Master's Jolly

A keen, eager and bright eyed group met at Heathrow at 9.30 on the 12^th May full of anticipation for the coming few days.  We were soon airborne en route to Nice to be met by welcoming couriers and a short coach ride along the Avenue des Anglais, a bright azure sea on one side and a bustling Nice on the other.

We arrived at the hotel which was well placed on the cliff at the end of the bay, for the usual comparison of each others rooms (which were all equally comfortable!).  We were soon changed into appropriate South of France dress and meeting for an initial familiarisation of Old Nice, with its history and environs including a vital education (even for John Cruse) regarding the local wines, with our Guide.

John and Jen and Chris and Diana Laing had travelled down independently by car, the Cruses working hard on the Company's behalf selecting and buying champagne, their car looking very heavily loaded.  The tour was very informative and we were all surprised by the maze of small streets, churches, street shops, markets by comparison with the "grand époque" Nice just a little distance away with which we were more familiar.

This was all exhausting thirsty work and we were soon seeking refreshment before joining up again for an atmospheric dinner in a beach restaurant just below the hotel.  It was excellent and an early confirmation that our expectations were to be satisfied: Carpachio, Sea Bass, hot chocolate soufflé and copious wines: lights sparkling all the way around the Bay des Anges - as sparkling as the conversation!

We woke up to a clear but not quite all blue sky and the sounds of very noisy swallows and it was wonderful to have the first French croissant - so different in France and with a charming French waitress.

A short bus ride took us to St Paul de Vence and saw us arrive at the gates of this fortified hilltop town menaced by a large cannon guarding the gates.  The town - a favourite with artists - has a delightful series of very narrow streets full of promise for artists and intrepid shoppers leading out to the ramparts with views out over the Provence landscape.  Although a few had thought well forward to reserve a table at the renowned "Coulomb d'Or" others under the leadership of Keith White found space on the terrace of the "Relais" although this was also full.