2019 - A warm start to the year (for some of the family)

Paulie and Stephen made their way to Menton on the Côte d'Azur to get some sun to start the new year. James and Keno carried on working in Oxford, Olivia balanced work and play and Elena and Nick headed up to ELena's family in North Italy.

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The final leg of our escape to Menton Sun every day and warm enough for no jumper on some Although the lemon capital of France, clementines seem happy too .
To our apartment for the first night. A free carpark on the backstreets near the Sciences Po (an undergraduate college) proved priceless. An easy walk to both our first and second apartments Apartment 1 was very average although well positioned. And très petit! Up on a parallel street...
... and a few stairs.. We found apartment two. Very nice and on the square of Basilica St. Michel (being renovated) : Pauline Turnbull A few ways to get there. .
View from the square. That's Italy straight ahead Also on the square next to the Basilica is La Chapelle des Pénitents-Blancs Rather ornate Morning walks. The tower in the old town is the Basilica next to our apartment.
. Super clear water . Musee Jean Cocteau in the background. Closed!
Market madness 19 Dec - it seems the Dakar Rally competitors are readying themselves in Menton before a ceremonial start in Monaco the next day Motorbikes involved Numerous support vehicles
And this one has Western Australia number plates. We wished the Aussies well Then it was time to check out the boats . : Pauline Turnbull And some of the old school hotels like the Royal Westminster. Menton was, after all, a favourite retreat for Queen Victoria
. And then.. the quest to visit Katherine Mansfield's retreat : Pauline Turnbull Property of New Zealand And perhaps Paulie will have a writing retreat here one day : Pauline Turnbull
Escaping the crowds of mostly French and Italian tourists, a few days of picnics were spent here in part of Parc du Cap Martin . . Sunset time
. . Next morning waiting for the 8am sunrise. .
A jet stream does cool stuff with the sunlight A short walk to Italy and back. Another walk. They typically seem to be uphill walks. taking in the views
An hour later after descending from a long walk (yes -uphill), a visit to Cimetiere du Trabuquet Sitting by the dock of the bay. This guy's berthing skills were amazing Busy crowds in the new town But we were distracted by some strange music
and some performance art The performers continued for some blocks Finished up at the Casino .
Video Video All of this put the duo in a celebratory mood. Dec 31 - A quick 15 minute train ride to Monaco
And it's obvious this is a different universe. Marble walkways to the train... a lot of shiny stuff... it's like the Dubai of Europe! Below is evidence of the fact that 30% of the 39,000 population are millionaires . Nearly time for the changing of the guards. They have to keep Prince Albert II safe. From creditors?
. They do it in style. Lovely colour coordination Video Whilst Paulie and Stephen have New Year's eve in Monaco and Menton, Olivia and pals went to Burleigh Beach
Where the St Lucia Athertons, in their apartment looked down at the crowds. Chris and Lottie honoured Olivia with a visit. Meanwhile in Elena's home town of Tolmezzo in North Italy Nick, Elena, Stefano and his gal head out for a quieter walk . .
molto bello! A bit of phone time before Stefano heads back to his home in the south Leaving Menton the guys head up the hills As they say on the sign - the highest seaside village in Europe
a windy narrow road This fort was meant to keep the Germans away from this region in WWII And this garden was meant to ensure that the medieval ate their daily intake of greens. .
Back down to the autoroute they go... A break on the 4-5 hour drive to Norbonne. Narbonne Cathedrale Saint Just et Saint Pasteu (photo care of Benh Lieu Song) Started in 1272, this is one of the oldest bits
A horror-inspiring image of hell to keep those sinners at bay . The basis of early anatomy text books? From Narbonne a 15 minute drive to visit the Abbaye de Fontfroide. An site involved in the Albigensian Crusade (against the Cathars) 1209 - 1229.
This was a base for Pope Innocent III's nasty lads (who persecuted the Cathars) . . Lovely gardens
The Cistercian monks may have supported the taking of life of the Cathars who questioned Catholic dogma, but they were great advocates of healthy insect life it seems . Next, a drive to one of the Cathar strongholds - Châteaux de Lastours just north of Carcassone A long and interesting walk up. 3 of the 4 sites are original Cathar buildings
. . . .
. . And then the long walk down again before the 3 hour drive home to St Antonin