Travel Notes
August 25, 1984 - Day 25
FRANCE
Nice
Ma and I had a marvelous morning up and down Avenue Jean Medecin peering into all the shops. I ended up with a new dress and a shawl for our night out at Monaco-Monte Carlo, which makes me feel very much a lady. The shawl was from the Nice Galeries Lafayette, ditto for new black stockings, *and* another travel bag (!) from the shop three doors down.
We had lunch at the Nice Etoile before heading back to the hotel. Then I left Ma to rest in the room and went to walk with Gene, Evelyn, Frank and Co. on the Promenade des Anglais. Earl earlier mentioned he'd be soaking up some sun on the beach, which prompted sly grins from many among the group.
We split up at the promenade after we met Grandfather Basil and Grandmother Rita and the McFarlanes. Gene, Evelyn and I headed for McDonald's, then back to the hotel for a nap. Sad news arrived for Shirley, and she had to leave us at this point, needing to fly to San Francisco for personal reasons
Eze
Ma and I were the first down in the lobby at 1800H sharp and I received my first compliments on the new ensemble. Quite the ego-boost there!
We were a little late setting off for the perfume factory at Eze : an "eagle's nest" town perched on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean. The perfumery is that of Fragonard : Ma visited the main factory in Grasse five years ago, and I was allowed to treat myself to a small but respectable selection of perfume. It goes without saying that the bus smelled really good on the way home!
Monaco
Monaco is lovely, but shadowed by the tragic manner of Grace Kelly's death. Grandfather gave me a short lecture on artillery while we lingered at the cannon on the city ramparts. We were lucky to catch the tail end of the changing of the guard as we were lingering in the square.
Earl pointed out various signs on the way up to the palace and was caught not knowing who the patron of the Cathedral was.
"I always call it the church where they (Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly) got married."
Monte Carlo
Arriving at Monte Carlo, Ma thinks Casino clientele has degenerated into a scruffy lot : high-rollers, maybe, but scruffy all the same. It's no longer as elegant as four years ago -- the even have slot machines in the grand salle now, a Las Vegas touch that seems out of place in that pretty building.
To my surprise, I won when I played the slots! Bart acted as cashier, changing the franc coins into notes for me. Poor Grandfather was discovered standing in the one spot where Joe and Maria left him, waiting patiently for a rescue. Grandmother and I located them in the lounge with Frank and Co. and we towed Grandfather to them like a tugboat.
It was the usual "chicken dance" soundtrck on the way home, just as I finished lulling Sylvia with "Little Star". The view out of the bus windows was a perfect romantic atmosphere : soft night air, sparkling lights in the harbor and Promenade.
Nice
From romance to harsh reality with a bump upon arrival in Nice - someone parked bang in the middle of Bart's space! With the hotel so tantalizingly close, we decided to unload in the middle of the road, risking getting caught by the gendarmes, in a display of the true Monte Carlo gambling spirit.
Alas, we got caught; or rather, half the bus got caught, so the bus had to go once round the block and unload at the front of the hotel.
I sneaked a look from the balcony just before turning in, and watched our faithful duo close shop for the day. It's become quite a habit to check on the guys if the view lets me - it gives a feeling of closure to the day.
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