Nice to Venice on a Baboo, Sunday

Panorama of the Grand Canal at Dusk

Grand Canal at Dusk

Sunday was a travel day for us.  We got up early, finished packing and had breakfast in our room in the Hotel Diana.  Randy and Nola arrived at 11:00 for a short drive to the Nice Airport.  We said our goodbyes and rolled our luggage into the airport looking for Baboo Airlines.  That's right, Baboo.  It's a Swiss Air affilliate so I was not worried.  After getting our boarding passes and checking in our luggage, we found the security checkpoint and got in line.  In Europe you don't have to take off your shoes.  After not too much delay we made it through, got our stuff and went looking for the Baboo gate.  This is another airport were you board the aircraft on the tarmac. 

Baboo was 20 minutes late getting the bus around to our gate.  The bus took us out to the aircraft.  This is a twin engine turbo-prop, Dash D-800 with tiny overhead storage compartment.  I planned for this by hand carrying my Nikon D3s around my neck and shoulder and two lenses stuffed in my vest pockets.  I really didn't care when they said my carry-on was too big for the overhead and it went with the checked luggage.  It only had a flash and some filters and my battery chargers.  We got strapped in and the flight took off for Venice.  We flew over the French Riveria (Cote d'Azur).  MA and both had coffee and a snack. 

We arrived Venice right on time.  The airport in Venice is 20 miles from the city and it's a 30 minute bus ride to what is called the Roma Piazzale, where all vehicular traffic ends.  From there you walk or go by boat to get into the city.  The Hotel Abbrazia was a short walk from the bus terminal, however, we had to navigate over a bridge with steps with two large bags and two carry-on bags.  There were several guys who offered to help, but I didn't trust anyone, so we said no.  We finally got the hang it of how to navigate the steps and both of us manage to get up the bridge and down with the four pieces of luggage.  I found it easier to carry the two large ones and MA rolled the two smaller. 

The Hotel Abbazia is very near the Scalzi Bridge, about 2 blocks.  After checking in, we decided to walk to St. Mark's Square.  We just started walking and following the signs to San Marco and finally made it  I felt like a rat in a maze. At one of the squares near the Realto Bridge a group of people were line dancing.  It wasn't the Cotton Eye Joe, so I passed on joining them. MA found a self-service restaurant where we had some dinner and rest.  MA found a delicious baked white fish and I had spagetti.  Both of us were exhausted at this point so we started running the maze back to the hotel in a north-westerly direction.  Some how we arrived at the Scalzi Bridge and our hotel.  Tomorrow is another day.

Morning in Vence & Cagnes sur Mer

Henry's Cafe

This morning I got up early as usual and walked around Vence looking for some photo ops finding some interesting scenes that I will post later in my Smugmug website folder called "Uniquely French".

I found my way back to the Hotel Diana around 8:30 and MA was up and ready to go to Henry's Cafe for coffee. (See Pic above and below!) We stopped in the local store and bought four yogurts, two for breakfast and two for tomorrow.  At Henry's, MA ordered two "cafes creme" in perfect French and we sat outside watching the people converse and greet each other.  Friends greet each other with a kiss on each cheek, male-male or female-female or male-female, it's just a polite way to greet friends.  The procession of people passing by included locals with their dogs, kids on toy scooters, shop keepers, tourists, and moms escorting the kids to school.

After coffee at Henry's we found out it was Friday open air market day in the town square. We checked out the assorted stalls selling fruits and vegetables, olives, eggs, flowers, spices, pastry, breads, clothes, sunglasses, jewelry, watches, shoes, hand bags, and I'm sure I forgot something.  I splurged and bought an extra tee shirt and pair of sunglasses as I had left mine in Houston.

I am not shy about saying hello to strangers and on the way back to the Hotel Diana I greeted an older passerby with my "Bon Jour". Somehow he figured out we were tourists and asked where we were from.  I of course said "Texas". (I have found that if you say Texas it immediately invokes a positive reaction from 98% of the people).   

He smiled and switched to English introducing himself as Xavier. He told us he had lived in New York many many years ago. After a brief conversation and how much we enjoyed Vence we said good bye and he continued on toward the market square.

Henry's patrons with their black dog

Nola picked us up and we drove down to the coast to the small town of Cagnes sur Mer for lunch at "Le Neptune", a seaside seafood restaurant. Afterwards, Nola and MA dipped their toes in the Riviera Mediterranean and then we headed back, taking some detours to see the "real French" neighborhoods.  Coffee and fresh lemonade followed back at Henry's and Nola dropped us off at the Diana.

The rest of our plans for today included hooking up with an old friend of mine, Michel Jambou and his wife Chantal. We rendez-vou'd at a cafe (of course) in the market square and caught up with old times over drinks and pizza. 

I had met Michel about 20 years ago via mutual friends while I was still with HPD.  He is a flight attendant for Air France and he and his wife were in Provence looking for a home to buy when he retires.  MA and Chantal conversed in French mostly and I practiced my English with Michel.  They offered to take us to Coursegoules tomorrow to meet up with Nola and Randy at their place.

Vence Square produce stand

Calling it a night now! It's 2pm in Houston, 9pm here.  We'll be in prayer for TLC tomorrow. It might be on French time, but HE doesn't care!

Later!  WW & MA