Winter in the South of France IV

So today is my last day here. I am going back to Munich at 14:50. Claudia is already on her way back to Frankfurt.
The last few days we were a bit lazy. We stayed in the house reading and walked the dog. In the afternoon we usually walked to the old village of Biot and had a drink at the piazza.

The piazza in Biot. Already decorated for the fest of the mimosas

Thats where we have our drink in the late afternoon.

Balou always likes to join us

The old village of Biot

Yesterday we drove up to St. Paul visiting the Fondation Maeght http://www.fondation-maeght.com/ . Whenever I find the time during my stays here in the South of France I go to visit the exhibitions there.

CalderMiro

Giacometti Walking Men

Miro

Later we had lunch at the Colombe d´Or http://www.la-colombe-dor.com/ . I must say that the menu card hasn’t change much since the times when I used to go there with my grandparents but it is always nice to go there and enjoy the arts and the beautiful surroundings. The weather was good so we could sit outside.

We took a little walk through the old medieval village of St. Paul which is really great during this time of the season because there are only a few tourists. I can’t recommend doing this during the summer season. The place is so packed that you can hardly move.

St. Paul de VenceAmazing view to the Alps. You only see them during wintertime.

Later we had a drink in Biot and then went home cooking.

Now I am sitting here writing my blog. I will have a short look at the little fest of the mimosas in Biot that takes place today. At around 1:30 I have to leave for the airport. Maybe later I will post some pictures of the festivities.

Winter in the South of France III

Wednesday morning we went to Antibes and then moved on to Cannes doing some shopping at the Rue d´Antibes. Bought a new pair of trainers.

We went up the hill to the old quarter of Cannes called Suquet and visited the church and the museum. Later we had lunch in one of the many restaurants along the Croisette.



Today we went down to Antibes again buying some groceries at the Marché Provencal
And had a look at the little antique market that takes place every Thursday.

The little doggy is not for sale!

Later we visited the old part of Cagnes. Had a nice lunch at the piazza.

Haute Cagnes

Back home we put on the open fireplace and read our books.

Winter in the South of France II

On Sunday we went down to Cannes and had a look at what was happening at the MIDEM festival. The weather was just perfect and we had lunch at the beach.

Later we drove back around the Cap d´Antibes.

Monday morning we visited the antique market in Nice which is always very interesting and fun. I love to make photos of the old teddy bears.

We had a little breakfast there and later we bought some groceries at the Geant market. This is really impressive and has dimensions like supermarkets in the US.


In the afternoon we went hiking with Balou down Sentier la Brague. Thank god the goats were inside this time. Later we walked to Biot and had a drink at the piazza.

Sentier la Brague

Antibes market

Today we went to Antibes to buy some groceries at the beautiful market and then to Cannes again and took a boat to the Lerins Island of St. Honorat. I have been here the last time when I was a little child. It was very peaceful and quiet because there are no tourists at this time of the year.

For more information look at this: http://www.abbayedelerins.com/

It was a bit cold though and lots of clouds in the sky. At least it was not raining.

Beside the old and new monastery there are plenty of little chappels on the island.

Winter in the South of France I

Arrived on Friday noon in Nice airport. Compared to Munich it is quite warm even though it was a bit overcast.

I was looking forward to see our new dog Balou (German Shepard) again but also a bit sad because good old Benno had passed away three weeks before Christmas. Well he was nearly 12 years old, which is quite old for a German Shepard. Balou was looking for him for days guess he is missing him too.

I took Balou for a walk to the old village of Biot which is just about a ten minute walk from the house. Later we walked down the beautiful hiking trail “Sentiere la Brague”.

I stayed at home in the evening. Annemarie cooked a wonderful meal for me.

This morning the sun is shining and there has been not a single cloud in the sky. Walked to the village and got the newspaper. Then I had some coffee at the piazza.

Later I went down to the pool reading one of my books. In the late afternoon I walked Balou down the river again.

When we went up the hill the neighbours goat had sneaked out from their property. I was afraid that Balou might attack the little goat just as Benno did a few years ago. That was really dramatic and we had to put the goat to the vet because it was badly injured.

But in this case Balou was the one who seemed to be totally scared and the goat took advantage and walked right towards Balou. He screamed like a little baby and it took all my strength to hold him and walk up with him the last few steps to our house. Well even though he looks like a grownup big German Shepard he somehow is still like a puppy. You can also tell from his voice because it is still not very deep. If you only hear the dog you will be totally surprised when you all of a sudden see him appear.

In the late evening I will pick up my friend Claudia from the airport. Tomorrow the MIDEM, the biggest music fair will start in Cannes and we will have a look. Maybe there is a chance to see a show or something.

Balou from Biot says hello to Clare and Mr. Big in LA and best wishes for Clares birthday - woof!

Christmas Holidays in Switzerland

December 21 st my aunt Barbara and I went to Austria first for the funeral of our uncle who had died in the age of 90 years. After that we drove to Switzerland. It was a real long drive that day for me. About 7 ½ hours.

The weather and the snow in Silvaplana –St. Moritz are excellent and we had a wonderful Christmas eve and a good time with all our friends that came here for the holidays. On Boxing Day my friend Claudia from Michelstadt came to the Engadine valley for a few days.
We had a wonderful time together and a real nice New Years Eve at the Bellavista Hotel in Surlej – Silvaplana http://www.bellavista.ch/ .

2 nd of January I went outside with my cousins little boy Beppi 31/2 years old. He was very busy with collecting all the fireworks from the night before. Now I am babysitting and writing my blog while he is taking his afternoon nap.


Took a helicopter ride which was fabulous. Flew over the Piz Palü and many other famous mountains.

Berninagrat - Piz Bernina

View from our window on the last day / evening of 2007 to lake Silvaplana direction Sils Maria

First day 2008. I wish everybody a happy and great New Year.

Report from October 2007 – Trip to Darmstadt

Went to Darmstadt my old hometown in Hesse on a Thursday to look after our estate there. It was really nice I had the time to meet some of my old school pals and I also had the chance visiting my friend Claudia in Michelstadt.

St. Ludwig the catholic church in Darmstadt. It is a copy of the pantheon in Rome. The locals also call it the cheese cover (Käseglocke). It´s quite impressive.

The new entrance of the Darmstädter Staatstheater. It has got two stages - " big house" (for opera) and a "small house" (mainly for theater and ballet) Great world premieres took place here. For example Eugene Ionescus "die Nashörner".

The castle and old town hall in Darmstadt with marketplace.








The famous and beautiful medieval townhall of Michelstadt.

Window Shopping in Michelstadt!!??

Michelstadt and Erbach are in the middle of the Odenwald and famous for their beautiful old half-timbered houses. I always love to be here.

Old doorknob of the main entrance of the church in Michelstadt. I do love gargoils.

Had a good trip back home to Munich without much traffic on Sunday.