It’s a beautiful fall day in the South of France – a perfect day for a drive along the coast. We’re going to head out from our home base in Nice, drive east towards Italy, and make stops at Eze and Monaco. You’ve never heard of Eze? It rhymes with “Pez.” C’mon. Let’s go pay a visit to Eze. Continue reading “A Visit to Eze, or “Eze-y Come, Eze-y Go!””
Day-Trip to Saint Paul de Vence
Nice is a great city, but it’s time to get out of town and do some exploring. The plan for today is to rent a car and take a day-trip to the hilltop town of Saint Paul de Vence. It’s just a short drive inland from Nice. Allons! (Let’s go!) Continue reading “Day-Trip to Saint Paul de Vence”
La Promenade des Anglais
Sometimes, when I wake up for the first time in a new place, I don’t completely remember where I am. Then I open the curtains, look outside, and remember. In this case, I opened the curtains to see palm trees, the blue Mediterranean sea sparkling in the morning sun, and the Promenade des Anglais. “Oh yeah – we’re in Nice!” Continue reading “La Promenade des Anglais”
Sacré Bleu! – Le Côte d’Azur
Ah, oui. Le Côte d’Azur. The French Riviera. Land of luxury. Playground of the rich and famous. We’ve just arrived. Perhaps we’ll see how the other half lives, albeit from a distance. Probably a very great distance! Our plan is to get acquainted with Nice, then use it as our home base for day-trips to nearby places like Monaco and Saint Paul de Vence. Allons! (Let’s go!) Continue reading “Sacré Bleu! – Le Côte d’Azur”
Northern Italy Recap
Milan’s Malpensa airport is huge. We touched down here two weeks ago, rented a car, and started a tour of Northern Italy. We’re here now, waiting for the plane to take us home. It’s been a great trip. In case you missed it, here’s a brief Northern Italy recap. Continue reading “Northern Italy Recap”
Ciao, Alba!
We don’t want to say it, but we have to – “Ciao, Alba!” It’s time to move on. Today we’re going to drive northeast to Malpensa Airport – the big airport near Milan. We’ll stay at an airport hotel tonight, then catch a plane home in the morning. Spending the night at a hotel near the airport burns a day of travel-time, but we’ve found that it’s worth it in the long run. Continue reading “Ciao, Alba!”
Baci-di-Dama, Mamma!
It’s our last night in Alba. Alba has turned out to be an ideal home base for exploring the Langhe wine region. Wine wasn’t invented here, but it feels like wine could have been invented in the Langhe. Baci-di-dama weren’t invented here, either, but we’re going to have some tonight! Continue reading “Baci-di-Dama, Mamma!”
“And They’re Off!” – The Donkey Races of Alba
Finally! The Donkey Races of Alba are upon us! It has been a day of festivities, starting with a parade through town. Medieval denizens of every sort marched through Central Alba’s cobblestone streets. With the exception of lowly serfs and convicted criminals chained up in wooden carts, everyone was in a festive mood. Continue reading ““And They’re Off!” – The Donkey Races of Alba”
It’s Donkey Race Day in Alba!
It’s Sunday morning in Alba, Italy – the final day of Alba’s White Truffle Festival. And that can mean only one thing. Yes. It’s Donkey Race day! Continue reading “It’s Donkey Race Day in Alba!”
The Alba White Truffle Fair
The Alba White Truffle Fair has been underway here in Alba all week. It’s a big deal. And today is a market day, so vendors selling everything imaginable line the streets. The town is like a circus, full of food and people like us, just having fun. Continue reading “The Alba White Truffle Fair”
