Return to the Côte d’Azur or The Riviera From The Child's Perspective

During the first week of our adventures in the Mediterranean

-->Côte d’Azur I kept a keen eye out for places that I thought would  be child friendly. So we have ended up going back to Nice and Monaco. While we were running around Nice, I thought the beach would be very attractive to the girls and I saw this fantastic playground with a host of items all with a marine life theme. Plus it is a very easy city to walk around with its huge plazas, pedestrian only old city, parks and sea side walk. Plus it was a gorgeous day...a real plus for our family from Amsterdam the Grey. In Monaco the attraction was the Oceanographic Museum with its very large aquarium. That was a big hit with the girls too.

In both cases we decided to take the train as we have two cars and trying to caravan together and get to the same place with parking was going to be a challenge. Plus after doing a lot of walking, carrying and corralling of the five and under crowd, everyone is pretty tired at the end of the day. Avoiding the stressful drive back when we were tired was a plus. And the girls are very used to trains and love them. 

There was one funny incident when we were on our way to Monaco. 3.2 was up from her seat across from #3 wanting Mom's attention when we arrived at a stop. A young woman in her 20's got on board and took the seat. Mom told 3.2 she had warned her not get up from her seat. 3.2 gave the young woman the biggest glares. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Speaking of which, I will apologize that for the rest of this week, the pictures are going to be dominated by the family. This is what happens when you're family is spread across the world and you only see them rarely. 

Before we head out, another sunrise

In Nice, La Glace (Ice Cream) is served before lunch

Study of family preparing to cross a Nice street

Something Scenic in Nice missed last time

Pippi Longstockings

If she became a French nude model

First Attempts at Aquarium Photogarphy

After that it is a determined team seeking lunch

Head in this direction!

Seated at the restuarant

A calm 3.1

An anxious 3.2

Calmed by bread

Looking up from our table, right behind us is the Cathedral

Look behind us Wife!

Culinary Highlights in Monaco

A first course of goat chesse on toasted bread with salad

A mixed plate of local specialties including a fried baton from salt cod and a variety of vegetables chopped and served as stuffing and fillings. 

Action shot of gourmand putting lemon on salmon tartare

A nice veal ragout over noodles - very good sauce. Meats are often dry here but the sauces tend to be good.

A trio of very good desserts

Lemon tart, a kick butt chocolate cake, and tiramisu 

Daughter #3 contemplates the differences between the $10MM, $50MM and $150MM yachts and why on the yacht purchasing site where you filter for if you want a helicopter landing pad, ballroom, and submarine, you also can filter for if it has an iPod docking station.

Riding the French Rails?

Be Aware of these Rules!

Clockwise from the upper left corner

Have sore feet? Only put them on the red seats.

If listening to music aloud, your notes must be red

You many only yell at railway personnel if your personal cloud has thunder and lightening.

Please hang out of the car 

And there is this from the Aquarium

No striking of people with your phone on a selfie stick