True to the weatherman’s forecast, this morning started out with rain.
Lots of it.
The reality is they can use it here – believe it or not, things are looking a little dry and in order for the world-famous gardens here to look their best, you do need some rain (even succulents need water from time to time).
By about 11am, the rain had stopped and things looked to be clearing. We decided to take a morning stroll into town and were pleasantly surprised that on a Sunday of a holiday week end, most things were open. You have to remember here that things here are not like Elora. A Sunday of a long week end here generally means to shop keepers that they can be closed more!
Anyway, we were in town getting some bread and Paul reminded me that there was supposed to be a big outdoor market in Beaulieu Sur Mer today. The sky had cleared and so we decided to go home for a bit of lunch and then on to the market. As we walked home (in long pants, shoes, socks and a pull over draped over our shoulders) it got hotter and hotter... and the intensity of the sun became almost unbearable in this garb.
As soon as we got back to the apartment it was time for a quick change into lighter clothing and sandals. After a lunch of a bunch of left overs (I love eating up all that sort of stuff), we took the train to Beaulieu.
Arriving at the station, we were greeted by a huge banner that proclaimed the sale today (even noting the date, April 29th) at the port. We made our way down to the port and…
Nothing. Nada. Nyente.
WTF? What happened? We really can’t tell. The only thing we think must have happened was that due to the early morning rain, it must have got cancelled. By this time, though, the sun was high in the sky and it was a beautiful. So, 16 Euros later (the round trip train fare for 2), there we were.
Guide books describe the village of Menton as sedate. Therefore, Beaulieu sur Mer on a Sunday is moribund. Every single shop, bar and restaurant was closed, save for the ones in the cabanas along the port (and we had all ready eaten our lunch anyway!).
It did turn out to be a good day to window shop and check out all the real-estate windows (Imagine that!) for pricing. You must keep in mind that Beaulieu is the train stop for Cap Ferrat (see my po$ting on the Cap from last year), so everything is even more expen$ive than normal.
But we, of course, love the place.
The good news was that despite the weatherman, we were able to take up a lot more sun than we thought we were going to get.
We had a wonderful home-made supper of a green salad, lentil de Puy (which I cooked classically with carrots, onions and bay) and fillet steak with 3 peppercorn sauce. I paired it with a 2010 Medoc “L’Alee du Roy,” from Bordeaux – and the cassis/cherry tones went wonderfully. Dessert came from the patisserie; Tart au citron meringue and “choux,” a profiterole filled simply with a delicious pastry cream.
The day didn’t turn out so bad after all!
Weather: Clouds and hazy sunshine with a high of 22C
Today's photos:
Rain drops on peachy orange rose, Menton
Rolls Royce in the parking lot of Beaulieu harbour
A side chapel in Sacre Coeur Church, Beaulieu
Private Boules Club, Beaulieu
The wrong end of a pug (she wouldn't turn around for me!), Menton (in France Pugs are called "Carlins")
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