Living the High Life

We visited Monaco while on hols in Nice. Even one of the most expensive destinations is affordable for the regular traveller, just do not expect to stay in any Hotels or bother looking for Apartments to buy. Even cheap Apartments are over one million, a studio may be affordable and the sky is the limit for anything else. We got the Tourist bus up to the top of Monaco where its at least possible for a couple of hours to pretend to be part of the Monaco Jet Set. At the Jardin du Exotique you can get a great view looking down over much of Monaco and the Cafe Brasserie is fairly reasonable for snacks and drinks. We watched the Sun set then decided it was time to go back to Monaco. We had forgotten though about the rush hour traffic. Around six o clock most of the ordinary workers leave their jobs and also Monaco. Most ordinary people cannot afford to live in the Principality and thus at that hour every bus is packed with people going home to France. In fact having an orderly queue for the bus is seemingly non existant. When the Coach arrived at the correct time, Mum was at the top of the queue but the driver decided to stop about 8 metres further along and when he opened the door a mad scramble for the door ensued. One elderly man was knocked down as people pushed and shoved. I decided to wait for the next Coach. The next Coach was almost as Bad, Mum almost got on but the driver made everyone get off as he was full. The next coach was a special one direct to Nice and the Airport and was 5 Euro so only one person got on to an otherwise empty coach. We got on to the next Coach and got home safely.
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Train de Pignes

Hoping not to bore those who don't like Trains or don't have the Anorak. But an essential part of a holiday for me is a trip up the mountains or along a coast by train to another town or City. An essential trip from Nice is up the Mountains on the narrow gauge railway to Digne. Most Sundays the local Steam Enthusiasts run special excursions along part of the route in an old steam train. Arriving at the train station you board the regular train. Unusually there were as many women and children and not just 'trainspotter men' . Arriving at Puget-Théniers our Steam Train awaited along with more people waiting to get on the train and volunteers pushing wagons and assorted people taking photographs, selling souvenirs, having picnics. The French are as enthusiastic as their British counterparts when it comes to steam travel. There were several men covered head to toe in oil and soot and I half expected to see a french version of 'Fred Dibnah' asking 'Did you like that' in french of course.

The trip itself went slowly up to Entreveux which was a beautiful town to stop for a couple of hours and we ate in a little cafe, had another stroll around the town and then another coffee/wine break at a little roadside cafe. All very french, very authentic and again very reasonable compared to rip of Ireland. If you couldn't afford the special steam train trip the regular train is much cheaper and you get off the train and get back on again and thus visit several interesting towns and walks along the route to Digne. You can even get a coach from Nice for one euro which goes up most of the way to Digne.

Nice in Nice again.

Went over to the South of France for 5 nights. Stayed in the same hotel as before, not the best hotel but was adequate and at least this time the rooms were bigger and even had a balcony and air conditioning. One the first day we went by coach to Monaco via Eze. Eze is a little town overlooking the sea and good sea views on a beautiful sunny day. We ate al fresco and got chips etc in a takeaway and Mum had a glass of wine sitting on a bench outside a bar. From there we got on a Coach to Menton a seaside town and sat out in the Sun, had a couple of drinks and ice creams and it was getting dark when we finally set off back to Nice. Amazingly the coach trip is only one euro for about 10 km. Back in Nice we went to 'Flunch' for our dinner, and we ate there nearly every night. Flunch is a big french restaurant chain. Possibly not quite up market enough for some but the food is always fully cooked and fresh and if your really hungry you can go back and eat as much as you like in the way of veg, chips, potatoes and rice, though no more meat. In fact we noticed some people didnt even bother paying. Each night we were there we noticed 2 fairly well dressed men were always there and they kept going up for more helpings of chips and pasta. I think they either brought their own plates in or something like they had some arrangement with the staff. They both sneaked in their own bottle of wine I noticed. Actually Flunch is so cheap I wonder how they do it, you can buy a small salad for 2.50 and then go up for as much vegetables and chips as you like. Even a full meal and a large glass of wine was about 7.20 if you chose the 'Plat de Jour' There are other similar chains in France, 'Casino' and 'LeClerc' who offer similar deals.
When I returned home i asked Mum had she brought much money home and she said she had. Most days we had probably managed on about 25 euro a day. We just had one expensive trip which was a steam train trip up the mountains, even that was good value at about 30 euro for a 7 hour excursion.

Another Mystery Trip

Back in the early 70's we used to go on CIEs Mystery train. In theory you didnt know where you might end up, but as soon as you got onboard the train everyone used to know. Years later a co-worker told me she used to work with her Mother on the mystery train selling bars of chocolate and apples. her Mother knew the train driver and thats how she found out. One of the times we arrived at Boyle, Roscommon. It must be nearly 40 years since I was in Boyle and now at last another mystery trip to Boyle.
This time its a trip to have a look at some 'bargain' houses and it will probably be another mystery. Firstly will the houses be actually in the Village or miles out, how come a 5 bedroom house is so cheap. And the final mystery is will the train stop in Boyle. The last time my brother went by train to Boyle, there was a special promotion at a special price for a day return. However when it was time to return to the station, he waited for the train but it never came, I cant remember how he got home, I think CIE arranged a bus or taxi to bring him to another station. Anyhow I hope that doesnt happen on my return.