travel this summer includes aix au province to monaco by car...
- Thread starter joanietoo
- Start date
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
Well, first off, it is impossible to have
bad food in Provence. So many memorable 2 hour lunches having the plat du jour with the vin de table before heading back to the beach for the afternoon shift.
But my most memorable meal (in Monte Carlo) and one of the most memorable meals of my life, was this: I went to the Nice market, and assembled my lunch: the most amazing haricort vert almondine, paella stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, etc., a luscious slab of chocolate gateau, a baguette, and a cheap bottle of vin. I tucked this in my bag, got on the train and set off for Monte...I found a secluded bench on a little outcropping jutting out over the intensely turquoise Mediterranean in front of the Musée Océanographique, and enjoyed my lunch with a couple of birds who loved the baguette.
And one of my all time favorite memories of France was going into a wine store, picking up a cheap bottle of Red, putting down a 10 Franc coin (and this was in the early 80's when there were 11 Francs to the Dollar!), and getting change back!
Viva la France!!!
https://recipeswap.org/fun/wp-content/uploads/Finer_Kitchens/Richard/monte.png
bad food in Provence. So many memorable 2 hour lunches having the plat du jour with the vin de table before heading back to the beach for the afternoon shift.
But my most memorable meal (in Monte Carlo) and one of the most memorable meals of my life, was this: I went to the Nice market, and assembled my lunch: the most amazing haricort vert almondine, paella stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, etc., a luscious slab of chocolate gateau, a baguette, and a cheap bottle of vin. I tucked this in my bag, got on the train and set off for Monte...I found a secluded bench on a little outcropping jutting out over the intensely turquoise Mediterranean in front of the Musée Océanographique, and enjoyed my lunch with a couple of birds who loved the baguette.
And one of my all time favorite memories of France was going into a wine store, picking up a cheap bottle of Red, putting down a 10 Franc coin (and this was in the early 80's when there were 11 Francs to the Dollar!), and getting change back!
Viva la France!!!
https://recipeswap.org/fun/wp-content/uploads/Finer_Kitchens/Richard/monte.png
florisandy
Well-known member
Oh Joanie, wish I could go with you! I've been to Monaco twice but the only
name of a restaurant I remember was QuickSilver that was right on the Monaco Yacht Basin (like Richard, back in 80's). I googled but can't find it but I'm sure another restaurant has replaced it. My traveling friends and I walked down the quaint streets and found some nice inexpensive restaurants to dine in and we really enjoyed our meals. You can view their menu from outside of the restaurants. The last time I was in Monaco was about two weeks to a month after Princess Grace died in her car accident and all of the shops had photos of her and family with a black ribbon placed on it. I'll never forget how somber Monaco was.
In Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Castle tour is not to be missed as well as walking through Princess Street which is below the castle. If you have time, pop in the Jekyll & Hyde Pub. It's dark but fun. Here's the link.
Have a great time Joanie!
http://www.eerie-pubs.co.uk/jekyll-hyde
name of a restaurant I remember was QuickSilver that was right on the Monaco Yacht Basin (like Richard, back in 80's). I googled but can't find it but I'm sure another restaurant has replaced it. My traveling friends and I walked down the quaint streets and found some nice inexpensive restaurants to dine in and we really enjoyed our meals. You can view their menu from outside of the restaurants. The last time I was in Monaco was about two weeks to a month after Princess Grace died in her car accident and all of the shops had photos of her and family with a black ribbon placed on it. I'll never forget how somber Monaco was.
In Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Castle tour is not to be missed as well as walking through Princess Street which is below the castle. If you have time, pop in the Jekyll & Hyde Pub. It's dark but fun. Here's the link.
Have a great time Joanie!
http://www.eerie-pubs.co.uk/jekyll-hyde
florisandy
Well-known member
I remember seeing the museum from afar... (sniff)
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
The first time I was in Monaco was exactly 1 year
after Princess Grace died. I visited her tomb in the cathedral and I swear there was a stack of flowers 5 feet high piled on her grave. And candles. Lots of candles.
They worshipped her.
after Princess Grace died. I visited her tomb in the cathedral and I swear there was a stack of flowers 5 feet high piled on her grave. And candles. Lots of candles.
They worshipped her.
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
I love this museum. It's so Jules Verne 19th Century. The way I always
picture museums should be. The beautiful wooden cases, and specimens on display, one just walks back into the 19th century upon passing through the portals
.
picture museums should be. The beautiful wooden cases, and specimens on display, one just walks back into the 19th century upon passing through the portals
.
It's been a few years, so I can't recommend exact places, but look for trucks.
The trucks are smaller there, and so are the truckers, and so are the cafes, but the old adage holds true: truckers know the best lunch stops.
In my brief experience, Eze and Monaco were a little prescious and overpriced, though beautiful to see. We had wonderful meals in Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, and other smaller towns. And the marketplace in Nice is wonderful.
The trucks are smaller there, and so are the truckers, and so are the cafes, but the old adage holds true: truckers know the best lunch stops.
In my brief experience, Eze and Monaco were a little prescious and overpriced, though beautiful to see. We had wonderful meals in Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, and other smaller towns. And the marketplace in Nice is wonderful.
G
Guest
Guest
Thanks for suggestions folks...we are going from friend to friend
which I'm thrilled about as my dearest is not a wine drinker and wont drink and drive (fair enough) it is not on for me to constantly have the whole bottle of wine - alone smileys/smile.gif
He does however enjoy food - what we eat does not matter (except of course if it costs an arm and a leg!) He will give an arm and both legs for sushi however - not so much me.....
With all this the plan is to be with friends for a couple nights in Aix and drive to friends in time for a long boozy lunch and night somewhere above Nice and then the next am wander about "Top" Eze BUT NOT eat and then down to "Bottom" Eze on the beach for a nice lunch at a sprog's fav restaurant (all our offspring know the area well as they are always there for the mega yacht season - sadly none will be there when we are, we just did not get our dates to connect.)
and then we drive to Monaco and this is where it will get outrageous, I believe. The hotel is reasonable, apparently, and we will have a car park organized......The recommended things to do in this lovely place is to walk (I cant wait as I've heard how delightful it is) and enjoy The American bar - but will we drink at more than 20EU a drink there? - I am not so sure but apparently it's ambiance is wonderful -
Go to the Buddha Bar (one of the three main ones in the world, I believe) where we/he/maybe me/ will have sushi to die for......OH Lord...bread and cheese for the next week......actually I checked out the menu...IF we eat there it will be bread and cheese for the next couple months!!! And there is another recommended place which escapes me at the moment.
I am happy with bread and cheese, and a market, very much so actually!
We then need to find our way to the TGV station in Nice - remember neither of us speaks or reads French easily.
We take the TGV to Switzerland and then fly from there to Scotland....
Going to be quite a trip smileys/smile.gif
I'm quite excited.
which I'm thrilled about as my dearest is not a wine drinker and wont drink and drive (fair enough) it is not on for me to constantly have the whole bottle of wine - alone smileys/smile.gif
He does however enjoy food - what we eat does not matter (except of course if it costs an arm and a leg!) He will give an arm and both legs for sushi however - not so much me.....
With all this the plan is to be with friends for a couple nights in Aix and drive to friends in time for a long boozy lunch and night somewhere above Nice and then the next am wander about "Top" Eze BUT NOT eat and then down to "Bottom" Eze on the beach for a nice lunch at a sprog's fav restaurant (all our offspring know the area well as they are always there for the mega yacht season - sadly none will be there when we are, we just did not get our dates to connect.)
and then we drive to Monaco and this is where it will get outrageous, I believe. The hotel is reasonable, apparently, and we will have a car park organized......The recommended things to do in this lovely place is to walk (I cant wait as I've heard how delightful it is) and enjoy The American bar - but will we drink at more than 20EU a drink there? - I am not so sure but apparently it's ambiance is wonderful -
Go to the Buddha Bar (one of the three main ones in the world, I believe) where we/he/maybe me/ will have sushi to die for......OH Lord...bread and cheese for the next week......actually I checked out the menu...IF we eat there it will be bread and cheese for the next couple months!!! And there is another recommended place which escapes me at the moment.
I am happy with bread and cheese, and a market, very much so actually!
We then need to find our way to the TGV station in Nice - remember neither of us speaks or reads French easily.
We take the TGV to Switzerland and then fly from there to Scotland....
Going to be quite a trip smileys/smile.gif
I'm quite excited.
G
Guest
Guest
Oh, I love buying from a market and doing what you did...I dream of doing this where ever I travel..
I just don't see this happening too often this trip as it will be too rushed.....Borough market in London is a def. this trip - as always though.
I just don't see this happening too often this trip as it will be too rushed.....Borough market in London is a def. this trip - as always though.
G
Guest
Guest
Sure looks fun, thanx
G
Guest
Guest
Thanks Joe, yup I believe it will be rather more than we can imagine
which is why we will prolly just be walking about and breathing in the ambiance. It is so 'citing though as I never imagined we would be doing this.
which is why we will prolly just be walking about and breathing in the ambiance. It is so 'citing though as I never imagined we would be doing this.
florisandy
Well-known member
Joanie, if you're traveling north on the C
get out of the car and check out Villefranche-sur-Mer. It's a tiny town overlooking a yacht basin with small cafes and so noncommercial. Simply a lovely place to have au jambon et fromage
(ham and cheese sandwich) with a magnificent seaside view. I hope you get the experience like I did.
http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/villefranche_sur_mer_cote_azur_france-normal.jpg
get out of the car and check out Villefranche-sur-Mer. It's a tiny town overlooking a yacht basin with small cafes and so noncommercial. Simply a lovely place to have au jambon et fromage
(ham and cheese sandwich) with a magnificent seaside view. I hope you get the experience like I did.
http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/villefranche_sur_mer_cote_azur_france-normal.jpg
florisandy
Well-known member
Oh Ang, what hardships in the northern climes. Four years ago, I had to dig out
my Mustang back in Philly where the snow was half way up the passenger door!
You need to thaw out in sunny Florida and then go to the French Riviera!
Glad you like the photo. It's now the background on my monitor. Ah, the memories of there and Nice............ smileys/wink.gif
my Mustang back in Philly where the snow was half way up the passenger door!
You need to thaw out in sunny Florida and then go to the French Riviera!
Glad you like the photo. It's now the background on my monitor. Ah, the memories of there and Nice............ smileys/wink.gif