Onward to Menton

Today, we left Nice and our lovely Air BnB, packed one suitcase (we have 3 bags so far) as our travel bag, rented a Citroen with manual drive and headed east on the coastal road. We just got comfortable with the transportation in Nice and decided to test our nerves and relationship with driving…ahhhhhhh! We’re both a bit testy and tired and more than a bit out of our comfort zone. Had to remind myself that I love to travel, right? But all that is part of the adventure. And the sights and experiences make it all worthwhile.

First stop=Villefranche

Villefranche a medieval town which was begun as a tax free town, farmers were offered a ‘no tax zone’ to move to the seaside and provide defense against sea invasions…Thus the fort and walk around it. After a few wrong turns we found parking and the seaside walk.

After a bit of confusion as to which way to the old town we did find a lovely spot for lunch and indulged in the best Margherita pizza ever. We are still a bit early for the lunch crowd but we’re hungry and in need of a bathroom break.

And then it’s my turn to drive since Dana calmed his frayed nerves with a drink at lunch. Can’t blame him, getting into the traffic in Nice and finding the way out….oh my! I have had second and third thoughts about the insurance we so cavalierly turned down.

We head back to the car and ventured on to the village of Menton, passing through Monaco on the way with it’s sumptuous mansions and yachts. Made a wrong turn and had to figure out how the hell to turn around. But . . . No one died yet.

Menton, renowned for it’s lemons and lemoncello. Not to mention its beauty. It’s the last village this side of Italy. Situated between the Mediterranean and the Alps, life feels slower here and so very good.

Beautiful, relaxed Menton