Post by Ella
A lazy, languid day with an overtone of sadness. I’ve already talked about that. So now the lazy, languid part.
We took the train to Menton. A 36 minute train ride east of Nice. Three stops past Monte Carlo and the last stop before crossing the Italian border.
As we stepped off the train, we immediately observed the lack of tourist hoardes. I googled mapped us to the Jean Cocteau museum. Took a few photos along the way.
The museum was tiny. Grubb has explained all that. I was fascinated with these cards.
Once done with the museum, we stopped at a cafe for cappuccinos and croissants and were greeted in Italian. Somehow that triggered my Spanish and I ordered dos croissants. The waitperson came back with the sad news that they only had one plain croissant left but if I’d accept a chocolate filled one, she’d be happy to bring it. Well, heck yeah.
Below is the church we will climb to. And then if you look further right where the trees are, that’s a cemetery we’ll get to.
We were in the old town with its narrow walkways. There was only silence. And one couple with guidebook in hand meandering up ahead. As we approached the top wall of the town, a young woman stopped us and asked if we’d been up to the cemetery (pointing higher above the wall). “If you have the energy, it is quite lovely”. Up we went. And then sat for awhile, staring…brooding…
Back down at sea level it was time to hydrate.
Limoncello spritz for me: Limoncello de Menton, prosecco, sparkling water and yellow lemon. Virgin spritz for Grubb: Vibrant non-alcoholic martini, grapefruit juice and sparkling water
Socca: a traditional food of the Nice area. Farine de pois chiche, eau et huile d’olive. Cuite et dorée au four. (Chickpea flour, water and olive oil. Cooked and browned in the oven). And a plate of cheese.
I was still stuffed from our snack in Menton when we arrived back in Nice so Grubb ducked out to the Monoprix (supermarket) and picked up a few things for his dinner. Which included a couple wedges of chocolate mousse cake to share. When he told me we’d walked 8 miles today, I dug in without guilt.