The girls have been amazingly adaptive. After roughly five hours of sleep on two flights, we spent the next four days walking a bazillion miles to get to know our surroundings, and they are holding up like champs. Just getting out of our villa is a 52 step climb, and then we walk down the hill to town (and have to hike back up!) We're adjusting to all the walking, and we're sleeping like babies! It took me 10 minutes to figure out how to turn on the stove, as has been the case with every appliance so far. I call Geoff for translation and we both just stare, push buttons, and wait to see what happens.
The weather has been really warm and humid, and our tall french doors are always open allowing a nice breeze to pass through the house. It also invites the french mesquitos who love our American blood! Our villa is two stories with the master and main living space upstairs; downstairs are two bedrooms, an atrium hallway we call the "toy hall", a bathroom, a small office space, and a pool house (with a sitting area and bed). It is very roomy and comfortable and clean. There are four outdoor living spaces: a balcony that has a beautiful, partial view of the Mediterranean, a side patio with an eating and sitting area (the girls put on a play for us here yesterday), the pool patio, and another patio we call "the playground" because it has a basketball hoop, a slide and some other kid toys.
A view of our villa from the street
Old town is about a 20 minute walk, the beach about 20 minutes, and the train station about 30. This is going at Ceci and Geoff's pace which is more of a mosey than a walk. We ventured into town the first day to see the market, find our bank, and take a look around. The architecture is very Italian, and the way of life very relaxed. We took the train to Monaco (a 15 minute ride) to find the Target equivalent. Monaco...what a place! The train station is sparkly, spotless and has marble walls; the yachts are gigantic and gorgeous (how is that for my inability to describe them!), the water and hillsides spectacular, and the Target equivalent...overwhelming! It was like a Super Target with everything from food to furniture only five times as crowded. We loaded up on all sorts of random housewares and were very pleased to find out they delivered for a small fee! We also found an online store (sort of like Costco) out of Paris that delivers. This is a nice option for heavy, non-perishable things we don't want to lug up our hill and down the stairs!
On the walk to Old Town...that is Italy in the background
Above and below: breaks in town
Waiting for the train to Monaco
Leaving the train station in Monaco you pass through a cave-like tunnel with multi-colored lights...the girls loved it!
A break for lunch at the Monaco port...the picture doesn't do the yachts justice
This photo is an attempt to capture how crowded this one passageway was at the Target-like store
Yesterday we went to the beach. It was full of French and Italians with leathery skin, all the older women topless with large, saggy bosoms (Tennie is trying to understand the standard of French modesty). The water was warm and shallow; perfect for the kids. Everyone knew we were there...we aren't the quietest family...and we were asked if we liked Obama (so much for trying to escape the election drama!)
Darcie
No comments:
Post a Comment