Drew had recommended a walk up to the village of Eze, so we both got a 9:45 train to Eze, which is only about 5 stops from Nice in the direction of Monte Carlo. We got there at 10AM, and it was an hour's uphill walk to the village. There were quite a few shops on the way there, some restaurants, and a lovely old church. We walked around for about an hour, and sat and had our lunch outside before we walked down. The views of the Mediterranean were lovely.
Monte Carlo was only 2 stops further on the train, so we decided to go over and check it out, even though we planned to go back there tonight. We got there about 1:30, walked over to look at the Casino (only from the outside because we were wearing shorts) and then took the 3PM train back to Nice.
I took a nap for a while and then we took the 8:10 train back to Monte Carlo. Drew had said he and his friend Ash were going out later for some beers and invited us to go along. I told him we would see how we felt when we got back. I'm not usually keen to go out very late and they weren't leaving until 10:30 or 11:00PM.
When we got to Monte Carlo, we walked to the Casino again, but there was a 10 euro cover charge and we didn't think we would stay very long, so we didn't bother to go in. We played a few slot machines which were in the room off the main entrance, and then we took the train back to Nice. I had some wine with Drew and Ash at the hostel and the we left around 10:45 to go for some beers. Shari stayed at the hostel.
First, we went to Wayne's bar for one beer and it was just as crowded as Sunday night. Ash and Drew told me that Shari and I didn't miss much on Sunday - the Karaoke wasn't very very good. Then we went to Oxford's. It wasn't nearly as crowded as Wayne's and we were able to get seats at a corner table. There was a guitar player who was pretty good, and we sat and talked until the place closed sometime adter 3AM. We got back to the hostel about 4AM and I knew I wouldn't feel too good in the morning from drinking so much beer.
10/07: I got up about 8:30 AM, feeling pretty poorly, and I had a headache. I took 3 ibuprofen when I got up, and 3 more about 10:30. Drew had recommended we visit Saint Marguerite Island off of Cannes, so Shari and I got the 9:30 train to Cannes and then the 11AM ferry over to the island. It was only a 15 minute ferry ride, but it was lots of fun. It was very windy, so there were big waves, and it was my first boat ride on the Mediterranean.
The island was very nice. We walked on a trail that went along the coast of the island, so we had views of the sea most of the time. There were lots of rocks along the shore line. From one side of the island, we could see Cannes off in the distance and we could see another island, St. Honorat from the other side.
There is an old fort on the island and also 2 remnants of fireplaces that they used to heat cannonballs. They had signs at the fireplaces explaining the process that was used to heat the cannonballs. I never knew they were heated before they were fired, but they caused more destruction that way, because they could start fires on the ships under attack.
We walked for about 2.5 hours and then sat and read while we waited for the the 3PM ferry. The ride back was a nice treat. The boat was pretty full, and we sat in the section with the kids who had been on a field trip - 24 of the most adorable, funny 6 year olds. Everytime we hit a big wave, (and especially when the water splashed in the window), they would all shout and laugh. Great fun listening to them all talk in French.
We stopped and called Rosalma when we got back to Nice. I've tried her about 6 times since we left Genova, but she was never home. Luckily, I got her this time and told her we were sorry to have missed her. She said she was sorry too. Her cell phone wasn't working on Sunday because she was visitng her son and he lives out in the country.
I was tired from getting so little sleep last night, so I had laid down and listened to music for a while. Drew said he was going out again about 9PM, so I told him I would go along. Shari and I went to use the internet about 7PM and then we went to get chicken sandwiches to bring back to the hostel. We got back just before 9PM, and then Drew and I went out to get some wine. We had made plans to meet Ash and some of the other people from the hostel later on at one of the bars in the old town.
It was so lovely to sit outside sharing a bottle of wine, relaxing and talking for about an hour. Next we got some pizza and then headed over to the bar. It was crowded and noisy (they had a live rock band that was pretty good, but very loud). We stayed there for quite a while with Ash and two young women who just checked in to the hostel today. Later, Drew and I went to another bar, so I got in quite late again, about 4:30AM. My two late nights were fun and different, and it was a nice break from pretty much doing nothing every evening.
10/08: Three and a half hours sleep, and I was up at 8AM packing up to catch the 9AM train for the two and a half hour trip to Marseille. From there we got the 12:15 train to Arles and arrived just after 1PM. We hadn't been able to reach the hostel in Arles so we walked to tourist information to get information on accomodations. The hostel was pretty inexpensive (about 15 euros) but it was closed until 5PM and it was about a mile walk out of town. We went to check out a couple of hostels and took a room in the first one we saw. It is a small room for 37 euros but we have our own bathroom and a little balcony with a small table and two chairs. We then went to look at the other place which is nicer because the room and the bathroom are both bigger and we may be able to get a room overlooking the river. We told the manager we would take a room for tomorrow and the next night. The room is 40 euros per night.
Next we went to the grocery store, the first big one we've been in for a while. I bought good stuff - pate, swiss cheese, a baguette, tuna, tomatoes, shallots and mayonnaise. I went back to the room and made a great tuna, tomato and onion sandwich. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much to do here so we don't know whether we should stay in Arles for two more nights. Maybe we will go back totourist information tomorrow and ask about biking or nice places to walk in the area. I'm not sure we will get much information though, because tourist information usually doesn't have alot of advise on outdoor activities.
I also called the youth hostel in Montpellier to book two beds for Saturday night, but they won't do reservations over the phone. We need to book by internet to ensure we can get beds for Saturday night.
I took a walk around 7:30 down by the river and saw a beautiful sunset. It's very fall-like tonight - cool and breezy, and lots of leaves on the ground.
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