Cote d'Azur

We are now in Genoa spending the night before going on our cruise tomorrow after spending a wonderful week in Theoule on the Cote d'Azur in southern France. Theoule is about 20 kms west of Cannes and from the villa we stayed in we could stand on the terrace and watch the lights twinkling around the whole bay ending in Cannes where the Film Festival was being held. This unfortunately had the effect of making the traffic pretty unbearable but we still spent a lovely morning wandering around and trying to spot some stars. Liz and I really enjoyed the shopping and although we didn't see anyone of note the atmosphere was good. John and I had the day out in western Provence and visited Avignon, Pont du Garde and Orange before doing a spectacular drive through magnificent valleys lined by rocky mountains back to Theoule. We clocked up about 750 kms this day but it was really worthwhile and put us back in the French countryside which we love.

Had another day in the town of Grasse where they were having a Rose Festival. Oooohhh, the roses!!!!! They were magnificent and maybe makes me realise Queensland maybe hasn't got the idyllic weather in which to grow roses. They were selling everything made out of rose petals or rose extract. It was just a real pleasure to be there. We had a walk around the town and the Cathedral was probably the best Romanesque church John had seen - even more splendid because of the huge vases of roses inside - the Rubens paintings didn't detract from it either.

A visit to Monaco on a beautiful clear day was really exciting for me because we drove the Grand Prix circuit which is being set up for the Grand Prix in two weeks time. Thought of and missed my boy and wished he was there instead of in Afghanistan. We walked up to the Palace and wandered around the old city. Monte Carlo's location is amazing set against the azure sea with the mountains in the background. The boats in the harbour are something to behold. Kayaks with a sail just wouldn't cut it here, Helen!!!!! John tried to talk his way on to a few but I don't think it was the first time they were asked and basically told him to go away in no uncertain terms.

On our last day we went for a drive out to the Verdon Gorge. What an amazing place this was. It is billed as the second largest in the world next to the Grand Canyon and the vistas were spectacular. Wish we had had time to have a canoe down the river through the gorge. Maybe next time.

We have drunk a lot of bottles of wine, ate our way through pate, terrine, fish and potato dip, cheeses, many croissants and loaves of bread, drank wonderful coffee, had two traumatic games of Scrabble and all in all had a wonderful week with good friends. One to remember!!!!

Tomorrow we go on our cruise and are stopping at Malta, Jerusalem (2 days now as they cut out Port Said - we are thrilled), Greece, Cyprus, Crete and Sorrento. Looking forward to it however it will be tinged with sadness as we are missing our niece's wedding on Saturday and we would dearly love to be there.