Nice, Monaco and Cannes, plus some sunburn!

So naturally because I went to the beach...despite all the suncream...I got burned...

Lobster returns! Late night run to the pharmacy for Aloe Vera!

Anyway back to the trip...now plastered in Aloe Vera...we're heading to Monaco for two days and then back to Cannes for another two! It makes no sense the order we're doing these places in - however as some hotels were fully booked and others cheaper at certain times we're doing some doubling back.

The roads between Nice and Monaco are chiselled into the cliffside and are absolutely stunning!

After a short blast we arrived right on the border of Monaco, we're walking distance from Monaco itself as the hotel prices just over the border are incredible. Although apparently based on the room rate sticker of the hotel we chose, its more that the hotels in France are heavily discounting their regular rates! We paid perhaps...1/4 of these prices! Plus free breakfast and parking!

We dropped our bags, and headed out to go boat shopping!

We then wandered along the coastline and into Monaco!

But as it was 30 outside, we retired to the hotel pool pretty quickly and left the exploring for early tomorrow!

Next morning we were up and wandering at 8am to beat the heat - getting into Monaco is a complex series of tunnels (by car) or a relatively easy walk with stairs on foot; so we opted to walk in.

More boats! Apparently mooring is £1,200 per day during regular times - much more for special occasions!

Full of delicious bakery products we wandered back the other direction into France.

And then decided too call it time for pool and cold drinks!

I had however spotted one thing in Monaco which was worth a quick run back for - the Prince's Auto Collection; part museum, part garage - this is a collection of some of the Prince of Monaco's cars.

Along with each car is a little plaque showing it being used by the family - this one for example went on family holidays in the 50s!

This one was not used for family holidays...

Sadly none were available for purchase at the souvenir shop so I had to contend myself with a postcard!

Next roadtrip we should try for on of these, convertible Smart Car - helmet is optional I assume?!

Also needing to restock the beer I found the French have been working on some interesting flavour combinations...

Next day we were up and on the road again, this time doubling back on ourselves through Nice to Cannes.

Totally unprepared for this holiday I'd completely failed to watch all the Top Gear and Travelman episodes covering the places we'd been - and had even failed to google 'things to see in Nice' and as a result had missed a few things - luckily I'd managed to correct this during the sunny afternoons in Monaco so we had a small to-do list running.

First was in Nice, a massive old Fort (Fort Mont-Alban) sits high up on the hill overlooking the beach and port and is completely shut! But the view was incredible! And I managed not to destroy the car on the way up!

Next stop was Nice itself, the coastal road thru Nice itself is one way so we'd been unable to drive that portion.

Anyone hungry for small pebbles?

And finally we arrived in Cannes, which of all the busy places we've been seemed the least packed, and possibly the most impacted by Covid.

Thats all for today! Tomorrow...mountain roads!