Sunday 24th January, 1982 fine and cold.
Camping in the Street in
A restless night, not the quietest of streets. Rose about 8:30 a.m., and when John returned from his early morning walk with news of the town we decided to go to mass after breakfast. Walked up the small narrow streets to the tune of the bells calling everyone to devotions. Stopped at the market on the way to buy tomatoes, 1F.20 a kilo and wandered through rows and rows of spring flowers, then off up many steps to the church. Nice church - lovely service - then out to find John and kids waiting, so off on our way to Grasse - the perfume centre - a good road took us up the mountains to "la Parfumerie Fragonard" for a tour.
We learnt it takes 1 tonne of blossoms to make 1 kg of
essence. Sandra learnt that soap is made
from Whales fat (never going to wash again) - was a quick tour, but
interesting - bought five cakes of French soap for presents - we all smelled like
spring when we came out.
Back into
We are now at a
Monday 25th January, 1982 fine
and cool.
Free camping on the Antibes Marina.
I woke early ready to find hot showers open, oh boy, what a luxury. Cost five francs but worth every minute. John did some filming whilst Sandra drove. The day before we saw a lady in a wheelchair, taking her dog for a walk, well San took John for a walk. He filmed while Sandra drove. Off up the winding coast road on our way to Nice. Through La Siesta, C‘Agnes du Mer and at Pont St Laurent we noticed gypsies in their luxurious caravans, Mercedes-Benz cars, fur coats etc on the side of the road. Stopped at a super 3000 to fill our larder - a huge supermarket with Nouvelles Galleries and lots of specialty stores.
In to Nice along the promenade "Promenade
Anglais's" till we found American Express - our usual luck too late - gone to
lunch - so we set up our lunch, parked in the promenade - supplied the strollers
with lunchtime entertainment. An Australian/Frenchman stopped by the van - he was
from Mount Isa and was on holidays visiting Nice, his birth town. 2 p.m. found us waiting for doors to be opened at
American Express - good mail drop - 2 from Karen, one from Billy and one each from
John Romeril and Beth Kennedy, with her marvellous news re Lucy Kate.
We stayed the night in Beaulieu sur Mer Marina. A good hot
shower with needle like rose for 1 franc.
We had met 4 young Aussies in American express. One young girl was from Mona Vale - the
newsagent’s daughter. They were all from
Rae received two letters from Jenny, Sandra one from Jenny
Watson, Jan and Marie and Marsdens. All
were pleased but Sean - but Marie explained how mixed up she was in
geography. A hot shower and into bed
after writing a few last French letters.
Tuesday 26th January, 1982 fine
and mild.
Up about 8 a.m. after a good sleep - had another needle sharp
shower - beautiful! On then to
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| Monaco |
We found a Park in the
We sent our
mail so all would have a Monte Carlo stamp - then sat outside a cafe, and had our
morning cafe au lait. Then back to van
for lunch, and to rinse some undies. We
haven't any clean, not having had a camp since Mus. Was hanging undies on a little mini line when
the police doing their lap of the
Did a little shopping.
Then off to Mentone where we are now to stay the
night - then tomorrow into
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| Cannes to Menton, France |
