Day 751 (Saturday) 29^th June 2019

It was another scorcher today and we decided to go to Mandelieu la Napoule, which is just after Cannes and it looks amazing with its castle on the seafront. Pat said last night that he would call in this morning to give us some advice about the kitchen shelves so we checked the train timetable and we were able to go after 11am. At 9am I got a phone call from Brian (the owner of Cactus Roc saying that the Aussies hadn’t had hot water for two days. Huw had seen them two days ago and everything was fine. They are checking out tomorrow so why wait two days before telling us they didn’t have hot water? They are the least Australian people I have ever met, Aussies are normally really down to earth and very practical, and thus their invention of the phrase ‘no worries mate’. After a number of phone calls and emails, it was finally decided that Huw had to go up to see what was wrong. It turned out that the pilot light of the water boiler had gone out, somehow, and Huw just relit it – problem solved! I can’t believe that an Australian man didn’t have the sense to look at a pilot light! We asked Brian if we were going to get a call out charge and he said ‘of course, it goes without saying’ but he didn’t mention how much! This was my last day off for weeks and our visit to Mandelieu la Napoule was stuffed!

OK, enough whinging, the rest of the day was lovely; I have my first very tiny sunflower from the seeds my sister-in-law Amanda gave us for Christmas and we had a lovely walk along the seafront from La Darse towards Nice, we only did 4kms today but it was just too hot to go much further.

The new flowers in La Darse port are the same as the ones on the top road and they are quite simply wonderful.

The bougainvillea is absolutely stunning…

…and all the cacti make it all look like the tropics

We saw yet another brilliant example of French parking

but at least this person had the decency to put a note on his/her windscreen saying ‘if you need to move your car call this mobile number …….

We only walked about two kilometres but as always the views were stunning – I will never tire of this gorgeous little town.

As we approached La Darse beach we saw this sign, which translates to ‘the faeces are in the bag’ and I really wish the dog owners followed this rule but a lot of people still don’t ‘bag it’. Last night I slipped in some dog shit and nearly went over, I had to clean my sandals in the fountain – it really is disgusting!

La Darse beach wasn’t busy at all, I think the locals are staying home because of the heat wave. I was very proud of myself when I got into the water without flinching and had a lovely swim, the first of the year and it’s still June – normally you don’t get me in there before July. We had a little wander around the port

    

and saw the black monstrosity  we’ve often seen in the bay and it’s even uglier close-up – why choose a black yacht?

We also saw this stunningly beautiful small sailing yacht – this would be my yacht of choice when we win the lottery, preferably when the mast has been put back on.

The bar that used to be Le cockpit was buzzing and they were having a party with a DJ and two miniature boules areas and the atmosphere was great.

We stopped for a cold beer in the bar la baleine joyeuse (the happy whale) and admired the small, working fishing boats

Builder Paul was going home after taking Sasha the Dalmatian for a walk so he joined us for a cold one. Sasha was the dog that bit my lip by accident the other week, she doesn’t have a harmful bone in her body, she just gets over excited!

Poor little Badger is still feeling the heat and he pretty much has the run of the place now that he’s calmed down considerably but the one place he CANNOT be is on Huw’s computer…

  

The beermat is from my hometown of Llanelli, which has its own marvelous brewery called Felinfoel and Badger is obviously taken with it – such an obedient cat – NOT!

Here is today’s American in France

4. The Converted

These Americans might’ve been staunchly pro-American Dream, pro-capitalism, and pro-fried food, but after spending some time in the Hexagon they're now undeniably converted. They’re convinced that socialism is the only way.

Health and education systems that won't leave you bankrupt, ticket restos (restaurants), and the hivernale (winter) has them won over. They’re constantly saying things like, “You could never find this in the States” or “Can you believe I only paid €7 for an eye exam?! €7!” They think that France has it all figured out, and if they ever go back to the States they will have some seriously devastating reverse culture shock.