I made one small error, but at least I won't make the same mistake twice.

I'll spend tonight at the airport in Nice even though Linda's in a fine apartment in town tonight. I tried to think of all possibilities to avoid this unfortunate situation but this is the best I could work out.

1. My flight out leaves at 6:20 am, check in starts at 4:20.
2. Bike shop which held and stored the bike doesn't open till 10:00 am
3. The lovely apartment is a 5 flight walk up with turning stairs. Up and down not an option.
4. Airport left luggage hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

So, basically... I needed to pick up the bike today for tomorrow's flight and I need to sit with it here at the airport. No one ever said this would be easy.

The lesson is not to schedule such an early flight. 10 or better yet one would have left me some options.

At least the snack bar has beer till 7:50 pm when they close. Not haute cuisine but I won't starve.

Linda and I did the flower market in Nice this morning. We took a very nice boat trip to San Tropez on Saturday. Lots of photos but a bit difficult to get to right now.

Back to work on Monday.

Cinque Terra was so beautiful, we stayed a couple of extra days

Incredibly beautiful place. It was so nice we decided to stay in Monterosso for two extra nights. The hiking was amazing with continuous views to die for. Steep inclines and many steps but well worth the effort. Pretty pictures below.

And there is gelato... 

We're back from in Nice now. Tonight John will join us. He likes white. I've been drinking red. Linda drinks the good beer. We all get along well!

Saturday, a boat ride to St. Tropez. There is a must see Matisse exhibition which John is anxious to see. Linda wants to see it all in the time remaining.

Train to Juan le Pins then hike/bike back, then Monico, west

Had another great day out retracing my route into Nice, but this time more slowly. Antibes is a particularly beautiful town. I spent some time in the Picasso museum and then went on to have a wonderful piece of chicken and potatoes.

On Thursday I headed in the other direction (east) to Monico. I walked to Villefranch sur Mer.  Even more beautiful.

Pretty pictures.

Day for chores in Nice, 2.9.2013

I found an honest to goodness laundromat today and, you're sitting on the edge of your chairs, yes I did a load. Finding them has become a bit of a game.

I also deposited the bicycle with a shop. Although there was someone in the shop who spoke English, my problem apparently didn't rate that level of management. I know my place in the world.

I explained that I needed for them to box the bike for shipping and that I'd return on the 23rd or the 24th. (Oh god, I didn't say what month.) What could go wrong?

I gave them a business card with my French cell number (which he stapled into a diary) and a vague promise was made to have it done early. Boxed or not, I'll be happy to ever see the bike again. No receipt was offered, not even a hand shake. The good news is that reviewers say good things about the place on Google and they also sell honey. Who the hell knows why. You can't get coffee where they sell bread and pastries but you can buy honey in your bike store. This is France and it's pointless to ask why. I also have this vague recollection that bees will only work for the truthful. Someone please fill me in on this, or did I make it up?

Also on the positive side, it is a tidy, well stocked and ordered shop. With at least four working, they must have sufficient volume to remain in business, although the markup on honey may be better than bikes. The bees do all the heavy lifting.

I also consolidated and rearranged the packing and found a backpack for our trip to Italy.

Linda arrives on the 12th. Not sure when John arrives but it may be after we get back from Italy. All will become clear in the fullness of time.

Yes, there are translucent full sized plastic people sitting on platforms atop poles.

Mom and kid are talking to an after hours pharmacist through a window. Something to do with the kid's knee. I guess in a large town they rotate 24 hour duty. What a good idea.

Arrived Nice, Saturday, 31.08.2013

The ride from Frejus to Nice was spectacular. There were parts which reminded me of  Zion NP, Sausalito, and highway 1. This is apparently a very popular cycling route, though not the one most long distance cyclists use; it's quite hilly in parts. There were bits which I'd have loved to photograph but there was just no good place to pull over safely.

I was passed by relatively few cars. I'd have expected more, but it included 3 Ferraris. The exhaust sound is like music. There are more direct ways to go other than this coast road so it doesn't seem to get the tourists.

I'm settled now in the outskirts of Nice. It's nice not having to continually pack and unpack the bags, though I'd gotten that down to a science.

It being Sunday today, I don't expect much to be open except for restaurants, boulangeries, and markets till noon. I haven't been in a town this size in France till now. Maybe something more is. I'll poke around a bit to see.

Yes, there is a helicopter taking off from the roof of this building. I haven't figured out if it was a private or government building.  You have to question the wisdom of using helicopters in such a densely populated area, but voila.

I figured out the busses yesterday. Today I'll figure out the beach!