I haven't posted in a while, so hopefully this VERY LONG post will compensate...
We have the good fortune to live a "hop, skip and a jump" away (by plane) from the French Riviera. Nearly every summer since I moved to France 6 years ago, we've spent at least an extended summer weekend there, normally around Bastille Day. We stay in Roquebrune-Cap Martin, which is one of the areas that has resisted the overdevelopment you see in much of the South of France.
View of Roquebrune-Cap Martin from our balcony
This year, we had some unused vacation time saved up and, since I am due in mid-August, we decided that if we were going to take one last vacation before the baby arrives it would have to be in April / May at the latest. I had originally planned a road trip through Eastern France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, but we ultimately decided that given my condition, it would be too ambitious to do all of those countries in 10 days and that I may be too uncomfortable spending so much time in a car.
So, we decided to return to the French Riviera, since we knew we would not be able to go there this summer and, to be honest, there are few other places in France that we find more enjoyable and relaxing. It was also nice to visit in mid-Spring instead of the Summer when the weather can get quite hot and the traffic is bumper-to-bumper in some places. Our timing was perfect because the following week the region experienced some pretty destructive weather.
Here are some photos we took over the course of our stay.
More balcony views in Roquebrune-Cap Martin
Monaco - Monte Carlo
Given its proximity to where we stay, it's very common for us to visit Monaco several times during the course of a visit, especially at night when the sportscars are on parade.
View of the port, La Condamine -- you can see some of the stands that had been set up for the annual Formula One Monaco Grand Prix
Prince's Palace
On the road to the Saint Nicolas Cathedral (rendez-vous 9 July 2011 for the nuptuals of Albert and Charlene!!!)
Monte Carlo Casino
Hotel de Paris
Vintage Mercedes with the Café de Paris in the background
Some shots of the marine life at the Oceanographic Museum
Eze
One of the French Riviera's most well-known perched villages...I wish I had taken more photos because these do not do it justice.
Grasse
AKA the world's perfume capital. If you're interested in perfume and the industry in general, there are several museums / factory tours to take in Grasse. We went to a Provence costume exhibition sponsored by Fragonard and strolled the city.
Nice
On my first visit to France when I was in high school, we spent one week in this bustling city. This trip, we spent most of our time in the old town.
The flower market at the Cours Saleya
Place Rosetti
I love this next picture of the two men talking, I don't know why...
Beachside...
Ventimiglia, Italy
We didn't spend too much time in this French-Italian border town, but at least the beach had the merit of not being overcrowded.
Peillon
Last year we visited several perched villages and really enjoyed it. On the lookout for new ones to discover, we found Peillon just outside of Nice.
Now, I ask you, how exactly would one go about getting a couch delivered and through the door in a town like this?
Awww, look, it's Simon's scruffier (and undoubtedly street-smarter) doppelgänger
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat & Beaulieu-sur-Mer
We made a couple of day trips to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and neighboring Beaulieu-sur-Mer to visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and the Villa Kérylos.
We also took some time to scope out housing for when we retire. Right now this property is in the lead:
With this one running a close second:
More seriously, according to a security guard at the Villa Ephrussi, the above property is reputedly being built for a certain former Russian president...
Here are some photos of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild + gardens + some magnificent views from the estate.
And here are some photos of the Villa Kérylos located in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, just across the bay from the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
The ancient Greek equivalent of today's living room. Authentic, yes; comfortable, not sure about that...
Wouldn't you just die to have a bathroom like this? Mine is the only room left in our apartment that needs to be renovated, and it looks like an Eastern Bloc torture chamber compared to this.
That's all for this year!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 
