Most of my time here has started the same way: A morning run along the coast road, stretch on the lawn, and then eat, sightsee, drink, and read. So far, the days are starting to blur together so I will dispense with ornamental introductions and describe each adventure by city. Hoy boy are we having adventures.
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
This city is the site of the famous Grand Prix race. For an entire weekend, grand stand seating is built on available park, sidewalk, and port space while cars zip through the windy bendy mountain roads lap after lap. Originally, the Grand Prix was a race from London to Monaco (formerly part of France). Dear Nascar, Monaco thinks you're a bunch of sissies.
We went the weekend after the Grand Prix race, so all of the grand stands were still up. It's amazing that no one seems to care, you can race up and down them and stand on the top row. From there you can get the truly inspirational views of Monte Carlo.
Monte Carlo is also famous for Prince Rainier's celebrity wedding to American Hollywood star, Grace Kelly. Their marriage brought star power and intrigue to the city that now results in it being a ritzy mountain-side town filled with fancy cars and long-legged women. Hollywood Royalty like Frank Sinatra and co. used to stay at the Hotel de Paris, beside a seriously old - and majestic looking - casino. The boys remarked that next time, they'd dress in the matching pant and vest outfit of the valets, and drive off with soemone's very expensive car. Not a bad idea.
St. Tropez, France
On a bright day, the parents, brother, and cousin loaded into the rental car and drove the 2-hour jaunt to this beachside party town. In it's heyday, Brigitte Bardot made this hot spot the place to be. Of course, en route, we missed the exit, and attempted a detour that involved the windy mountain roads of le Garde-Freinert et Grimaud. Dizzying. We finally found our way to St. Tropez, promptly parked, and hunted around for a restaurant. Eat, drink, and read. That's all I've done in the South of France. St. Tropez is obviously more of a summer beach town. In exploring the main square, you can't help but feel like Tropez shutters most of its shops during the colder months, and probably doesn't have much village life that isn't somewhat centered on tourism.
After lunch and a walk, we hopped back in the car and followed the iPhone's guiding GPS hand. The mission? To find if a beach etched warmly into my father's memory still existed. ("He visited it back when he was a SINGLE man," jeered my mother laughingly.) With only a vague sense of direction, my Apple-equipped father landed on the spot (even managing to veer off course for winery visits along the way).
As we rolled into the private parking lot (with thatched roofs to keep the cars cool! Brilliant!) a row of RV-Trailers, approximately 10-13 came into view at the far end. Apparently, vans could hole up beachside for entire weeks (or months!) at a time. Upon stepping out of the car, the sounds of a serious techno beat could be heard from the sandy dunes ahead. This was at, like, 4 pm in the afternoon.
My brother and I had a quick nap on the beach. Mom & Dad walked around, and my mother enthusiastically declared that the bar/lounge up the beach was having Margaritas as the "Beverage du Jour". We headed towards the restaurant for a taste, and discovered a raging party set of FORTY-YEAR OLDS DANCING ON TABLETOPS TO DAVID GUETTA. Wtf is happening. If there's a place to grow old, damnit, it's France. How can you have a mid-life crisis when the French clearly intend for you to have a good time ALL your life? Christ.
After awkwardly sipping on ridiculously overpriced drinks (that's the other thing, St. Tropez requires a level of decadence that is not sustainable), we all returned to the car and to our quiet sleepy house in Antibes.
Alright, I'll stop here for now. I've got to cover our travels to Barcelona, but next time.
Currently Listening: Robyn - Dancing on My Own
1 comments:
why's your mom so not-smiley? is it cuz she's annoyed to be hanging w/ the hoi polloi as opposed to celebs like m.rodriguez?
Post a Comment