Cannes to St Tropez
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Antibes and Cannes is is a beautiful area and we haven't moved very far for a few days. Antibes is a lovely old town, narrow cobble stone streets and the best market we have seen on this trip; I have never seen so much cheese, spices, oil perfume, antipasta, fruit and vegetables. Dinner at very French restaurant, Le Vauban, behind elegant lace in Rue Thuret where the food is presented beautifully and tastes as good as it looks.
As George is an early riser, we are up early and off to see the Picasso Museum. Picasso painted here in the castle for a short time in 1946 and left all his sketches here in Antibes. We stroll through the old town and can't wait to get back out to sea and swim, the afternoons are very hot and the only place to be is on the water.
Bay hopping around the Cap d'Antibes to find a place to anchor, we have never seen so many boats and keeping Ian and George focused on steering is turning out to be very tiresome. Who's who, super yachts, cruisers and topless females draping the bows it's all very entertaining.
The International Jazz Festival is on in Juan Les Pins and we are lucky enough to get a space in the marina. Sometimes in this area the sea gets very rollie and not a good option for a night in a bay, so we are very thankful to get a space as it is now high season and the only way to get a space is if someone leaves for the night from their permanent mooring. Great open air evening concert by Stefano Di Battista from Italy and the McCoy Tyner All Stars from America.
Islands of Sainte Marguerite and St Honorat are only 5 nm away and only 1 nm off Cannes. Trouble is it is no secret and even mid week it's crowded. On the island of Sainte Marguerite is Fort Royal Prison famous for the 'Man in the Iron Mask' whose identity is still unknown today. You can enter the mysterious prisoner's cell in the prison which is now a museum for Roman Sea artefacts found in the adjacent area including a Roman Gallion.
St Honorat a very small island and has a living 4th Century Monastery even today. A haven for prayer away from the world, in its hay day a very influential place, producing some 20 Saints and 600 Bishops. Saint Patrick studied here for 9 years and then went to Ireland to convert the heathens. You can stay here now and join the monks in prayer at 4am then work the vine yards by day and not say a word. Wouldn't suit us!
The turquoise blue water between the islands makes this a very pleasant lunch stop and the evening is spent watching fire works over Cannes.
Back up to Antibes again and Sabrina and George leave us and we are on our own for one day. We do the laundry, wash the boat, replenish the galley and crash for the afternoon, and in the evening have drinks with Martin and Bridget Grover who have just launched their new Beneteau 473 and off to see the Mediterranean, as you do…
Coming down from the Cognac region in France by private plane is Liz and Heinz for there third time with us and coming with them is our son Ian. We meet them in Cannes and it is Brazilian Night; we're anchored in the bay and venture ashore to see what it's all about. It only takes one huge semi trailer, 15 musicians, 3 dancers, 6 singers and 112 decibels of sound and the whole town is out to watch the truck inch down the Promenade. We followed for some time to the beat of drums and people dancing in the street.
Now in St Tropez its time for the highest heels, shortest skirts and tanned bodies, looking forward to a fabulous few days with all the glamour around.
Our neighbouring yachts in the bay belong to Kerry Packer, Dennis O'Neil and every other super yacht that could possibly be around.