Villefranche-sur-mer

Finding that special vacation spot is not as easy as one supposes. Even though the Internet now gives us the opportunity to view thousands of properties, it is still very difficult to envision what your experience will be like from those tiny, grainy, poorly lit and framed photos offered. 

Each spring,  Peter, Lucy, Noemi and I travel to Europe. I had finally persuaded them to try the south of France rather than going to Italy as we had for the past 4 years. We discussed how great it would be if we could find a property with a view of the sea where we could all sit in deck chairs, sip our cocktails and do nothing.  We had spent the previous spring in Manarola in the Cinque Terre, with this fabulous view, so I was challenged to find something equally outstanding but without the 70 steps to get to the apartment.

 

I began my search over the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday. With a glass of red wine at hand, I recall sitting for hours, getting bleary-eyed looking at one property after another. Having only stayed in Nice before, I really didn't have any feel for the other towns along the Cote d'Azur.

I remember my reaction upon seeing this photograph of an apartment in Villefranche-sur-mer. It was love at first sight. I quickly looked for availability and crest-fallen, I was disappointed that the property was not available.

 

http://www.rivieraexperience.com

I continued my Internet search for several weeks thereafter. I looked at more properties, but mentally I compared each new prospect to the dream image I had found that November. By late January, sure that I wouldn't find what I was looking for in France, I prepared to change my search to Italy. Before doing so, I looked one more time at Villefranche-sur-mer.

I'll spare you the details, but ultimately I was able to secure the apartment for one week in April 2010.

Villefranche-sur-mer is delightful and the apartment was superb. The apartment living room opened onto a terrace over-looking the town and St. Jean-Cap Ferrat. My photographic essay begins with views from that terrace and continues down to the town. The town is so photogenic, that I have included more pictures than normal. I hope you will enjoy these images as much as I do.



Slightly after dawn.

Mid-day



The neighborhood cat adds to the view.

Sail boats...

Cruise ships...

and assorted smaller vessels.

A full moon over St. Jean-Cap Ferrat.

 

Please take a look at the web-site for Riviera Experience http://www.rivieraexperience.com for accommodations and great information on Villefranche-sur-mer and the surrounding Cote d'Azur area.

veni, vidi, eram victus VENICE

If Google translate is to be believed, my heading translates as I came, I saw, I was overcome by Venice.

I am only one month home from my last european journey, but my travel partners have pushed me to schedule our next journey for this fall. When I told my friend Romain where we were planning to go, he exclaimed...AGAIN! Where are we off to? Venice, of course! (We will also visit Malcesine, Lake Garda, but that's another story.)

I first visited Venice for two nights in 1970 with my brother where we stayed in a closet-like windowless room near the train station. In the years since I have been lucky to revisit the city for increasingly longer stays and to discover and experience the different sestiere; Cannaregio, Castello, Santa Croce, and the Lido. I've yet to stay in San Polo, but this year we will get to stay in San Marco, in an apartment in a small palazzo directly on the Grand Canal. It took 40 years to go from a windowless room to rooms with a view!

Despite what you have heard about the throngs of tourists in Venice (which is true) it is very easy to avoid them and find the beauty and serenity of the city. This blog was actually inspired by a trip to Venice. The photos above in the Focused heading graphic were taken in Venice.
 

The Gondolas



This was a luck shot taken near Piazza San Marco.

As you can see though, there are gondola photo-ops practically on every corner.



 

 The Grand Canal



The windows of the Ca'Rezzonico saporetto stop clearly reflect Palazzi on the other side of the Grand Canal.

  

The Rialto Bridge also on the Grand Canal, even on an over-cast day is mezmerising.



And when it rains, what better way is there to dry your umbrella?



This is why I go back!

To see old views in a new way.



For the art; whether it be in the churches, on the water, and in shop windows.

 

Ah Venice!