Kite Surfing in Cannes...

Driving down the coast from Antibes, we started into Cannes (where there was some set up going on for the film festival), and saw these amazing athletes kite (or para) surfing just off the beach.

Sophia was enthralled, and even more so after Papa took her out of the car to experience the wind & the sea first hand. She loved watching all of the surfers, and giggled like crazy when they jumped & fell in the water.

All we could do was imagine Brehan hopping out of the car, putting on a dry suit, and surfing with the best of them.

Market Day in Antibes

The piles of spices in the food stalls and shopping baskets hanging from the walls.
Nana & Sophia picking out fresh strawberries! (Great for the champagne later)
Provencial aromatic Soaps, lavender is a favorite.
Play time with Papa on the trampoline in the park after lunch.

We spent a great morning at the Markets in Antibes. We were a little late, so we only had a few minutes in the clothing stalls (like anything fits americans anyway), and walked thru the old town to the enclosed food market. The smells of spices, stinky cheeses, flowers, fruits & vegetables is amazing, and probably overwhelming when it is 90, however we hit it on a cold & rainy day in the south of France so we were just able to smell with pleasure & not be assulted by them.

Lunch was from one of the better bakeries we found, and eaten at the play park where Sophia was finally able to work off some of her energy. It's amazing how much energy a 3 year old has.

Gardens of Villa Rothschild

Looking back at Villefranche.
Roses along the entrance to the formal garden.

Sophia & Nana in the Love Temple
Papa, Nana & Sophia at the temple with the formal gardens & villa behind them.
Sophia running free in the gardens.

Villa Rothschild

Papa, Sophia & Nana at the entrance to the Villa.

The entrance hall.
Nana & Sophia on the staircase.

The view from the gardens of the villa looking down at Cap Ferrat.

The garden side of the Villa.

We spent the afternoon wandering thru the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Cap Ferrat. We had a break in the weather which allowed us to wander thru the rooms, and then out into the HUGE perfectly maintained gardens. Amazing... The sun would wash over everything, and then the rain would come again.

Sophia was torn between enjoying the freedom out of the car (we did a lot of driving this week), and being jealous of the villas below us that had a pool AND a trampoline (Trampolines are very important to a 3 year old.)

Villefrache

Papa, Sophia & Nana halfway up the stairs from the harbor to the top of the village. Somehow we decided to drive down to the harbor, and then walk up the hill.

Fishing boats in the Harbor...

Sophia posing on the upper walk into town looking over at Cap Ferrat (nice yacht in the background).

The harbor of Villefrache with the villas of Cap Ferrat in the background.

Exporing Antibes

Sophia & Troy hanging out in the Mediteranian. The water was quite cold, but the temperature was about 70 degrees (about 10 less than in Paris - a bit ironic).
Sophia spending hours throwing stones into the ocean
And throwing smaller stones in the back yard of the villa where we are staying
The Fortress at Antibes, lined with cars on market day.

Promenade des Anglais - Nice

Sophia at the beginning of the day (before all the clothes were stripped off) on the beach at Nice. It was raining when we left our villa, so we thought we would have no need for a bathing suit. However, by the time we reached the beach - the temperature went up 15 degrees and the sun came out for a beautiful day.
Troy & Sophia playing at the water's edge
Sophia playing with Don in the Mediteranian
Every time sophia got a piece of clothing wet, she would want it off immediately. So she played for the better part of the morning sans clothes. Of course, the French loved it.
Lynn & Moya relaxing at the beach cafe while Don & Troy played with Sophia down by the water. Draped with classic blue & white Nice umbrellas, it was quite a Cote d'Azur post card.

Valence, France

On our drive to vacation in the South of France, we spent a night in Valence (about 30 min south of Lyon), driving straight to the center of town & enjoying the space to stretch our legs and our euro... We found a recently renovated (elegant asian simplicity) hotel close to the major park in town ~ and the train station as well ~ and were able to have dinner & put Sopha to bed, while Troy & I spent a romantic evening in the dark playing on our laptops... Although with the background noise of the street, and the music in our room I will boldly say that Sophia is FINALLY a hard sleeper. It's about time.

A joyful Sophia enjoying freedom after hours in the car.

Running, running & more running... The park was fantastic. Obviously built in the last 5 years, but attached to a much older park on the Rhone River. It was the ultimate parking garage gem (the garage was actually underground, below the park), and had tons of grass where Sophia could run - it took her a little while to understand that concept - and fountains that changed height every few min. It was so funny to watch her giggle as the water moved!

The height of the fountains catching Sophia off guard.

Troy & Sophia on the bandstand in the center of town.

The bandstand in the center of the park ~ heart included! ~ with chairs for relaxing all around. I think the chair is one of our favorite things about parks in France; they may not allow you to play on the grass, but the city will provide you with chairs in order to have a more civilized picnic or sunset experience.

Sophia in the drivers seat

Troy took Sophia to Luxembourg Gardens on Saturday morning for a little Daddy & Me time, and Sophia took the opportunity to learn how to drive a truck, and defend her space.

Sophia drives at Luxembourg
Video sent by moyamz

Bikes at Versailles

Sophia in her seat at the end of the lake at Versailles (the Chateau is in the sun...)

Troy driving Sophia...

Sophia & her chocolate ice cream reward for going the whole day without diapers!!

Running off the ice cream...

Hanging out in the sun.

We had a great morning in the gardens of Versailles, although somehow we managed to arrive before the bicycle rentals had opened & ended up drivng around - thru the gardens of Versailles! - until we found a rental shop that was open.
Sophia loves being on the back of the bike, apart from the really big tree roots across the path, and sang almost the entire time we were riding around.
Afterwards we walked around by the lake & had lunch at the cafe next to the boat rentals. Maybe next time we'll actually rent boats!