Travel Log
Posts Tagged ‘riviera’
Blanes (pronounced blagh-nay) is a small town north of Barcelona. I hope the beaches there are nicer than they are in Barcelona.
Unimpressed With Barcelona
Barcelona is another huge city. I’m not quite sure what I expected but when I thought of the Riviera (Spanish or French) I must have had images of wide open beaches and quaint little hotels and private villas. The reality is somewhat different to say the least. Yes there are some really nice beaches along the coast but there are also high rises, modern buildings, and dumpy old hotels everywhere.
So you can’t visit the French Riviera without making a side trip to Monte Carlo in Monaco so that’s what we did one evening. Four more folks from Australia joined our little group and we jumped on the regional train for the 45-minute trip to Monaco. We decided to go in the evening so that we could see Monte Carlo all lit up at night. The Aussies contingent had been there earlier in the day to play on the beaches but was looking forward to trying their luck at the Casino.
What a change a 30-minute train ride can make. After a short intercity journey I arrived in the film festival capital of the world, Cannes France. Unlike Nice, Cannes is an amazingly clean city with pristine beaches. A short walk from the train station I stopped in a boulongerie for a pastery and cafe au laut. Yummm, what a great way to start the day. The French really know how to do pasteries and they brew really rich, strong coffee.
