Wine tasting in provence and the Var

Chateau San Martin 

 

Château de Saint Martin was established in the 18th century and has been supplying wine to fine restaurants and cellars all over the world for decades. The château nearly always has been managed by women; today it is run by Ms. de Barry. With exceptional architecture, a rich cultural heritage, and a range of refined wines, the vineyard has made an art of welcoming visitors.

Apparently they like boxed wine in France. REALLY?    In the days of the 70's it meant bottom of the barrel.  

These vines are NOT on pergolas, they are old enough and groomed in a way to grow unsupported 

Stainless steel tanks 

The wineries we toured were domaine du Dragon, Jas d'Esclans and Fréjus

The Var

Dinner in Nice at Cafe Turin

We picked up a bus at the villa €1.50 and ended up in Nice. We knew we would take the train for there back to Cannes.  The bus terminated at Piazza Garibaldi.  As we were walking towards the Gare (train station ) we stumbled onto Cafe Turin. Incredible, fresh  oysters, clams, mussels, sea snails, shrimp. ,we had seen oysters farms along the coat from the train as we came into Nice from Cannes.

Sea snails, yes it was good. there is a little nail like apparatus that you can pull out the meat inside 

Villa de la Ephrussi Ville Franche

The Villa: inside also a collection  Sèvres and Vincennes royal porcelain.   

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7 different  gardens adorned with patios, fountains, ponds, flowerbeds and shady paths

Swimming in the Mediterranean

This came into our view this morning .  A cruise ship, medium size.  

This is the private beach.  For a price you get chaise, towel, water.  

This is the public beach, bring your own mat, towel and you get this darling man to watch over you

The Mediterranean is shallow and much warmer than the Pacific.  Because of the salt, you really float.

Working up an appetite for dinner

The size of the Yachts here are truly the most opulent jerry and I have ever seen.  We have traveled to lots of water places with harbours.  Monterey, Galveston, San Francisco, Tiburon, Capri to name a few.  But this harbour truly has the most mind blowing yachts  ever.  These are millions of dollars.  

This one is called LET MY PEOPLE GO

Just hanging out

We began to morning by visiting the Marche Forville for breakfast pastries and eventually lunch for back at the apartment .  It was raining and the market is covered, so that made it pleasant.  

Flowers, fruits, fish, vegetables, meat, poultry, cheeses. Many of the vendors offered samples.

The pears have wax on the stem, I guess for freshness

This was the most mind blowing selection of mushrooms I have ever seen

In California, we will never get chestnuts this fresh. 

Quail

Those are veal brains. I feel bad enough about veal but their brains are tiny

We had this cheese for lunch, a cow cheese, very strong 

Finally our lunch

BTW! my foreign language skills are worthless.  My brain goes from Italian to French to 'no that's not right'.   At least in Cannes, there is a fair amount of English.  Plus thier television has an English channel, Friends!!!  As a franchise that must be great investment for those cast members 

Arrived in Cannes. We felt great after arriving from NYC to Nice. We decided to save money & take the bus from Nice to Cannes. Easy enough and we Cannes to the apartment. We could have omitted the taxi in the end and walked but with luggage ; we all know about hindsight.

K

We watched the sunset in the cafe next door. Our biggest problem here would be drinking and walking NOT drinking and driving.  

I recognized Catherine's father. Catherine is the owner of the flat   Also sitting at the cafe was Juliette, the woman who have us the key and orientated us to the place.  The owner also knew then so already a local !  Just love that. The owner knew English well; he went to college in Houston in the late 80's in Houston. But alas he dropped out to play professional beach volley ball. And yet another conincidence; did you know the famous Walsh family from California.?  Well of course!  He knew of them really. Everyone who plays volley ball seriously knows they family. 

These interactions, experiences with people makes my world so small and intimate. When the world is small and intimate(for Jerry &I ) it creates this feeling of gratitude, a fortune of life, kindness, happiness, humor etc