St. Tropez

We arrived a bay outside of St. Tropez at dusk and anchored for a nice comfortable night. The next morning, we sailed jungle around a couple of miles and anchored just out side the St. Tropez harbor.

We immediately liked the town as it was very quaint and very calm as compared (we imagine) to the summer.

Little streets and alleyways leading every which way.

I think we walked them all.

We ended up with a very ice view of Jungle at anchor ...

... From inside this restaurant on the water.

Another great French meal. They never get old.

This is the patio just outside the restaurant.

Back in town, it is "waterfront artist day". Maybe that's just my opinion.

This artist likes to work with reds.

This one prefers yellow.

It was also classic yachting day in the harbor.

This are perfectly restored beauties. I believe this may be S&S designed. Probably from the 1950's.

They are wonderful to look at and will be out racing later.

We stroll some more and see pastry shops.

And more art galleries.

More alleyways.

We found this cool old sign buried under an archway leading out to the old harbor.

And this is it. Not much left.

But still a nice place to sit back and relax.

Back trough the archway, the main harbor is quite busy.

All kinds of local boats lined up.

A look back at the classic yachts.

We hop back on board Jungle and decide to continue our journey west and make some distance before sunset. A look back at St. Tropez. We liked this place more than we thought, very pleasant. Probably extremely busy in the summer.

Around the point we go.

3 hours later, we end up at this quiet, protected anchorage inside Cap Taillat. Time for dinner.

The next morning we have coffee with the sun shining off the rocks.

We sail for 5 hours to Ile Porquerolles (pork-er-rolls). This is part of a small island chain on the very south of France that is a favorite among all the French sailors we spoke with.

It is very beautiful indeed.

We found a lovely quiet anchorage for Jungle.

That night the grill master is enjoying a glass of wine at sunset.

The next morning rises with a bit of fog.

Makes for a spectacular sunrise.

We sail for another 6 hours along the French coast. As we approach Toulon, we notice Navy warships and submarines putting around. Immediately after our astute observation, we are intercepted by the French Coast Guard and asked to change course and head due south for 5 miles to avoid the exercise area. Oui Officer. At once!

We kill another 1-2 hours and get back on course to make it to our anchorage at Ile Embiez (em-bee-at) in time for dinner.

The next morning we high tail it to our last French port of Sanary-sur-Mer as there is a serious storm coming in today, although tough to tell from this picture. Later this evening it poured all through the night and early morning. Abiento (see you later)

 

Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer

We are still at the marina in Beaulieu-sur-Mer so we take a train ride to Nice. This must be Neptune. By the way, our camera battery ran out so we're using Jenée's iPhone.

I wanna ice cream! I wanna ice cream! I guess that's what I'm crying about.

We pass Neptune and end up on the beach. Just in time for catamaran races.

There are chase boats everywhere. These appear to be 12 meter boats (38-40 feet). Pretty serious racers with full sponsorship all over their sails.

They run through quite the obstacle course before heading home. Check it out - 'ole Stars and Stripes

A look towards the east and my happy ass mug.

Race over. The last catamaran heads into the Nice harbor.

We have a nice dinner, pick up some things we need and head back to the train station.

We pass the Notre Dame of Assumption church. Nice lighting.

The next day we head to a little village around the point from our marina called Villefranche-sur-Mer. This time for breakfast.

There is the village now.

We are biking it today. It was quite the up hill climb to get here.

Now we get to roll down hill into the village.

Unbelievable views along the way.

Now looking west.

Down there somewhere is a breakfast with our name on it. Good time to mention; it is my firm belief that you cannot get a bad meal in all of France. When I say that to a Frenchman, they say 'yes you can'. What do they know.

Now looking back to the east you can see the bay, over the hill, where Jungle is located.

Getting closer we spot the fort and know that we want to bike down to this side of it for the restaurants.

Well, Cap'n Jimbo biked down to the wrong side. We have a long climb back up or we better find another way.

Never a doubt! We find a walking path in front of the fort. So we walk our bikes over.

We find the only place serving breakfast. It was ca.lled American, but it was French and it was wonderful. I took a picture, then I ate it.

After breakfast, we walk through the back alleyways as we like to do.

Very clean place.

Back to the waterfront and the bikes.

The captain is at it again. I'm trying to find a low route back home. I spotted this road and we take it. Nice photos again along the way. Looking out to the point towards our harbor.

Looking back into the village. We can clearly see the old fort.

One last look a Villefranche. We ended up at a dead end, but a staircase up to the top. Not to bad as we carried the bikes up an rolled our way home.

We earned our desserts at dinner that evening. Jenée's is a Tobleone chocolate wrapped in philo. My dessert was ice cream with chestnuts and rum. Wowee!

The next day we continued our sail west and anchored in Port Crouton. Fitting name as we had a fantastic grilled salmon and green veggie we bought in Corsica. It tasted exactly like cauliflower. Made for a great meal.

The next day we sailed to the tiny island of St. Honorat. It contains a wine making Monastary. We were told they have a wine tasting, so we're in.

This archway is leading us in.

It just rained so we had to dodge a few puddles.

There is the Monastary.

There is an old castle on the water. Built in 1073 to defend the island.

A different view. In its heyday, there were 4000 monks here.

Very nice and very quiet. This Monastary was founded in the 4th century by St. Honorat. He moved here to be alone, but his followers soon flocked in, so he had to set up a Monastary. Most of the buildings we see now are 19th century. This island produced 20 saints and 600 bishops - very holy ground. Saint Patrick studied he for 9 years before heading of to convert the heathen Irish and set up monasteries in Ireland.

It turned out they were hosting a private function, so no wine tasting today. That was a bummer. Still glad to know St. Patty spent some time here.

Still, many pretty sights. Well, things should pick up as we are off to St. Tropez. Bon soir St. Honorat.