Wander, learn, repeat

Tag: Menton

  • Notes from a June 2024 trip to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

    I recently visited Menton, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Gorbio, Saorge, in France and Ventimiglia, Italy. Here are my notes from my June 2024 trip to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

    • Every driver in Menton and Antibes stopped for me as I attempted to cross the street, even when I was distracted and should have been paying more attention. What a different experience compared to Florida, where I now live!
    • Ventimiglia’s hosts its legendary market only on Fridays. Contrary to what I’ve read in several other publications, neither Ventimiglia’s crowds nor its vibe were oppressive on a Friday morning in June, at 9:30 a.m. It did get busier closer to noon. Try to make the trip on a Friday at the beginning of your travels, so that you have time to enjoy the culinary treats available. I made the mistake of going on my second Friday, and couldn’t take full advantage of the delicious possibilities because I had a Sunday departure. https://wanderlearnrepeat.com/six-travel-tips-you-probably-know-but/
    • It’s relatively easy to navigate the bus systems to various villages from Menton, but the buses are not frequent.
    • If insects love you as much as they love me, you will need repellent, at least in June and July. I can’t speak for the rest of the year.
    • I found Villefranche-sur-Mer stunningly beautiful, but I don’t place it on my favorite list. I found the town full of tourists speaking English. As an American, that’s a negative for me. It may be a great spot for travelers wanting to have the comfort of their own English language.
    • If you have 4 hours or so, do take the bus to visit the small villages of Saorge and Gorbio. I saw very few other humans during the several hours I spent there. Especially for Saorge, wear comfy footwear with a good grip. Those hilly cobblestones are slippery!
    • Talk to strangers. It’s so much fun. I had a blast giving directions, in a combination of French, Spanish, and Italian (which I don’t actually speak) to a young woman.
    Guitar sculpture, Antibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

    These are just my notes from MY trip to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. I’m always interested in your thoughts on this, my favorite region.

  • My Gift from Michael

    Menton, France                                                                  June 20, 2024

    I left Florida today for a place that captured my heart in 2017. My gift from Michael and a flight to France happened like this. A few months ago, in November, and a few weeks before my birthday, my daughter and I were visiting my son, Michael in Texas.

    I had taken a few sips of really good wine, then opened the menu, pretending to choose an entrée for dinner. I laughed often at this charade. It had become comical once my son had started to live and dine in fabulous restaurants in Manhattan. He is very confident that he will make the correct culinary decisions for everyone at the table at any given time. Before I had time to pretend to have chosen my meal, my son said, “Mom, I’m tired of hearing that you want to go back to France, so here’s your birthday gift. I’m sending you to France.” I looked at my daughter, who obviously knew about his surprise, and she nodded happily, proud of her brother’s generosity. The restaurant wasn’t very dark. Of course, several diners wondered why tears rolled down my face, resulting in a smudge of my blue mascara.

    Email with my gift from Michael with a link to my airline tickets!

    He then instructed me that I had two weeks to choose dates and a location, and joked that I would lose the opportunity if I delayed any longer. My gift from Michael was a round trip flight to any city in France. I’m normally very talkative, as my children, now grown, have told me repeatedly. This announcement shocked me, and I had mo idea what words to use. Needless to say, I grabbed the opportunity, and professed my gratitude! I gave Michael some dates and he took it from there. Thanks, Michael! I couldn’t wait to find out if Menton would still tug at my heart. https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Nice-Airport-NCE/Menton#r/Drive/s/0