St. Tropez for the Day

St. Tropez for the Day

If you’re a Hollywood star you know St. Tropez and where it is.  I’m not and had the pleasure of seeing it for the first time thanks to Chantal and Michel. We picked up Chantal’s father Maurice in the morning and headed to their place in Juan les Pins. From there we all embarked on our adventure of the day. I might add Michel has no problem with the A8 because he has an electronic device similar to our EZ Tag system. 

St. Tropez is a town on the Mediterranean Coast, on a beautiful small bay with deep blue water. It’s about an hour south of Nice. It first became famous because of Brigitte Bardot and then other film stars who followed her there.  In the summer it is known as the place to go party by the “elites” who come in on huge yachts and go from there.

St. Tropez is important for other reasons too, specifically Operation Dragoon in World War II.  On 15 Aug 1944 the Allies initiated a parachute drop that started with the 1^st Airborne Task Force and was followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army.  The next day brought a force from the French 1^st Army.  The landing caused the German Army Group G to abandon Southern France and retreat.  This invasion was well executed and highly successful but it was overshadowed by Normandy and D-Day on the 6^th of June. France erected a small monument here to mark their liberation by Allied forces. There is also a nearby American war cemetery where those killed in Operation Dragoon are buried.

All that being said, St. Tropez has since been a thriving, albeit congested little town on the French Rivera.  We stopped at the beach on the north side of the bay from St. Tropez to see the water.  I am amazed at how clear and blue the water is there.  We took some pictures along the waterfront and climbed back into the car and made our way into the public parking lot.

 

The small town has a protected harbor where boats from all sizes are moored.  When I say all sizes, I mean from row boat to multi-million dollar yacht. Lunch was next on the agenda. We found a great restaurant with outdoor seating.  It was fairly windy but too beautiful a day to eat inside.  Lunch was great and very expensive, but then one can’t expect to dine on a budget in St. Tropez.  I had spring rolls, MA had a great shrimp-avocado salad (we shared), and bread doused in olive oil.  Oh yes! And our ritual plate of French-French fries! Our three French friends ordered Steak Tartar (raw ground beef patties).  I’m not that French yet!

After lunch we walked around enjoying all the sights and doing some people watching.  Took some pictures for you.  Drive back was bumper to bumper for a while and then finally the A8 to Michel and Chantal’s to get our car and take Maurice home. We said our farewells and suggested they take a “vacation to rest up from our vacation”! We cannot thank them enough for their wonderful hospitality.

              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The next two days we spend with Nola and Randy and get ready to fly to Paris on Saturday.  We’ll be there until Monday and then come home to “Deep in the Heart of Texas”! Hope Tanner is not too miffed at our three-week journey to the “Heart of France! I’m sure a few long walks and some treats will set things right with him.

I think the 1st walk will heal whatever absent feelings he might have.