Bear is in Cannes

 

Bear 🐻has escaped to Cannes for 3 days for a late summer vacance!🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️The 5 hr direct TGV train was a snap. And not too full which was nice.

I am back again at Hotel Athenée (nothing to do with the Paris Plaza Athenée at all). Instead of the Marilyn room this time I have the Audrey room🤸🏾‍♀️😊

We wandered a bit on rue Antibes..the street for plebeian shopping…remember Repetto, the ballerina shop. Does anyone wear those anymore 👟?

 Ladurée has a cute outdoor cafe in their special pale sea foam green. These chairs look tempting to paint 🎨...should I?

Shops along the Croisette are the traditional  big-name deluxe for visiting celebs.

 

We took the le P’tit train (1hour-12€) first thing to get the lay of the land.

Up to the Old Town/veille ville for a 10-minute spectacular stop.

And then around town. It’s always a good idea to do the tourist train 1st thing. The guide informed us what movie stars stayed at which luxury hotel..major important info bien sur. 

*It was an extremely bumpy ride. Not recommended if you just had hip replacement - have an ambulance waiting. But fun and the accompanying Madonna music and commentary was a plus. 

After we walked around a bit (I am with Carolyn from WA) looking for a divine place for tomorrow’s breakfast. Last visit I went to the Carlton but sadly they are unser renovation 😕

Then dinner at hotel-recommended Cafe Hoche on rue Hoche. Green tomatoes with buratta + pesto. Plus a ginormous plate of linguine a la vongolo that instantly ruined all the hard regime work of the past few weeks. Back to Audrey green apples 🍏 for me. Fortunately patisserie shops are few in Cannes👏🤸🏾‍♀️ 

Today we are off to Nice or Grasse or Villa Kerylos. Or…your suggestions are most welcome🙏 I got for the trip appropriate Hollywood style Holly Golightly (from Jimmy Fairly) sunglasses + my etsy ‘Audrey’ hoop earrings. Bear and I are back on Friday to realité 💋💋Bisou, bisou Darlings 🐻🥂🍾

Champagne for breakfast / Hotel Carlton Cannes

Yes another Selfie. In Cannes your inner starlet comes out. I hope you're sitting down. Bucket list time.

Yesterday, 3 juillet I gave myself a late birthday presie. Not so petit-dejeuner at HOTEL CARLTON CANNES. I went for the fab breakfast buffet everyone raves about.

Oui, la prix is a steep (45€) But nothing compares to Paris.

And way better IMHO. Here — juice of the day.

Carrot/mango/something or other. Who can remember these things. I forget how many stations there are. Too many to count.

My kind guide gives me the grand buffet tour.

The citron station, everything from wonderful MENTON.

A gazillion kinds of smoked salmon.

Endless jams, always of great interest to me though I had none. Not shown the fromage station - superb chevre from Mere Richard of Lyon. La creme de la creme in France. I ate that.

Jambon station not shown. Nor the Qatar station. Olive produits station? Oui.  

I didn’t touch a croissant 🥐 Patisseries are not so common in Cannes, unlike Paris where they're on every street corner. Les Cannoise watch their ligne. Indulgence means a new pair of shoes not tarte citron.

I didn't eat so much though I got the included glass of Champagne 🍾 (I don't usually drink but sometimes you go with the flow) to accompany my very thick chocolat chaud ☕️ There are discrete signs suggesting you not take-away all the tempting food from the restaurant. I did as I was told (even though a plastic freezer bag lurking inside my purse). Thanks for reading Parisbreakfasts. Feel free to share. 

If you'd like a 🍾champagne watercolor or letters from Paris let me know🥂🍾☕️ 

Much Love❤️ from Carolg 😎 in Cannes🌴

Peonies in Paris

When I saw the first peonies in the marché I was not enthralled. Then I read somewhere that the fragrance 👃 was wonderful.

SOLLI asked me which marché was best for buds. I took another look and bought 8 at Bastille marché.

Antibes, Trains Express Régionaux, Cannes - Ventimiglia

After a couple of hours in Cannes I took the coastal train back to the town of Antibes, maybe a 5 minute trip.

These Trains Express Regionaux are a joy to ride. 

Air-conditioned, with nice bathrooms. A terrific way to see the whole Riviera right from your window.

Cheap too. A day ticket can be 10€ Get off and on as you like all the way to Ventimiglia, Italy. If you have a carte senior for the train 1/2 the price.

The trains can get crowded at times but usually the crowds get off after a stop or two.

Riviera train stations are very attractive. I should have sat down and painted this one.

Such a pretty town.

Wonderfully warm colors.

Does every French town of a decent size have a carrousel? There are 2 in Antibes.

The biggest problem when traveling is figuring out where to eat. PLAN AHEAD. Must read up before I get into town.I usually end up underwhelmed and overpaying, except for these excellent moules farci - the same as escargot and delicious.

In future I will opt for simpler fare.

Antibes' marché was loaded with plenty of bistros that would have suited me fine.

Serving typically local dishes as well. Live and learn.

Nearby the marché Picasso's chateau Grimaldi came highly recommended. Franchement I think the Paris Picasso museum is far superior.

But a nice photography show on.

And the views out the windows are spectacular. What a beautiful town.

Be sure & get a good window seat on the train facing the ocean 🌊 

I'm finally getting around to paint those views.

Almost as good as being there...

Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. If you'd like to receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox, take a look in my Etsy shop.

Have a sunny Riviera day!