Day 16 St; Florent to Centuri and Back

We left the campsite via the main road and not really having any idea where we would end up today. Five minutes down the road, we drove through St. Florent and instantly felt compelled to stop and walk back to the pastry shop in the village center. St. Florent has a beautiful little harbor and diving excursions leave from here. As we walked to the Pastry shop, we spied a Motor Scooter rental shop. Needless to say, we never made it to the pastry shop. We had 6 hours to ride our scooter up and down the coast and visit all the little villages that were inaccessible in the camper.

With Matt driving and me on the back looking my best in my sporty biker helmet, we were off to Centuri. It was great! Matt could actually enjoy the views while I got to notice all the little cool spots we had missed the day before. I was worried that the motor bike zipping around at 45 mph on the few straight-aways, would not be fast enough on a main road, but then I remembered that camper rarely went over 25mph and cyclists are also on the road. For some odd reason, there was hardly any traffic on the narrow road today as opposed to yesterday. Only one bus came towards us in the on-coming lane and there were a few times we actually passed cars when we saw them. It’s so much easier to judge the road on the motorbike. Seeing the road from this perspective with the sheer cliffs really made me wonder how we ever made it down this road at all yesterday. Turns out Matt was thinking the same thing.

1 hour and 45 minutes later, we arrived in the tiny fishing village of Centuri. It was just as pretty as I had hoped. We were both starving, but in a village that centers around fish and lobster, it was hard finding a menu item that was not seafood-based for Matt. Finally, we found a cute little patio restaurant overlooking the harbor. The menu was all in French, but I knew grilled lobster when I saw it. The price…15 euro…or so I thought, until I noticed the “/gram” Hmmm, perhaps a lobster lunch would not be the low price of 15 euros as I had thought. Turns out lobster is 15 euros per 100 grams and a standard lobster which was brought live to the table next to us for inspection weighs in at 500 grams. Therefore, a lobster lunch would be 75 euro or $102.00! Instead, I just enjoyed a nice Dorado fish and Matt had the local pizza. I could have stayed in the village all afternoon taking photos, but we had to get moving.

Next stop, the uber tiny village of Tulare, which we could see way below on the coast yesterday when standing on the Northern most cliffs. I didn’t even know what the village was like, I just wanted to get down to it since we had the bike and check it out. The ride down was really pretty and the road dead ends at the village. The village was very austere and functional. Across the water was a little uninhabited island and a lobster diver was working just off the shore. It felt like a big accomplishment just to have gotten there.

The bike ride back to St. Florent was 2 hours. We stopped to stretch our legs a few times and coasted into St. Florent exactly at 6pm on gas fumes. This was definitely my favorite day of the trip!

Day 15 The Cap Course

We drove the Cap Course today and got out to explore whenever the narrow roads would allow. Perched above the hamlet of Centuri was a windmill. It is so out of place, but marks the Northern Most tip of Cap Course Penninsula. As we hiked up, we joked that maybe there was a hotdog stand at the top. I was really bummed to find that the inside of the windmill was used to sell T-shirts and incense. Oh well, the surrounding views were stunning. The wind on the other hand was another matter. As I made my way further out the point to Mary’s Shrine, I thought I was going to blow right off the cliffs. I could barely keep my camera still due to the high winds.

There were many tiny hamlets above in the higher mountains and below on the water, but the camper could not access them. In order to visit Nonza, we had to park ½ mile outside the village and walk in on the narrow road. We explored the small village and the Genoese Tower it is centered around. From the tower we witnessed a tour bus show-down as they tried to pass each other on a road barely wide enough for a normal car. The busses are ridiculous. There is no parking for campers let alone busses, so they stop in the middle of road and occupy more than half the road as a massive flood of tourist pour from the doors. I can hardly imagine what it is like in summer. In my humble opinion, the busses should only be allowed to travel in a counter-clockwise direction that would avoid the dangerous show-downs. There is only one main road that circles the peninsula and at times it seems like only small vespas should be allowed access.

Below the tower was a beach. On it’s shores were hundreds of shapes and names made with rocks, all facing the villages’ direction. I have no idea how this started. With a storm quickly approaching from the mountains, we made our way back to the camper and breathed a sigh of relief that it was still there in one piece. South of Nonza on the coast, we found a nice campsite in St. Florentine. They rent vespas and we looked into renting one built for two so that we could do the circuit again and have access to all the little villages, but that did not pan out. The beach is supposedly 500 meters in some direction, but it’s dark, so that will have to be discovered tomorrow. The owner here is Italian and has 4 Great Danes. If I understood him correctly, the dogs speak German, he speaks Italian and everyone else speaks French.

Day 14 Aleria to Corte to Bastia to Somewhere on the Cap Course

It has been a frustrating day. That happens when unknown forces derail my best-laid plans. I had wanted us up by 8am, but it was just too darn cold for the outdoor co-ed showers, but by 9am, it was more tolerable. An hour off schedule….I can roll with that….no worries. By 10am, we said goodbye to the best campsite to date and headed into the mountains to Corte.

The road to Corte was really pretty and an easy drive…that is until we actually got to Corte and the GPS took us into Old Town. Matt did some pretty fancy maneuvering and backed us out of a potentially bad situation. The Old Town is not only a maze of narrow streets, but it also is home to a University. Therefore, all the students have also parked in the most bizarre configurations and blocking through traffic in some spots. We made our way back down to “city” area, found the Casino Supermarket, and parked the camper there. We stared up the mountain towards the citadel above, trying to calculate how long it would take to hike up there. Then, as luck would have it, we noticed the little tourist train next to the parking lot. For 6 euro each, we got a round trip ride to the top which dropped us off at the base of the citadel along with some elderly tourists.

We usually make fun of the tourist trains. They look like the Disneyland parking lot shuttles. But I must say, the train saved us a lot of time. The Citadel was ok. From the Lonely Planet description, we had envisioned a grand fortress, so it was more of a “Spinal Tap” moment when we actually saw it because it was much smaller than expected. Also, we could not go inside, it could only be viewed from a lookout point. After the citadel, we made our way back through the winding streets and caught the little train back to the grocery store parking lot.

Next on the itinerary…the Vallee De La Restonica, described as, “one of the prettiest spots in all of Corsica. The river, rising in the grey-green mountains, has scoured little basins in the rock, offering sheltered pinewood settings for swimming.” The hiking there is suppose to be great too and I had chosen a good one for us. Unfortunately, the D63 (15km narrow road) was the only way there. As we reached the junction and looked down the D63, Matt just shook his head and said, “No way is this camper going to make it.” Saddened by the news, I turned to our backup plan…a visit to the Vallee du Niolo. This valley was described as, “one of the best kept secrets of Corsica with it’s picturesque valley.”

As we made our way back to the main road and turned down the road leading to the Niolo Valley, all seemed good. Then 10km later, the road suddenly became too narrow and looked as if the mountainside would rip apart the 3meter high camper. Defeated and REALLY frustrated, we made our way to Bastia. I had planned to spend a ½ day exploring Basti, but after driving through, I quickly changed my mind. Bastia is the main port. All the ferries disembark here. It reminded me of the chaos around the LA Harbor, only throw in some round-abouts, lots of crazy driver, narrow roads, and then some 2.2 meter high tunnels that pop out of nowhere, and that’s Bastia. The harbor road we were on suddenly dipped heading towards and underground tunnel. The camper was way too tall and in a last ditch effort, Matt changed lanes, got us out of harm’s way, but then we found ourselves in the boarding lanes to the ferry. This is not a good place to be either. Fortunately, we found an exit and got back on the main road to the Cap Course.

The Cap Course is the Northern most peninsula of Corsica. Locals say the Cap Corse Peninsula, which sticks out at the top of Corsica for 40km is a giant geographical flipping-off finger at the French Riviera. I don’t know why they feel that way. Once on the Cap Course, we began looking for campsites which was not easy at all. Most of them did not allow campers. Finally, when we thought we might be driving the entire peninsula, we spotted La Pietra’s Campground. Down a small country road, we found a little piece of comfort…bathrooms with a seat AND toilet paper WITH dentist-office-musak pumped in overhead. The bathrooms are still co-ed and outside, but they were so beautiful. There is a pretty swanky pool and the beach is only 500 meters down the path. We spent some time down at the beach and were able to regroup a bit. We might stay an extra day here. We are hoping that when the receptionist chooses to return that she can help us with a few questions regarding the area. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Day 13 Aleria

We were ready and packed this morning to head back into the mountains, but the beach and campgrounds here are so nice, we ditched the extra day in the mountains for an extra day in Aleria. However, before splashing in the water, we headed to the outskirts of town to visit the ruins of Ancient Aleria. It dates back to 200 BC and was inhabited by ancient Greeks. Only 10% of the area has been excavated. I don’t really know how they estimate that since how do you know a percentage of an unknown size, but anyway, that’s what we were told. The markers are translated, so we could actually understand what we were looking at. Most of the signage here is not localized. The best part of the ruins was the valley views that extended to the mountains.

We returned to our campsite by the beach and headed for the water. I wrongly assumed the water would be as luxuriously warm as further south in Pinarella. It was a shock to the system to get hit with the first wave…the swim plan had come quickly to end. Instead, we just walked along the beach. Everywhere we walk here, there are packs of cats and kittens. They ALL look alike. They are much more ferral here than in the Zonza forest. They watch the people, but keep out of arm's reach. The management here takes care of them. There are bowls of food strategically placed around the property. They just keep making more kitties. The bathrooms here are nice because they are clean. Because they are open to the outdoors, I'm handling the co-ed concept better here.

By sunset the storm clouds were rolling/billowing in. They moved so fast and dramatically, everyone here was staring up at the sky. Even a German motorcyclist pulled over to watch the show. I’m hoping the storm clouds pass as quickly as the came because tomorrow it is back into the mountains for the little campervan.

Day 12 Zonza to Aleria

The day started with an early hike to find a waterfall that was called “bucolic” in the guidebook. I’m not sure what that means, but if the definition is “no big deal”, than that makes sense. The trail was a short 90 minutes return and was rated “easy/facil” as noted by the icon of a female hiker wearing a skirt and heels. The trail was in fact easy with some scrambling over rocks and crossing a stream or two, but I would not hike the trail in a skirt. We kept expecting the trail to get more difficult or to have some spectacular ending since all the French and German hikers coming off the trail were in full hiking gear, day packs and trekking poles.

When we reached the end of the trail, the waterfall seemed more like a normal bend in any river in the Sierras. I doubt it qualified as a class 2 rapid. At least it was a nice hike in the woods and it was peaceful.

After a quick lunch, we headed higher into the mountains and reached the Col (Mountain Pass) de Bavellas. It was really beautiful and the weather was constantly changing. The clouds were moving so fast over the mountains that it looked like time-lapsed photography. At the very top, we climbed around a bit. It was bitterly cold with random showers. This region is also the center for high-impact, high-adrenaline sports action. Canyoning and death-defying ropes courses are the big thing to do here. Unfortunately, they were closed for the season so I could not be tempted. We also thought this was a sign, since getting injured on doing one of these activities is highly likely and we have a ton of photoshoots to do when we return home.

We continued down the mountain pass to the coast. The road we were on is considered Corsica’s most breathtaking scenic road. It was beautiful. I saw more of it than Matt since he was driving, but I really think all the time spent in Yosemite has spoiled me.

Back at sea level, we headed North up the coast and found a really nice campground right on the beach. I can see the waves and water right out our window. Swimming here in the morning will be more challenging. It’s not like the peaceful bay of Pinarella. This is the ocean as I know it! I’ll be out there for sunset soon with a glass of wine and toast my Auntie Do’s Life. Her services are today and I wish I could be there with the rest of my family.

Day 11 Pinarello to Zonza

Around 6 am the rooftop began to ping with raindrops, which quickly became a thunderous downpour. We used the morning to work on wedding photos and by noon the rain had finally let up. We were on our way to Zonza via a main road, however, the GPS once again screwed us by trying to take us up the back roads. We had managed to navigate through the small roads and hairpin turns, but when the GPS said, “In 500 meters make a left on the dirt road,” we were screwed. Somehow, Matt was able to safely back up the camper down this narrow road with precarious drop offs to a safe spot.

After backtracking a bit, we found the main road, which took us high into the mountains. It was a lot like driving into Yosemite. We were now driving through thick forests of pine trees in the fog and cold air. Up and up the little camper went until finally we reached the hill town of Zonza with the Aiguilles de Bavella hidden in mist behind the town The Aiguilles are similar to the Pinnacles with their jagged spires. Locals compare them to shark teeth slicing into the sky. Zonza is the tiny village scene on postcards with the soaring Aiguilles behind it. The only thing is that to see Zonza that way, you need to be in the village WAAAAAAY across the valley.

With a break in the rain, we were able to walk around the village and explore some nooks and crannies. I was more interested in all the building doors than anything else. We found a campsite a few kilometers outside of town. We knew it was perfect when two tiny kittens greeted us. The campsite is nice and basically vacant. The kittens were treated to milk and we were instantly their best friends.

Day 10 Bonaficio to Pinarello

First on the list for today…Porta Vecchio. The town itself has a height restriction that resembles the “you must be this tall to ride this roller coaster” sign. We parked outside city center with all the buses and meandered through the town. The port is a major working harbor, so it was not the picturesque view I had expected to see. The town itself was nice with lots of little shops and if you were a foodie, you would be very happy with all the little bistros and cafes. In the tourism office, the desk clerk was thrilled to find out we were from the bay area. “I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO & BERKELEY!,” she exclaimed. She is a dancer and her group goes on tour once a year.

Back in the camper we planned our next part of our day. Going to Plage de Palombaggio was a no go since it was down a dirt road. Now when I say “dirt road,” I don’t mean the dirt roads like we drove the camper on in New Zealand. These are roads that would break the camper and/or with the overhanging trees would do some major damage to the roofline.

We made our way to Pinarello. The Gulf of Pinarello is huge and the shallow waters extend a great distance so that you can walk in waste high water for what seems like forever. The water is so clear, there is no need to snorkel, just look straight down at your feet to view the white sandy bottom and the little fish that dart around. Across the bay is the Genoese Tower on the point. We rarely have ever just had a beach day on any or our journeys, so while Matt napped on the beach in the shade, I played in the water for the afternoon.

When it was time to head out and find a campsite, we followed the signs to “California Camp Grounds.” Upon arrival, we asked the manager if a site was available. It sounded like he told us to go get some food, so the confused looks on our faces only annoyed him. He asked, “Eh what nationality are you?” We responded, “American.” His smug reply, “Ah but of course, you see I am French.” I swear it took everything to control my inside voice and not sarcastically say, “Well Yeah You!” He sent us off to choose any site we wish. Upon returning with our selection, there were a ton of hoops to jump through including something about the electricity not being available until 7:30. That was followed with “34 euro please.” I looked at Matt and said, “Let’s go.” We are paying an average of 17-20 Euros per night, plus the manager was just really rude.

Up the road we discovered Santa Lucia’s Campgrounds. This campgrounds are completely empty as far as we can tell. I feel like this place could be the setting for a Stephen King novel. For the first hour we were here, we enjoyed the sounds of gunfire and hounds on the hunt. Turns out it is wild boar season and they were hunting on the property next door. It was rather ironic that during the sounds of the hunt, we were munching down on our pork salami.

Day 9 Sartene to Bonaficio

We started the day off by driving up into the hilltops to the town of Sartene. Only 2500 people live there and even though the old-world buildings are decaying with age, they are still totally charming. Old town Sartene has lots of narrow passages; some so narrow that two people can barely pass each other. There were lots of little shops selling local wine at eye level and pieces/parts of meat overhead.

After exploring the town, I made us lunch in the camper. We had to ditch the bread that I had used to make the sandwiches because the closest thing to Yellow mustard I could find, ended up having horseradish in it. Matt’s sinuses got cleared out in one bite. The crackers we had found seemed the next logical choice…we would have a “French” lunch of Brie, crackers and meat. However, one bite of the so-called saltine and we discovered it was filled with a bacon-like substance. It was a 3-pack and one of the packs was “special.” I don’t know if we were really hungry, or if the bacon filled crackers were actually good.

From Sartene, we quickly descended the mountainous road to the sea. WOW! Now this is what I had imagined Corsica to be. The coastline is just spectacular and the aquamarine color of the water seems completely unreal. The road into Bonaficio was filled with beautiful views. I felt bad that Matt could not enjoy the vistas more since the camper demands all of his attention. The one time he did get out of the camper to see the view, he stepped in gum.

Bonaficio is beautiful. It is a town that somehow manages to cling to the limestone cliffs. The best way to see the town is from the water, so even though I had not put on a seasickness patch, I psyched myself up for the 1-hour boat ride. We left the calm harbor and stayed close to the cliffs. Fortunately, this meant it was a very calm boat ride. The boat explored caves, calanques (long inlets with steep walls) and limestone formations and then the town. There are 187 steps carved in the limestone that go from the town to small path just above the water line. Legend says the steps were carved in one night by King Aragon’s troops during a siege in 1420. Actually, the credit goes to some monks who needed a way to get to the spring below. We had a wonderfully clear day and Sardina was easily seen across the water.

Back in port, we attempted driving up to the old town that we had seen from the camper, but that was a horrible idea and we nearly got the camper out. What the map denoted as a parking area turned out to be a few slots sized for a Mini Cooper. We found a campsite outside of town. It is a 3-star, that means we have wi-fi. I can’t get used to the co-ed bathrooms and showers. It seems like I’m the only paranoid one.

Day 8 Ajaccio to Sartene, Corsica

Right now we are back at Campervan rental “office.” The return trip here this morning was to get the fuse fixed so the GPS can work, which has now been repaired. However, there is a new problem. The refrigerator is broken. It does not go below room temperature of 67 degrees. All of our meat, milk and freezer food is on the brink of going bad. So disappointing and definitely not part of the plan, plus meat is expensive.

Before the refrigerator can be repaired, the maintenance man needed to smoke first. However, as it turns out, this repairman can only fix the fuse. We have to wait another twenty minutes for a specialized refrigerator repairman.

---------- 7 HOURS LATER----------

The repairman came, but it was the owner’s wife, who did not know how to do repairs. She did excel at trying to convince us in French that a refrigerator at only 67 degrees/18 Celsius is perfectly fine. There was a lot of “loud discussions”, but in the end, we were given a new camper, which is a bit bigger, and as far as we can tell, the fridge is slowly getting cold. We were actually told that there were too many things in it (it was only ¼ full) and that it was more for storage than keeping things really cold. That really got Matt bent. The new freezer is finally down to 42 degrees.

We finally got on the road at 12:30 and after a 2-hour mountainous drive arrived at Filotosis. Filotosis is and archeological site that is Corsica’s equivalent to the Moai statues of Easter Island (or so we were lead to believe by Lonely Planet). The ruins were discovered on a farmer’s land in 1946. We could not get a definitive answer as to why they were suddenly found, but in any case, there they were one day. They aren’t like Moai monoliths at all. They are about 4 – 5 ft tall and look just like rocks. The best part of being there was just walking around the countryside and through the cows and donkeys. By the time we finished the trail, it began to pour, so we loaded back into the camper and off to Tizzano we went (or so I thought). We discovered Tizzano was at the end of a long dirt road that we could not take the camper down. Next on the journey was Sartene, but it was already so late and it was raining that walking the hilltop town was not an option. Right now, I’m outside under a covered patio surrounded by eucalyptus trees and it is pouring. It has been a very long day. It is so hard to plan things in advance here.

Day 7 – Ajaccio, Corsica

This morning we said goodbye to Father Walter, Sparky and Monaco. Upon our arrival at the Ajaccio airport in Corsica, we were by Mr. Brunel who would shuttle us to our campervan. He is a native Corsican, and prior to his retirement, he was a filmmaker for National Geographic and traveled the world. He retired 10 years ago when everything started going digital. Now in his retirement, he manages the Campervan Office.

The campervan office and the experience so far are nothing like New Zealand. This time around we are REALLY camping. Mr. Brunel owns 12 campers for hire. His office is an old campervan packed with office equipment, bedding, books, papers, etc. Not at all like the pristine Britz office in Queenstown. It is a good thing that Matt is now a pro regarding campers, because Mr. Brunel’s tutorial on everything regarding the vehicle was lightening fast and his English was lacking in some important words. He also needed to leave to catch a ferry to Marseille, so we were quickly shoved out on our way.

First on the Agenda…Grocery Shopping at the Casino Marche. This grocery store was HUGE, much like a Super Walmart. Obtaining a shopping cart requires a literal deposit of 1 euro. Each shopping cart has a coin slot. Once the coin is inserted, the cart is released and your coin is locked into the slot. Upon returning the cart to the stand after the shopping is complete, your coin is returned. I guess it’s to detour people from stealing the carts. We made our way through the store. I have a standard shopping list for trips like this:

11 day Supply list:

3 boxes of cereal

loaf of sliced bread

baguette

5 rice servings

5 pasta servings

2 Spaghetti sauce

Salt

Peanut Butter

Jelly

Cookies

Crackers

Small vegetable oil

Mustard

ketchup

Soda (6)

Bottled Water (6)

Orange Juice – Non-refridgerated (3)

1 pack sausage

1 pack chicken breasts

1 pack ground beef

1 pack lunch meat (ham or salami)

eggs

bananas

apples

peaches (3 cans)

corn (3 cans)

butter

milk

fancy cheese

magnum bars

Frozen French fries

laundry detergent

dishwashing soap

paper towels

Toilet Paper

The shopping came to $130 euro. So we are basically eating for only 10 euro per day for the both of us. Mighty thrifty!!!

Next we were off to the Mimosa Campgrounds…or so we thought because as it turns out the fuse for the cigarette lighter was burned out. Our GPS had no juice either, so we basically felt stranded on a side road. Fortunately, our laptops had enough power to juice up the GPS for a 10-minute sprint, which barely got us to the campsite. The campsite is definitely rugged. We are not in New Zealand anymore. We are no longer pampered campers. There are cement co-ed bathrooms without toilet paper, co-ed showers, no wireless, no community room, no lighting along the paths, not much of anything except a power outlet, BUT we are together and on holiday for the next 10 days. The campgrounds are rated on a 4 star system. This is a 2 star campground for only 20 euro per night.

The layout of the camper is taking some getting use to. It’s smaller than the last 2 we rented. There is not counter space and very little storage. The driver’s seat swivels around and doubles as a seat at the table. There aren’t any drawers. There are only 2 plugs, no screen door, no big panoramic window out the back and only 2 gas burners. However, it is clean and will be our home for the next 10 days.

Day 6 - Monaco

The last photo of this big wedding adventure has been taken and is currently being backed up. Late this afternoon, we meet up with Lee & Celine and hit up the spots we had planned out during the previous days. They were real troopers. They got fully dressed again and around Monaco we went capturing some great moments for them. The bride stopped traffic at every corner as she stood there in her Melissa Sweet wedding dress next to her handsome groom. Tomorrow we head out for Corsica for our own camping adventure. It’s a new spot in the world for both of us and I can’t wait to explore it.

Day 5 - The Wedding in Monaco

The big day was finally here, beginning at 10am and ending at 2am. It was filled with everything you could imagine and more. The ceremony at St. Paul’s church was intimate and beautiful and Father Walter’s sermon was very sweet. There were a few showers, but they made for some really cool moments. The tourists were fascinated by the bride and groom and took a few snaps of their own as we walked through the casino gardens.

The evening was very elegant and the Hermitage ballroom had been exquisitely decorated under the watchful eye of, Meme, Celine’s grandmother. As dinner was served, Matt & I learned that we would be dining on the terrace by candlelight at a table for two. So as the guests inside were being served, we got a special treat to enjoy the same fine dining. We learned that it was the parent’s way of thanking us for all the hard work. It was very kind and greatly appreciated. We were surprised for the second time in our career with indoor pyrotechnics (but on a smaller scale then in China). It is tradition here that the grand cake is carried out and presented to the bride and groom. This cake had mini Roman candles that sprayed 2 feet of fireworks out of the sides of the cake. We also experienced another new tradition. When the cake is set down, all the women take off their rings and place them on top of the cake. Only then can the bride and groom cut the cake. Once they have shared their bite of cake, everyone takes their rings back. Throughout the evening, the dance floor was filled and guests also enjoyed hanging out on the terrace. The bride and groom also had a surprise gift, a gorgeous wedding floral arrangement topped with bridal teddy bears from Prince Albert of Monaco along with a personal note extending his congratulations to the newlyweds. Wow! The evening came to an end at 1:30am as the families shared their hugs goodbye and also thanked us for being with them over the last 4 days.

Day 4 - Ventimiglia, Italy

I love train stations. They always take you somewhere great. This morning we took a ½ day trip to Ventimiglia, Italy. Ventimiglia is known for its huge Friday street market. Just when you think you’ve come to the end it keeps going. There are hundreds of stalls with clothes, purses, leather goods, shoes, jewelry and of course food. With my Salami & Fromage Panini in hand, I scouted each stall as I passed by for any possible treasures. No such luck in finding anything worthy of my euros, but we did find a nice spot on the beach to rest our feet and look out over the sea. Instead of being surrounded by the yachts of Monaco, we enjoyed the little fishing boats with their faded paint and bundled nets. We returned to the bustling market to meet up with some of the bridal party who were also exploring the stalls. We had all managed to find the same Gelato shop. It was worth every calorie!!!

The wedding rehearsal is in a few hours, followed by the Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties at separate locations. Until then we are getting our gear prepped for tonight and tomorrow's wedding and I think a short nap is in order. I’m sure the Monacans are not opposed to siesta time.

Day 3 - Monaco

Spent most of the day doing location scouting for Sunday's Post Wedding shoot. We have a pretty cool route planned. Tonight we are heading out to the Monaco Yacht Club for the rehearsal dinner. Having to sacrifice clothing for gear, we are feeling a tad underdressed. However, Father Walter came to our rescue and has loaned Matt a jacket which actually fits him nicely. Ties are optional, but men are required to wear jackets. REI doesn't make suit jackets, so Matt does not own one. The line up of yachts above is the view from the club.

Day 2 - Monaco

A good day is one that starts with a freshly baked almond pastry that is so delicious, that it literally makes you laugh with happiness. Pair that with a diet coke and I am one happy camper. After enjoying our French pastry we took care of some wedding details with Celine & Lee, and then the 4 of us hopped on the local #1 bus and headed to the top of La Roche. Atop La Roche above the harbor sits the palace, the old town and the Cathedral. I love this part of Monaco. It is filled with narrow cobble-stoned streets, old-world European architecture, spectacular views and delicious smells of food and wine. We watched that guard pace back and forth in front of the palace. His footsteps literally wearing away a path in stone ground, never once flinching or breaking stride. I would love to know how many miles the guard racks up per day guarding the palace. The views from La Roche were spectacular. The day was spent mostly exploring and scoping out all the possible photo locations for Sunday’s photos shoot. A lot of research and reconnaissance go into planning a day after shoot. We found some great nooks that should make for some incredible photos.

By the time we got home, we had a little time to rest and then out we went for some pre-wedding festivities. I was with the bride and all her girlfriend’s for a fun bridal shower and Matt met up with the groom and his buddies for some manly male bonding time. It’s 1am and I was home by 12:30am, but Matt is still out being the groom’s personal paparazzi. Time to put my feet up and rest.