Cinque Terre - Part 3 - Days 11 and 12 (and Nice arrival)

Cinque Terre – Part 3 – Day 12

It was almost time to leave (beautiful) Italy, and to head to France.  But before doing so, we had one more day and evening in Cinque Terre.  The kids – who slept until 10:00 after their rock jumping and hiking day -- wanted to go back to Manarola (aka the rock jumping place) which worked out well because Tree had seen some interesting shops there.  We had also seen a less crowded and seemingly safer swimming hole about ½ from the main one, so we headed there and spent our final couple of hours in the water.  

Handmade (lace) Cover Ups that Tree had admired...

Our final swimming hole...

On the way back we happened upon possibly the most unassuming – but best – restaurant yet.  Too bad I didn’t write down the name, but it is a tiny bar-like place in center or Manorola for anyone who plans to trace our path…

Our favorite restaurant so far - in Manorola

Tree's Fish - not what she expected...

.... But with a little help she was able to dissect it

Earlier in the week we had read about a “rock concert” in the tiny village center of Monterroso (where we were staying).  It was to take place on Friday night and was an all female cover band.  We had not visited the village center yet, so we decided to walk down at 8:00pm, grab some dinner, and watch the concert at 9:00.

Final evening in Monterosso

To get to the town center you have to go thru an old train tunnel

Jim found the Italian equivalent of Fun Land near the town center.

For those of you who are live music fans, I’ll leave you with this gem…

The next morning we bid a final farewell to Swiss Hotel Belleview and to Cinque Terre.  Dad went in to town to grab out laundry for the week – three bundles – and we hopped in the care to head to France and to Nice.

Packing the Family Truckster

Dad grabbed the laundry

A fond farewell to our server at Swiss Hotel Belleview

Swiss Hotel -- the highest structure -- as seen from Monterosso al Mere beach

Our favorite Italian vehicle -- there were tons of these little things.

Nice – Arrival at Villa Dracona – Day 12

Our drive to Nice was about 4.5 hours, so we arrived late in the day.  In Nice we had rented a house via Homeaway.com, and picked a large “villa” in the hills above Nice.  Not knowing much about Nice, it was a bit of a shot in the dark.  We had seen pictures, and had a general sense for the location and layout, but we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived…

The Villa Dracona

The Villa Dracona, as it is known, sits high above Nice on a (crowded) hill called Mont Baron.  I assume that means “Baron’s Hill.”  All of the homes are stately villas, but it has clearly been overbuilt across time and is pretty densely crowded.  That being said, the Villa Dracona has a nice view of the Mediterranean, a small garden and – most important – a small pool for the kids.

We were looking forward to opening the doors and windows and enjoying the breeze coming off of the Mediterranean, until our caretaker, Christian informed us that the last renters had been robbed in broad day light!  Apparently while they were in the pool area, a pair of thieves had climbed over the fence surrounding the villa, had scaled the porch, entered the house and taken watches, computers and cash.  He warned us – if you are not in the kitchen (which affords a view of the porch that had been scaled), then leave all doors and windows locked.  That certainly took away from our excitement…**  (Christian did note, however, that the prior renters had – parked outside of the villa -- 2 Ferraris, a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, which may have attracted the robbers.  All we had was the Family Truckster.)

** that said, it does not compare to a story we heard a few days later while in Cannes.  Apparently the crime is so bad there that thieves will pump nitrous oxide into the house via the air conditioning unit, putting everyone into a deep sleep.  They will then break thru the door and take “the watch off your hand as you sleep.”

That night, after a quick walk down to the market for food, we cooked in and hit the sack.