Monaco

Day 4 in the French Riviera was spent slumming in the second smallest country in the world. Monaco, where the cars are worth more than most people's houses.

The fountains of Monaco.

The Monte Carlo Casino.

I was more interested in the sky mirror in front.

Reflection of the Monte Carlo on the other side of the sky mirror.

Wow! Gorgeous...I mean they must use some crazy fertilizer.

Catching the sea breeze.

Next to the Bentley store was the Lamborghini and Rolls Royce stores.

That's about $350,000.

I'm glad to see they threw in the extended warranty.

Lunch on the beach.

I found where they ditched that guy in "Weekend at Bernies". I never checked his pulse but I assume he was alive because his hair moved every once in a while.


You might be a tourist if:
1. You are the only person on the beach in a swimming suit in April.
2. You actually use your swimming suit to swim in the ocean.
3. You bring along snorkling gear to observe the sandy sea floor.
Check...Check.....and...Check.


Does anyone else think about carmel apples covered in crushed peanuts when they look at this picture?


Beach bums.


After a big day on the craps table I decided to make a slightly irrational purchase.

Inside the Monte Carlo...shhh no pictures allowed.

Cannes France

Day 2 was spent roaming the streets of Cannes. Obviously Cannes is most widely known for the film festival in May, but I found it to be very relaxing due to the slower pace of things in the offseason.

The few harbors around Cannes must house one of the most expensive fleets of personal sailboats and yachts in the world.

After a rainy morning the sun came out for a perfect afternoon.

Goofing around on the boardwalk.

Ladies on the hunt for bargains (a term I use very loosely).

I think I heard "Ah this is so cute....Andy could you take our picture" about 200 times.


Spring time.


Men playing petanque, which is similar to bocce ball.


The local brew is very tasty.

Our Cirque du Soleil act.


It is tradition for the local fisherman to fish out of these boats for the last three weeks in March.

Full moon over the harbor

St. Paul de Vence France

Day 1 in the French Riveria was spent in the nearby fortified village of St. Paul de Vence.

St. Paul de Vence.

Emily attempting to drink from the water fountain.

That is one lucky horse (made of all horseshoes).

Looking west towards our homebase of La Colle sur Loup.

Strolling by the cathedral.

A Micheal Phelps tribute statue...or maybe that was there before Phelps.

The view from our lunch spot.


One of the many narrow walkways of St. Paul.

Looking northeast towards La Gaude and the start of the Alps.

That's weird......girls shopping.

That's even more weird......a pig running around the streets of St. Paul.

I don't think the dog believes what he is seeing either.

Enjoying the scenery as the girls raid the stores.

Walls of St. Paul.

Next stop Cannes.

La Colle Sur Loup France, "Our Chateau"

As if two months travelling in SE Asia wasn't enough, I came back just in time for Emily's two week spring break. We decided to spend the break in the beautiful French Riviera. Em's friend Amy flew in from CO for the trip and Kaycee, another of Emily's friend from the Swiss school came along for the fun. So that makes me and three girls heading to the south of France....What do you think they wanted to do the whole time?......

On the road again!

One of the typical Italian towns we passed through.

Our first view of the Med.

40+ tunnels from Lugano to the French Riviera.


Our shack.


The most relaxing place of the entire week was right outside our bedroom window. Rolling green hills and the sea in the distance.

The view from our shack.

The essentials: wine, oil, vinegar, and bread.

Here's to spring break/the best year of my life.

Sipping the sunset away.

Getting the game plan laid out for the next day. The Tulips were provided by our hosts that farm Tulips during spring time. They said that his next batch was headed to New York. Hmmm how much is the running rate for French Tulips?

Our chateau at twilight.

Emily feeding the donkeys that live on the property where we stayed.

After having enough of the shopping sprees the day before, I reserved the morning for a hike near the Gourdon Castle.


Gourdon Castle perched above the Mediterranean.


Which way to go?

Em looking out to sea with the Gourdon Castle below.

The streets of Gourdon.

Not a bad spot to eat in Gourdon.