It'll take a while to catch up. I can't believe I haven't found Inet access in a week. I'm in southern France right now - some dinky little town in the hills. I went to the top of Mt Vendoux today. Pretty incredible. I should be in Spain in a few days. I've been twisting around the Maritime Alps, in between stints on the Riviera. The Riv is like Laguna Beach, only richer and more crowded. I found a nice stretch, though, with a pretty nice campsite. I also went to the Temple of Money. No, not Wall Street - the Casino at Monte Carlo. It's amazing. Well, I didn't actually go in, but the aura of people with so much money they have fun throwing it away is pretty decadent.
I've finally had a couple of bad days. Why does it always have to come in threes? When I have time and energy I'll tell more of the story. Suffice it to say I now have a certificate that I've contributed 90 Euros to the French government. And more evidence that getting old really sucks. But overall, it's still a great trip. For evey hour of tribulation, there are 20 of joy. There is some danger of me becoming an alcoholic, though. That half carafe of wine with dinner is real enticing.
OK, I gotta go. The barman wants to close up and I'm using his WiFi. some time I'll find a real Inet connection.
Everywhere seems very clean, with very little litter on the streets. One reason is this guy goes around picking up what he can. Another reason is people burn their trash every morning. I guess you get used to the smell, but there should be a better way.
This is Mont Ventoux. Can you imagine riding a bicycle up that?
The view from the top. That's bare rock, not snow.
The Riviera from the Grand Corniche. I first read about the GC in an early James Bond book. I always wanted to ride it.
Lifeguard tower at Nice. Yes, there are topless women in the pic. The beach is cobblestone. Not very comfy to walk on, so very few people in the water.
The Casino at Monte Carlo.
I found a little secluded beach here for a swim. Not much of this isoation on the Riviera, but it exists.
Up in the hills:
That's a cherry tree in the foreground, with olives beyond, and a bunch of different crops on the hillside.
There's topless women on the beach and you take a picture of the lifeguard tower?
ReplyDeleteumm ahh, well, I didn't want to seem like a perv, and my 200mm lens wasn't powerful enough to zoom in, and ya seen one set of tits on a beach, ya seen em (bzzzt! That doesn't work.) Honestly, I was enjoying hanging on the beach so much, I forgot about documenting the wildlife for you. I'll try to do better.
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