[INSIGHT TRAVEL - EUROPEAN GRANDEUR] - Nice, Day 1

DAY 12 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
NICE - HOTEL ELYSEE PALACE
ROOM 302 (2331H)

A long and tiring driving day, but worth it. Not that we had much of a choice but to have a long day, but it was worth every mile. We got off to a good start in Barcelona this morning, leaving practically at dawn's first light for our first stop at the French border. As projected, I spent my last hundred pesetas on another postcard at the hotel in Barcelona, a view of the harbor this time.

Pulled out my last French francs and was more than ready to buy water and whatnots at the rest stop Lisa picked out for us, just over the French border. Got a t-shirt and a new pin for my beret -- a dolphin worked in silver and blue stone. Also bought lots of water to drink.

For lunch, Lisa took us off the beaten path to a little town called Aigues-Mortes. It's pronounced something like "egg-mort". It has quite a history : first a landholding of some order of monks; King Henry IV of France then bought the land from the monks, whom he re-installed in some castle elsewhere in France. Then Henry built a fortified wall with two stone towers to defend the town. In the times of the religious differences and persecutions in Europe, Protestant women were interned in the tower until they became Catholics. Only one woman steadfastly refused to recant for 38 years. (Must research this on the net...)

We had barely enough time for lunch before Lisa had us packed into the bus again. At this point I just became one with the bus seat and promptly fell asleep for most of the trip. Didn't wake up until very nearly Cannes -- which was small and hot and crowded. The film festival may have ended, but obviously the deal-making still lingers. Plus, there was some sort of exposition at the Marina, all the yacht owners were out displaying their boats.

managed to poke about the Cannes Film Festival Exhibition Hall. they have a sort of "walk of fame" where the various actors and actresses have left their hand/foot prints in the red cement. The walk runs around the border of the plaza in front of the festival hall. Among the handprints I spotted were those of : Robert Altman, Sophia Loren, Mel Gibson, Rupert Everett, Marisa Berenson, Gregory Peck, Richard Gere, Akira Kurosawa, and a few others whose names I can't remember now. Mom's hands fit into those of Julie Andrews' and I got a picture of her scrunching down to check her handprint.

Then our little family picture-taking session turned into a tour group pictorial session as cameras and photographers were set up to take souvenir pictures. Hey, what else is there to do in Cannes except to make like a celebrity and get one's picture taken by lots of photographers?

After spending 45 minutes in Cannes (with many thanks to McDonald's for the use of their bathroom) we managed to get into Nice by 1915H -- just enough time to get our suitcases into the room and dress for our highlight dinner. I wore my beret with its new pin and the headgear got compliments when we gathered in the lobby tonight.

Dinner was at Le Cocodile (French for "parrot", but must remember to check that out) with a waiter who gets top marks in the eye candy department, and rather quick-witted, teasing the diners by pretending to pass them by with their food in hand. The salad was HUGE -- poor mom had a hard time making headway through the rest of the meal, which included a main course, cheese and dessert. the usual red wine, white wine, mineral water and a delightful cocktail accompanied the meal. The cocktail was made out of champagne and creme de-something and tasted really good. Not at all like the champagne we had at the flamenco dinner in Barcelona -- THAT was so un-champagne-like as to be undrinkable. Spain does Sangria best, and I'm glad I stuck to that.

The weather was perfect for walking abck to the hotel - an almost-full moon and a fresh breeze from the ocean to clear the cobwebs from the heat of the restaurant and the wine. We walked back with Allan and Owena, our sole US couple, and after seeing Mom and Dad to the room, I came down to check the day sheet in what has become a nightly routine.

A tap on the shoulder while I was entering all the times in my digi-diary signaled Lisa's arrival at the elevator. She commented, "You're such a good daughter," and added she was going off to bed. I was still at the elevator when Dmitri came along, and we had a few words about whether I'd been in Europe before. He seemed rather shocked that it had been sixteen years since I'd walked this place last -- it seems he thinks I'm younger than I am, though I'm the same age as Lisa. There's a lot to be said for being happily married and in a good relationship with the Lord. Not to mention feeling free to let one's light shine while on holiday!

No wake up call scheduled. We can sleep in!