CANNES TODAY

SHOPPING STREETS

ALSO MURALS HERE

RONALD AND I GOING FOR OUR DESERT

ME AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL BUILDING

THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL BUILDING

MAIN BEACH CANNES

YOU CAN HIRE A BEACH CHAIR.

THE CARLTON HOTEL CANNES

SUPER YACHTS WITH A SUPER GIRL?

AN OLD FORT AT THE TOP OF THE HILL

MARKET

THIS IS WHERE I HAD MY SWIM

VIEW TOWARDS MANDELIEU

Today, 1st of August,
I went by local bus to Cannes town, about 5 km from here. I left at 10.30 am.
I stopped at a market near the town, and after I hqad been to the market I went to the beach, which was a man made rocks narrow beach but very clear and clean water, and very inviting. I had taken a towel and something for swimming, so I put my stuff under some rocks and had a hal;f an hour swim, and ohhh what bliss. It was such a hot day today, at least 33 C. I was sweating constantly. I had water with me.
After that wonderful half an hour of floating with the waves and a lovely swim( water is 23 C) I walked to the main centre and the Marina with the super yachts. Also saw the Film festival building .
After that were more beaches, more sandy beaches, more crowds. Not for me.
Then walked along the boulevard towards Carlton Hotel, where Geke has worked as a physio therapists for guests in 1993.
I had something to eat from little foodstalls near the beach and a cola and then walked through the narrow shopping street that runs paralell with the Boulevard .
Back to the bus stop at 2.30 and home( hotel) again as it was just too hot.
Once " home" Ronald came to pick me up and I spent the rest of the day in their swimming pool.
I hope you enjoy these pictures.
think they came out OK. Humidity here is very high, no wind, quite hazy. The Mountains are very hard to see in the distance tonight as I write...

A VISIT TO VALBONNE, CHATENEUF AND GRASSE

GRASSE

FILL UP OUR WATER BOTTLE

GRASSE

RON AND GEKE IN CHATENEUF

ME IN CHATENEUF

BLOOMING OLIANDER

HARD CHEESES AT THE MARKET IN VALBONNE

I AM TRYING A SAUSAGE

VALBONNE MARKET

BEACH AT MANDELIEU

WARM WATER NOT THAT CLEAN THOUGH

CROWDED.

RIVER NEAR RONALD AND GEKE'S PLACE

VALBONNE STREET.

TODAY A LOVELY VISIT TO VALBONNE and MARKET.

Of course, you all know by now, I love markets so today we went to the markets in Valbonne.
It was very hot today, at 10 am it was already 31 C.
Valbonne was full of tourists but it was nice and lovely stalls.
We had a nice lunch there on the market square where there are many terraces.

Later we went to Chateneuff and then to Grasse.

I will show some pictures as these villages are so bute, or quaint, that you actually need to see them to know what I mean.

We were back at 3.30 pm and then I went straight in their pool, as it was still so hot and humid.
Yesterday I swam int he sea at the nearest beach from here, a 20 min walk with Ronald. Crowded as... I think I prefer Waihi Beach in the summer, or Orokawa beach. We are lucky in NZ.
Tomorrow I am going to Cannes by bus to check out the Cannes film festival building, and other things there.

Cheers for now,
marianna.

SOUTH OF FRANCE, CANNES

A RELIEF TO GET INTO THEIR POOL

RONALD ALSO NEED TO GET IN.

YEAH

ME AND MY BRO

THE CANAL NEAR THEIR PLACE.

TAKEN FROM THEIR BALCONY

VIEW FROM THEIR BALACONY

MY BETTER SEAT WITH AN ELDERLY NICE PASSENGER.

DURING THE TRIP TO SOUTH OF FRANCE

VERY LONG TRAIN, TGV, WENT 300 KM AN HOUR.

BRO RON CAME TO PICK ME UP FROM MY HOTEL.

Cannes, 30/07/08.

Today I had to get up early for my train journey to cannes, in the South of France.
I got a taxi this time as it was a different train station.

I got there plenty of time ahead( 1/2 hour) and found the platform, it gets announced only a few minutes before people can board.
My allocated seat was not good. Backwards and "window" seat, but with a wall in between.
I waited till everyone had boarded and then looked around for empty seats and there was a very good empty seat with big window going forwards and table with an other passenger opposite.
A nice 89 year old Frenchman with some English was good company and the opther passengers next to us on the other side too.
So I was very happy with my new seat and no one came after we boarded.
The scenery on the way was great, and I saw the " Pont du Guard" on the way.
The train snaked its way along the French riviera with views of the Mediterenian sea and villages. it stopped at St Raphael and went past Le Dramond, which I can remember from my youth holidays.

Well, I arrived in Cannes on time and it was very when I got out of the station with Ronald.
He took me to my hotel first, left me there to take a shower and an hour later he came and we walked to his appartement along the river/canal.
We took a swim in the complex appartements common swimming pool. There are holiday makers now, that hire some of these appartements during the peak holidays, which is now.

Well, I think I am up to date. Hot, humid, beautiful and how Ronald and Geke live is great here with a fantastic view over the Esterelle ranges.

Photos will be uploaded shortly. Love from Marianna.
PS!!!!!
Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you.
I am flying back onMonday to Munich, but via Cologne, there I change planes to Munich.
Guess what??? My brother, Ronald also has to fly out on Monday , so we checked out what times we have to fly. Turns out HE IS IN THE SAME PLANE AT THE SAME TIME ALSO TO COLOGNE!!!!!!!! Isn't that weird?
So we are going to check in on Sunday night, online so we can sit next to each other!!!!

Scroll down for the new other story about Mon Martre, Sacre Coeur , Versailles and meeting Maarten.