quite clear detail.  Someone next door plays the guitar every lunchtime - rather well I might add - which makes a nice daily accompaniment to one's midday repast.

The church... and it's bell tower

It all kicks off quite early.  The church in mid-town starts it's bells at 7am with a pealing rendition to get the day started, which then repeats at 7.05am just in case you didn't hear it the first time.  Once you realise you're awake and it's still only 7.06am, you then hear all the doves who clearly have also just been woken up, cooing away from their various perches among the rooftops.

And then there're the evening swallows.  They gather at dusk and have a might time swooping about in great flocks above the old town - I'm sure if the buildings weren't two or three stories high and the alleys weren't so narrow, they'd make a speciality of dive bombing people.

The alley steps leading up to my atelier

My favourite time of the day is just after it gets dark between 9 and 10pm when the swallows have stopped, and the sun has just gone down and the town settles into relaxation mode.  The bars and restaurants provide a companion-able background hum to the live music that floats up the hill from the bars, occasionally punctuated with the dinner noises of clinking glasses and cutlery on crockery from the surrounding houses.


Bon nuit.

Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur is living up to it's name - long, hot (almost too hot), sunny days, blue sky that goes on forever and clear, sparkling water that is the most amazing shade of turquoise.  You really do feel as if you're in the middle of a Slim Aarons shoot.

Not much topless action - sorry boys - will try harder to do some paparazzi style photography today.

I think today's cruise ship is Chinese - it's called Happy Cruises and there were loads of Chinese tourists wandering around wearing silly hats.

And I discovered yesterday why there were so many private jets at Nice Airport - Prince Albert is getting married this weekend and apparently the airport isn't accepting any requests for landing private jets unless you can prove you have an invitation to the wedding.  Just another day on the French Riviera...

Village Life

Slowly settling in - have found my local tabac for morning coffee and paper where all the locals hang out.  It's in the middle of the old town as opposed to the waterfront where all the tourists go so there's no view but it's refreshingly cool as opposed to sitting like giant lobsters paying tourist prices on the water's edge.  And hugely amusing watching them all drink Pastis at 10 in the morning...

Today's cruise ship - there's a different one every day

The local fishing boats moor in front of the tourist cafes

Have also found my local boulangerie who also sells the most AMAZING cheeses - OMG it's going to to take some self control not to end up the size of un maison - luckily the old town is built straight into the side of a hill so there's a compulsory stair master workout about 5 times a day.

My local boulangerie

My new office

Off to reccie the beach today so check back tomorrow for some gratuitous topless sunbathing shots.

J'ai arrive!

Fly into Nice.  The rows of private jets glistening in the sun are jaw dropping - and it's not even peak season yet.  Arrive Villefranche - love my 'atelier'.

My front door complete with olive trees

Looking down my street, Rue Volti

I'm smack bang in the middle of the old town with the harbour front at the bottom of the street, and about 20 little bars and restaurants within 500 metres - I think I'm going to be very happy here!  Cruised down to one at the edge of the local square and watched the local brocante packing up over a glass of rose - all ordered and paid for in French (good to know I can order the essentials without too much trouble)... Was very reassured by my waiter who when asked by a group of visiting Americans (you could tell by their trainers) if they were open for dinner at 5.30pm were told, "No, but we are still serving lunch".  Bravo!

Villefranche harbour front

The bottom of my street