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Published: August 16th 2011
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Ride in Old Nice. Right now we are in Aix-en-Provence. We returned about an hour ago from the restaurant Hippopotamus. We wanted to eat at a more authentic French place, however, at a lot of restaurants we have found that the eating doesn't start until 7:00 pm, which is getting close to the kids bedtime. After asking around if we could eat, we decided to go to the hippo place and we arrived there at 6:00 pm. There is a good thing and a bad thing about eating in France. The good thing is that things are done at a leisurely pace. The bad thing is that we can't afford to be that leisurely when we have kids. We ordered a 3 course meal and it took us 2 hours to complete are meal. Half an hour past the kids bedtime. It was good that they gave us little plastic hippo stir sticks, which kept Isabelle busy. Myles was his normal chucker self. If he doesn't want something on his tray, he chucks it.
Anyways, we get back to the hotel at 8:15 pm. Earlier, we asked for a play pen to be delivered to our room for Myles. It was delivered, and set
up. The kids were then playing in our small hotel room and somehow unlocked one of the arms. The play pen was sagging. Avery and I tried to fix it, then the other end was sagging. We made it worse. Also, the guy who delivered the play pen said that he would be right back with sheets for the bed. This was before we left for supper. He didn't come back. We decided to leave for supper hoping that it would be done when we got back. Wrong assumption! When we got back from supper, the play pen was still collapsed and there were no sheets. To add to this, we had the stroller with us and there is barely any room for 4 people in our hotel, let alone a stroller. Myles needed to be changed. We couldn't get around anything, so Avery decided to change him on the stroller. That was a no-no. After she wiped Myles with a wipe, she let him air-dry a bit. Next thing you know, there is a stream of pee going all over the stroller. We are like sardines in here that I couldn't do much to help. Oh yeah, still no
Nice.
A view of the Mediterranean. sheet. Good thing that we are somewhat prepared, we had an extra sheet in the suitcase. So, I put a diaper on Myles, Avery puts the kids to bed, I take off the fabric part of the stroller and Avery washes it. What excitement!
All of that to let you know why I title this entry "Have-Nots." We arrived in Aix-en-Provence from Nice. We really enjoyed our B&B in Nice. We stayed in a couple's home, it was a peaceful place and the view that we had when eating breakfast was awesome. This couple and our B&B was the highlight of Nice. Maybe it was us, maybe it was Nice, maybe it was both, but there were a few things that Nice didn't have/didn't provide. Our first morning there, we went down to the Promenade des Anglais. It was neat to see. This was right along the Mediterranean Sea and there were tons of people walking, biking, running and rollerblading along the promenade. So, we walk down to the promenade and decide to take a bus to Vieux Nice. We are waiting for buses - they stop. However, we are not allowed to get on. That seems funny to
me. A bus stop and we can't get on. However, we made it down to Vieux Nice and really enjoyed it. There was a flower market on this day that was beautiful.
Then next day we decide that we would like to take a boat tour of Baie des Anges. This was a Monday. We decide to take the bus again to the Port of Nice. Now that we have this bus thing figured out. So, we get down to the company who offers the tours and ask for a tour of Baie des Anges. The problem, no tours on this particular Monday. It was puzzling to me. Someone is working - but they are offering no tours. Go and figure that one out.
After this disappointment, we decide to check out the Castle of Nice that offers great panoramic views of the city. The problem, it is the site of the old castle. There is actually no castle there. We knew that there was no castle, yet it seems funny. Hey guys, come and check out this castle, oh, by the way, there is no castle here.
So there you have the have-nots - buses that
B&B Nice.
View when we were eating breakfast. don't pick you up, tour companies that have no tours and castles that aren't there.
Oh yeah, lastly to add to our have-nots. Today on the way to Aix-en-Provence, we decided to go to St. Tropez. This was a mistake. I think that everyone in France had the same idea. It was bumper to bumper, pollution filled traffic. We then decided to flip a fish hook. Instead of St. Tropez we went to the beach at Sainte Maxime. It was great to swim in the Mediterranean Sea. We went into the sea in Nice as well, however, the beach was rocky, the waves were pretty high and there was a steep drop off. Isabelle was a little scared to go in. In Sainte Maxime, the beach was sandy, and Isabelle gladly went into the water with us. Myles had no fear at either place.
We get to Sainte Maxime and are please to see a sandy beach. However, we don't have lawn chairs or an umbrella with us. We decide to try renting a space at a private beach. I ask the guy in French and he answers me in broken English. Whatever! He says that all of
White wall.
This is our slumming wall in Sainte Maxime. the chairs are reserved, and there is no room for us in the inn. I say BS. There are tons of chairs available, that stayed available all afternoon. But if they don't want our money, that is there loss. We decided to try another private beach renting company. Same problem. Well, if no one wants our money we will head to the public beach. At this beach, we were slumming it.
We had a beach blanket. Yet, we did not have chairs, towels or an umbrella. We decided to find some refuge from the hot, hot sun (33 degrees) along a white wall of a private beach, back and away from everyone else. That is besides some of our compatriots who were laying against the white wall, sleeping.
So, from Sainte Maxime, we dried off in the sun and drove to Aix-en-Provence. That is where we are now.
Good night and good luck!
Jarod
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Debbie Bocian
non-member comment
Love your blog-Feel like I am there with you
Hi friends- I am enjoying your humour and description! Jarod, you should be a travel guide or travel writer. Have fun and be happy. I had a great time in Italy-but it was very hot when I was there. Try to go there. You should also try to get to Istanbul. I will miss you at the xerox machine! Debbie B