Antibes/Paris Travel Day

 Yeah... travel days are just hard regardless of how little you do that day. We walked to the beach one last time after breakfast, finished packing, and made our way to the Juan les Pins train station. Took that train to Nice Ville and got on the high speed TGV to Paris. It was certainly fast, but since there's little to judge speed by it's hard to notice until you pass a train bound in the opposite direction approximately 3 feet from your train. A closing speed of almost 400mph is pretty impressive (and startling). But we made it. I had to conserve battery the best I could to ensure we could find the apartment, so no pictures of the incredible train station or the Seine or even Notre Dame which we walked right by. But, after we ate dinner, I did recognize where we were, so we walked down just a bit further:

Yep, it's quite a ways off, but a view of the Eiffel Tower seemed to perk everyone up. Tomorrow is get glasses and tickets and plan day. At dinner we talked about the vacation so far and the ratings were:
    1. Rome
    2. Venice
    3. Nice/Antibes

But the consensus is that Paris may give Rome a run for the top spot. I can't wait to get started and see where we go.

Bonsoir!

First and Last Full Day in Antibes

 We got up late today and all got ready for the beach. Well, we were ready for the beach, but not what we found or at least I wasn't. Not only is it prime European holiday season, today was also a bank holiday and a lot of the shops and stores were closed. So the beach was packed. But, our hotel has a section of the private beach. When we showed our ticket to get in, the lady says "we're full". The beach is "full"? Yes, you had to of called 3 days in advance. Hmmm. So we move on down to the public beach. Now saying this section was crowded... now that's an understatement. The beach was so crowded, you had to search for a place to sit a towel and once you had your towel down, finding your way to the water was a bizarre maze game around people who spoke various non-English languages. 

 But we did it. We laid in the sun, swam, and built sandcastles with all the 'beautiful' people. The pic is very blurry since I had my phone in a plastic bag... it was humid and I was worried about the sand too.

 To make things interesting, since they have been going so smoothly, Madison lost her glasses. We combed the beach and sidewalk, even looking in trash cans thinking someone would throw them away once they found them to be prescription glasses as well as sunglasses. We emailed our optometrist and he emailed her prescription... once we get to Paris, Madison may get French glasses.

 After lunch and the beach combing effort, we rested a few hours and then walked to the old town section of Antibes. It seemed that the highest density of highly rated restaurants were in the old town plus there was an art museum there I wanted to go to. One place I read about was closed, but just down the way was Le Chaudron. Now that was the proper way to be introduced to France. The food was great. Everyone kept trying each other's food and just laughing and enjoying themselves. And yes, check out the first course on the table. I had made all the girls agree to try escargot before the trip, but once they brought me the little fork and tool that looked like a test-tube holder I finally said they didn't have to. But you know what... they all tried one. I don't think they are going to order it themselves, but they upheld their word without being forced.

 We found the art gallery I had first seen on my first trip to France and looked at paintings and talked to the artist. It was fun, but nothing jumped out enough to buy and ship back. Maybe the next trip :)

 Here are the girls leaving old town on our long walk back to the hotel.

 Tomorrow is a train, to the high speed train, to Paris. It will take all day since we are covering the bulk of France, even though it says we will be going roughly 190mph. Should be fun. I will say I can't wait to be back in an apartment with a washer and a refrigerator. Plus we'll have a longer time in Paris to get settled and see things.

Bonsoir!

Made it to Antibes

Well... the dicey-est travel day was a breeze, albeit long. Walk, vaporetto, airplane, bus, train, walk and we made it to the hotel. 

Look who's on the French Riviera! This place may never be the same.

Beach and rest await us tomorrow.
Bonsoir!

Venice/Nice Travel Day

 We were trying to decide whether to make one last long walk and try to get into the museums around Piazza San Marco or just take it easy… easy won out. We got up today and did a precursory packing before walking to our favorite bakery to have breakfast and espresso and cappuccino. We are going to do a little souvenir shopping then finish packing and make our way to Fondamenta Nuove vaporetta stop to (hopefully) catch a boat to the airport.

 There are industrial movements (strikes) that seem to be affecting the airport, but the best we can tell it shouldn't bother us. 

 There are lots of things I'm going to miss from Rome and Venice. We have 'conversed' with many people who only spoke Italian. The Italians have been very nice and helpful and very forgiving when we try to talk. The experience, scenery, history, and food have all been outstanding. Maybe we will return one day. I mean, who knows, I never expected to ever be here in the first place. As the subway guy told us, "It's Italy... anything is possible". I hope Nice/Antibes will be fun. It will be short, but will be time to just lay on the beach, taste our first French food and rest. Hopefully there will be less pig throwers and umbrella and flower salespeople :)  

This will probably be the only update today.

Grazie, ciao Venezia! Bon jour Nice!

Last Full Day in Venice: la Fine

We decided to treat the girls to some pizza instead of the more tradition Venetian seafood. I found the 'best' pizza in Venice and off we walked. After meandering through numerous small walkways with our useless map, we actually find Antica Sacrestia… which was all boarded up. Hmmm. We find another pizzeria close and stop to eat. 

 The girls declared the pizza very good. I'm not sure if it was a testament to the pizza or to the joy of not seeing another plate of fritto misto de pesce. I have been amazed at what the girls have at least tasted. We had as our last stop the 'best' gelato in Venice. After a short walk back towards the apartment we find it, La Boutique del Gelato. Stores 1, dad 1… I'll take that. It was good enough to be ranked second (by my crew) behind the place in Rome, Il Gelato di San Crispino.

Second and Last Full Day in Venice

 Today we walked to Piazza San Marcos… a little later than we had planned so it was starting to get crowded.

 Hey, Rialto Bridge again, but this time much less crowded.

 The girls in the piazza in front of Basilica di San Marco

 and beside Campanile a Loggetta di San Marco.

 Just beside that is Palazzo Ducale, Doge's Palace. The basilica had a long line, so we made our way to see if the palace line was any shorter. At that point we got highjacked by a Murano glass tour guy, which wasn't bad as  that was the next thing on our list. We got a water taxi, a gorgeous mahogany boat, free (well, I'm sure the glass mark-up covered the boat). 

 Here's the girls with Basilica Santa Maria della Salute as a backdrop,

 and me with San Giorgio Maggiore as a backdrop.

 The taxi meandered down small canals before going directly to Murano.

 Check out the reflection in the top of the boat.

 Here the girls watch the artisan glass blower. He apprenticed for 15 years before working for himself. He could make anything. After he made a piece, he would put paper in it and let it catch fire to show how hot it was. For a production piece, it must be put in an electric oven and cooled slowly or it will spontaneously shatter.

 And the vaporetto ride back to Venice.

 The girls (and me) are starting to get worn down a little. They are doing good, but you can tell we have done a lot and covered a lot of ground. I'm not sure how much more we will do in Venice other than just enjoy. What do I mean? I'm typing this on a small desk, beside a large window that is open and covered by a sheer lace curtain blowing in a nice gentle breeze. The weather is practically perfect. I can see the canal just outside and about 10 feet below. Beyond the canal is a small walkway and restaurants. Periodically a boat eases by the apartment. You can hear the constant lapping of water and the background of Italian conversations and the clinking of glasses. Just sitting here is quite an experience.

Ciao!

First Full Day in Venice

 Today started with more cappuccino, espresso, and pastries… man, life is just rough isn't it. After we got rolling to our normal late start we did a little shopping and gelato testing as we made our way to Rialto Bridge.

 Here's the girls on the Rialto Bridge with the Grand Canal as a backdrop. We read about a music instrument museum, Museo della Musica, that sounded really good so we walk to find it. We found the general area, but never did find the museum… and that was after asking several people that worked in that area too. I even bought a map, which for the record, was the worst 3 euro I've ever spent. Street names are difficult to find, the names when you do find them are in Venetian and the map is in Italian, etc. etc. The only thing it really did was make us blend in with the other 90% of people (idiots) carrying maps, DOH! I did read that even Venetians get lost in Venice and that's something everyone should do. If nothing else it was a beautiful walk.

 We grabbed some pizza for the kids on the return walk and headed to find a gondolier, let's turn this Venezia leg up notch. Or as Abigail and I would say mimicking NotBillWalton: Throw it down gondolier, THROW IT DOWN!

  Here we all are in the gondola before beginning.

 On the Grand Canal at the Rialto Bridge.

 At one point while riding in the gondola, Madison started humming an Italian opera she learned in choir. Upon Abigail's goading, she started to sing. Not real loud at first, but when she was done, the gondolier said that it was beautiful and that she sang like an angel. Madison kept singing, in a normal voice now, and as we pass bridges and other gondolas the people stop dead in their tracks and either do a double take or outright stare in disbelief at how beautiful it is. That was the best gondola ride ever, for everyone involved. I'm just sorry for the grief we caused the gondolier in having to explain Madison was a customer and not an act to be hired. 

 Here are the girls in the absolutely picture book setting.

 Another great day. I'll try to get this posted tomorrow morning (it's 2:00 in the afternoon actually) and see what the next day holds. Our last full day in Venice.

Ciao!