NICE is nice!
We arrived in Nice on Monday and are having a great time. Weather is in the 70's (low 60's at night)...

We're staying with the wife's cousin and they are treating us like royalty. There is only one way to describe the food: oh, la la

But I bet that I will come home weighing less than when I left. Every day we walk miles (and miles and miles). That's the French way. Besides I don't like giving up my pristine, free parking spot that is right in front of their condo. If I move the car, I'll end up parking 6 blocks away in an underground parking garage.

Forget the American idea of French rudeness. Everyone has been great. Even the news stand gal had me roaring with laughter this morn. I gave her a 20 Franc note for my morning USA Today newspaper that costs 10 ff. She pretended to tear it in two and hand me back half of it. BTW, I do not speak French. I do know some words and can count. I'm not above using what little I know and using hand gestures for the rest. Most French know more English than I know French and will use it if you make the first attempt.

I find it humorous that I have been stopped twice so far this week by tourists asking for directions. Do I look French? Not really. oh well, who knows what the hell tourists will do.

We'll be headed to Digne, then Paris the first of the week. Not sure when I'll be able to update this again. You'll just have to watch for the updates.

(You know I'll try... after all, I am typing this in a little internet hole-in-the-wall instead of going to the beach with the wife. Yes, the beaches are topless here. Yes, that shows my dedication, right?)

We're ready to leave

The bags are packed, weighed, some things unpacked, weighed and ready to be put in the van.

Our driver - daughter Cathy - is here. (Using our water to wash her Jeep.) She'll take us to Tampa International in a couple of hours.

It is Tampa to JFK, a 3 hr layover and then an 8 hr flight to Nice.

I'll try to post things here when I can. No promises. Just will try.