Manosque

Few pictures of the two churches that we visited in Manosque, the city of the 4 hands has the "blason" is showing. The town is about two hours by road traveling north from Marseille. Close to Forcalquier and Sisteron. It is a really nice area of Provence where wine is growing as well as lavender, olives and barley to just name few.

Small Talk

With troubles downloading my pictures I have to go to the store to get my pictures on disks so I will do that tomorrow. In the meantime I am showing you a small niche with a statue that made me fuzzy all over. It is pretty tender to look at.

I have been at my Sister's for three days and we talked and laughed and went to the movies and restaurant and had Raclette at her house with her family. I got to go visit my nephew William's and his fiancee Virginie's House in the Castellet. It is in the middle of grape fields that are used to make Bandol Rose wine. One of the most celebrated wine of Provence. They have a huge Mimosa tree in the front of the house. It is a minimalist house inside with a total zen atmosphere. Each piece of furniture has been carefully chosen and placed in order to give it a more serene order. I was really confortable in it. They have a rotweiller "Funky" and they have just unherited of my sister's cat that also adopted the place. All live in harmony in this house.

I am now back in Golfe Juan where I arrived this morning around 10 to see some 300 people wearing costumes in the street reunacting the passage of Napoleon in the town coming back from his exhile. So it was a bit of fancy and I enjoyed time traveling.

Paule is having a birthday tomorrow so she had invited us for lunch and she made a wonderful rabbit with mushrooms. I took a long nap afterwards.... champagne, red wine and good food.... Shall I say more???

Oh yes a bit more. We had the first local strawberries of the season for dessert with fresh cream and sugar. "Une merveille "as Paule would say.

Swans

In Vila Vita Parc there were a couple of Swans. They were so beautiful... What do you think?

the last few days

Finally I have some pictures to post. I have been a bit busy with family and friends. Went to Nice few times. Went to Menton for the Lemon Festival. This year the theme was "India". So here are some visuals.

Musee d'Art Naif Anatole Jakovsky in Nice

Musee de la Tour in Antibes

Carnaval Floats in Nice

Back on the Riviera

I arrived in Marseille without any problems. Ryannair was a good company to fly with. The only problem with it was the restriction of a 15 kilo maximum weight in one suitcase... that was a bit tight but it was a good thing to work out for me as I always pack too much and too heavy. When I got in Marseille the Renault personnal was here to great me and it took me about 15mn to get my new Clio light grey. The gas station was just around the corner and that was easy to fill up. The problem was later when I looked for a phone card, a lit phone booth that would work and chase pottential highjackers.... I did have a little scare with two guys and two dogs in a car that looked a bit suspiscious around my car and waited for me and followed my car for a while. I was faster!!!!!!!!! Anyway instead of spending the night at my Sister's I ended back in Golfe Juan at my Mom's. Somehow I took the wrong turn at one point and after trying to call again from various places I just decided to go on to Cannes. So that is my story... Yesterday my Mom and I just stayed in Cannes for the day and we ended up the day watching "Seven Years in Tibet" one of my favorite movies. I have a bit of a problem with downloading pictures with my computer. I have to figure it out, I want to add more pictures on this blog of the last days of Portugal.
Today I am going to visit the Museum of Anatole Jakowsky in Nice. All the primitive paintings that I love in a lovely park. The exhibit is changing next week so I will get to see two different special exhibits before I leave. I can be very greedy sometimes...
Got to go get ready, Ciao!

Meet my new friends

I have met few trees in this trip and wanted to share them with you..

in Antibes, France

did not have time to chat long with that one...

after St Vallier, France

just waving by

in Castellane, France

faces, faces and more faces

after Sisteron, France

ancient wisdom, had to hug

in Vila Vita Parc, Portugal

palms pool ghosts...

in Portemao, Portugal

Hard to Hug, because of the thorns...

I cuddled delicately when saying goodbye..

at the golf course in Silves, Portugal

One of the oldest Olive Tree in Algarve