Mediterranean - 13 May 25 2023, the French Riviera, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

 So we've finally made it to the south of France, the French Riviera.  The itinerary originally had a stop in Monte Carlo but the Grand Prix just happens to be underway now so the port was changed to Villefranche-sur-Mer instead, only 4 km from Nice, France, and 20 km from Monoco, and 20 from Monte Carlo.   Nice is home to two stars: Elton John, and Tina Turner (she died yesterday at the age of 83). We toured Nice, on Viking's included walking tour.  This is the only stop where the ship is anchored requiring tendoring to shore.  The view from our stateroom is the beautiful country side and one of several yachts, along with its dinghy speedboat zipping the owners or guests to shore.  Ah the rich and famous.  We've seen helicopters across the sky tracking from the airport to the city.  I'm guessing that the rich and famous prefer helicopter rides to SUVs or speed boats, I would too.

This morning started with a breakfast cinnamon roll from Mamsens, along with eggs and fruit from the World Cafe.  I've been testing several recipes of the Norwegian and Swedish rolls at home after discovering the Mamsen rolls.  They are full of cinnamon flavor without the rich sugary filling or topping.

These two ladies keep our room clean and tidy.  Rose (left) is the lead steward - her name is the easiest to remember!

Our tour started with the tender ride, then the skies just fell it poured down heavily.  Phil and I had brought rain jackets, so we were only wet from the waist down.  Others had the big Viking umbrellas, they were okay too.  Some didn't have either, they were drenched and opted to go back to the ship on the next available tender.  It is a shame because the rains last only 10-15 minutes, then the sun came out, and we had a lovely 2 hours in Nice.  Nice is located near the Alps, causing these quick weather changes.

The guide talked about volunteer organizations that he is in, and his friends.  They give money and or time.  They are known via colors: the blues, whites, blacks or reds.  Each has a specific mission, such as offering meals to the homeless or running hospitals.  He called them penants (spelling?).  Their outfits looked like KKK, but unlike the KKK the penants have benevolent objectives.

A Frenchman designed the Statue of Liberty.  In the Quai of the United States there is a small replica of the statue, created by the original maker. - Frederic Bartholdi.  He made several smaller versions before attempting the final large statue.

                                                    

This statue represents the many rivers flowing from the Alps into the ocean at Villefranche-sur-Mer.

                                                             

This looks like a building with several stories of windows, doesn't it?  It is actually just painted to look like windows, matching the other sides.  The city didn't like the look of a bare building so they came up with this.  Pretty good.

                                                        

Macarons from Nice France.  I had a caramel, Phil chocolate.  I may have to try making these next.  Small cookies, at only 2-3 bites each, but they were sooo good. 

Here is an Antiques store in Nice.  It was impossible to tell if it was really open, so I just looked in.  The round light caught my attention,  it would make a lovely and dramatic fourier/entrance way light.

Beaches are not sand, but fist sized rocks.  If you want beaches with sand you need to cross the bay.  There were plenty of bathers on these rocks.  The volley ball courts were loaded with sand too.

                                                  

I can't resist an espresso at a cafe especially when we've been on our feet for a couple of hours,  its a great rest.  Although I think Italian espressos were better.

The guide took us into one church.  He said a priest used to hold the crucifix up during part of the service.  It got tiring.  So they permanently installed a replica of a human arm holding it instead.  Clever, very clever.

Elton John's place is the white house on the top of the hill overlookiing Nice.  I bet he uses a helicopter to get to this place.

The Viking Star ship is not really anchored, it is moored to this tie down bouy.  I wondered why we seemed to be moving more.  In other cruises the ship's positioners would be used to keep position, even though ships do have anchors.

The guide in Nice was a great story teller.  His mother was a good friend of Grace Kelly.  Prince Rainer lll married Grace Kelly on April 18, 1956.  The prince's family was about out of money and they needed Grace's fame as an American movie star and her money to make reboot their business, attracting Americans to Nice.  Grace was under contract with MGM and still owed them several movies.  She negotiated with them allowing them to film her wedding and then she could get out of the contract.  MGM paid for the entire wedding.  Sweet deal.  With the marriage she became the Princess of Monaco.

Another story was about the guide's time as an attendant years ago to Bruce Willis during the Cannes Film Festival - which happends to be going on now ( May 16 - 27 this year).  He said Bruce wanted him to join him on the red carpet but he (our guide) didn't have a bow tie (ties were required).  So Bruce gave him $100 and sent him to another attendee and told him to say the Bruce wanted to buy his tie.  He got the tie and our guide got to walk the red carpet with Bruce.

This is the lovely gift we received last night for having taken the most cruises.  I think this is our 10th with Viking.

Talk with you tomorrow.  We are headed to our last speciality dinner at Chef's Table.