Mary Linda Melnyk Travel Blog: Journey to Arles

Thursday, July 19. We departed Nice after a wonderful breakfast in the most delightful fantasy setting. The Negresco dining room was a fantasy setting with an old fashion circus motif: life size colorful horses on the backs of the table dividers, painted stripes on the ceiling like the inside of a circus tent with cherubs and garlands, a life size very real looking young wooden girl in a period hat and pinafore stood winding a music box every half hour, and much, much more. Just beautiful!

We drove along the Mediterranean coast on our way to Cannes. The Mediterranean is really a large lake, explained our guide, Christine, that makes up only 1% of the earth's water. The salt content is very high and thus the water is very bouyant and the water temperature never goes below 55 degrees. On to Cannes, about 25 minutes away. The marvelous villa that Kathryn Hepburn shared with the Aga Khan when they were married was pointed out by our guide. Gorgeous! We passed through Antibes and several other small lovely villages. Just before arriving in Cannes, we saw in the distance Chateau d'If, where, in 1687, the still unidentified "Man in the Iron Mask" was imprisoned. Speculation was that he was the twin son of one of France's monarchs. Voltaire, a French attorney, investigated the then cold case, years before Alexandre Dumas wrote his famous book.

Chateau d'If

When most people think of Cannes they think of the most prestigious film festival in the world, but coming into Cannes, our guide explained that many "brain companies"' such as large IT companies and university campuses were relocating into the area to help the local economy. Can you imagine a company such as Texas Instruments having offices in Cannes? Or the University of Pheonix? What an assignment that could be! We drove along the Croisette, the main promanade, lined with luxury hotel after luxury hotel on the right and a beautiful marina on our left, home to hundreds of millionaires and some billionaires yachts. Cannes is truly home to the RICH and famous.

The Ritz Carlton Hotel on La Croisette in Cannes

One of many private beach clubs in Cannes

Yachts of the rich and famous

Then on to Aix-en-Provence, a sophisticated and charming town. Cathedral St. Sauveur (Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix) from the 12th century, is one of Aix's main attractions. Aix is lively and refreshing, with lovely fountains, France's oldest university, a calendar filled with artistic events, and wonderful weekly markets. From the 12th to the 15th centuries Aix was an independent Provence. Home to the famous artist Paul Cezanne in the 19th century. We toured on foot and then were on our own to explore the Thursday market along a lovely main avenue of Aix lined with beautiful overhanging plane trees, many of us just able to get something for lunch from one of the many lively cafes along the avenue.

Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix

We then stopped off at the Moulin du Calanquet Olive Mill in Saint-Rémy de Provence for a tour and tasting. The Moulin du Calanquet has an olive plantation of over 10000 trees and resumed production of olive oil in 1999 after a gap of 40 years.

Carol Kerr tasting the different olive oils

The Group at the Olive Mill

Ron, Kaye Knox and Susie Groomes

Olive Tree

We then traveled to Arles to board our boat, the AMA Waterways Ms Amadagio. I think we are all happy and content to finally be on board! A demain . . .