-----Original Message-----
From: "Sheila Hogg" <littlewonder@tiscali.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:01:10
To: Blogg Blogg<contact2707.sheils@blogger.com>
Subject: Antibes
Had a really good look around the area last night and as I haven't been able to buy any gas yet to cook with I bought. a slice of pizza for my supper. Can you believe it, I spend all that time in Italy avoiding pizza and it's the first thing I have to eat in France.
Today I took the train inland a bit to a place called Grasse. This is the world capital of parfumiers and has been for nearly 300 years. There is still a lot of parfumeries in Grasse making the oils, essences and formulas which they then sell to Estee Lauder, Lancome. Dior, Chanel etc.
To get to the old town there is a steep climb to the top of a hill, not unlike going to the top of Aurther's seat with the odd set of steps thrown in for good measure, but we're quite good at steps now. Once you get to the top, the views are as spectacular as, dare I say the panoramic views of Rome.
The there was a service in the cathedral so I only managed a peak inside but it did look charming and just like the rest of Grasse, smelt delicious. Every where you go, every alley or corner that you turn has a perfume shop and the whole of the old town just smells like you are constantly walking through a garden in full bloom. You can even distinguish individual scents, especially rose, lavender and verbena which I especially like.
I visited the musee international de la perfumerie which has recently opened after a complete refurbishment and for a few euros you get an impressive education in the perfume manufacture and marketing. There are videos and guides in several languages and there is even an interactive area where you can mix a choice of oils and see what kind of scent they make. This museum is a real heavy duty nose workout. There' just too much about Grasse to tell you here without boring you; let me just say I went for the morning and didn't come back to Antibes until after six.
I still hadn't bought gas and all the shops were shut so, as it was Saturday night I found a lovely restaurant over the road from the marina and had a meal complete with french fries. When I got back to the camp I went straight to the bar for a couple of drinks just to round the night off.
It's so lovely here I am going to use this as a base to explore rather than travelling over the last few days. Have booked my train to Paris so I will see lots of the lovely countryside from a very comfy seat. The trains are amazing here, they run on time, are very comfortable and are not expensive, unless of course you are going to Paris.
Going to the Picasso museum on Monday, lying on the beach tomorrow, otherwise I think my feet will refuse to go.
Here are some pics from Grasse today. The chimney is part of one of the biggest parfumeries.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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