Left for Nice mid afternoon.
On Tuesday it was a but drizzly. Went to Semur to see a Romanesque church of some importance but soon retired to a local restaurant for a spot of Charolais beef as we are in the region.
Wednesday and L&M left for the UK. Nice day so went for a three hour return walk along the canal starting at Digoin. Met some of the others on the way.
Bought our bottle of Burgundy for the wine tasting at dinner time. Ours came third in a blind tasting scoring out of 100.
The tasting started outside before dinner.
Thursday very hot and sunny day so had some time around the pool. We all decided that a BBQ was the order of the day for dinner. We did the shopping with Pete and Julie and Rich and I did the cooking. A nice dinner outside in front of the chateau.
Friday is our last day and again nice warm and sunny weather.
We took off on our own to Dijon for a visit to the very nice town and came back via the ” Grande Route du Vin” between Dijon and Beaune which is the Cote de Nuits-Villages
Had a quick look around Beaune before heading back for supper prepared by Martin. Prawns, nice and light after a very piggy week.
Saturday and we all said our good bye’s after a fantastic week at the chateau meeting old friends and making new acquaintances . The temperature dropped 20 degs overnight and it was raining again.
We decided to make a detour on our way to Nice because we wanted to see the Norman Foster designed bridge at Millau which spans the Tarn Gorge .
Amazing
Too far to get to Nice so stopped over in Montpellier for the night.
View of main Chateau
Party day was 6th May, that is Chris’s birthday. They decided on 60’s theme, ugh went the Butts, but it was really good. Everyone made a great effort and a of bit hippy gear was relatively easy to find, SO following are party pictures of that day
Revellers in general !
The old barber shop
Had a spot of rain on the Saturday but cleared up pretty quickly
Went to Cornelia’s mums 80th birthday bash in the evening and met all the friends and family of Nick.
Left just after midnight so it was the 1st, our 40th wedding anniversary so photos had to be taken
We had to vacate the condo on the morning of the 1st. Did a bit of shopping in Clearwater and then went to the beach on the bed chairs under the brollies on Key Sands until mid afternoon.
Had drinkies at the Marriott hotel opposite before driving to Tampa to check into the Intercontinental Hotel for our last night in Florida.
Clearwater Beach
Kite flying on Sand Key
The Marriott Bar
We went out in the evening to the Capitol Grill for our “special” meal and very nice it was to.
A little pampering from the restaurant
On our last day we took a trip to Tarpon Springs which is very Greek. It is a big Sponge diving area. Did the Greek thing and had moussaka for lunch before heading back to Tampa for our 7pm overnight flight back it the UK.
CHEERS to a great couple of weeks in the Florida sunshine
7th Avenue the main street in Ybor
Back to the condo for more sunsets. A bit more cloud tonight so it was a little more dramatic we felt.
Another old couple enjoying the Florida sunshine.
Later in the afternoon we took a short trip to Walsingham Lake and walked around some of the lake and a short nature trail .
Came across a couple of large birds in the trees and have no idea what they are. Look a bit like turkeys with wings or short necked vultures. We will find out. Found out, it’s an American Black Vulture.
A double crested
cormorant doing its thing !
Loved this butterfly chair
Pensive mood!
Calling this a blue heron, but must check later
After walking around the gardens we took on yet another causeway to Tampa to Westshore Plaza. A large shopping centre, and spent a couple of hours checking out their wares. Back home for a sit by the pool
Tonight we are eating out at Guppy’s a seafood restaurant in Indian Rocks. It’s recommended, so hopefully will be good.
The delightful marina.
Sympathetic architectural buildings which seems to be a rarity in general!
An old railway line is now used as a cycle way called the Pinellas Trail which extends for 34 miles south oh here .
A light lunch and Paul is now very happy with a beer overlooking the water!
For Slim as he has to have a foodie pic.
After lunch onward to Honeymoon Island over yet another causeway. Not a great name but in fact this island is a State National Park with an 8 dollar price tag to enter(worth every cent)
We walked the “Osprey Trail” which as it names suggest takes one through the typical Florida Fauna which is a natural habitat for nesting Oprey’s.
It also hosts a few pairs of nesting Bald Eagles and although we saw the nests we didn’t spy any eagles , but we come across a few of these.
Back to the condo for BBQ steak, Cab Sav and one of these
Coffee and toast for breakfast and then we saw a swim past by a pod of dolphins.
Plastered ourselves with sun block and went off for a walk along the beach and got as far as we could go towards Clearwater town this side of the causeway, about an hour and a half walk.
Went into the Marriott for a beer, iced tea and shared a few shrimps ( prawns to us educated folk) and watched yet more dolphins.
A long walk back.
Shopped this afternoon for prawns and squid for dinner, then took the causeway to Clearwater in search of restaurants we’d looked up on the internet. Gave up after 30 mins in traffic, we should have stayed at the condo. It’s spring break and Saturday night through a keys area with only one road!!! Stay in at the weekend I think.
Love it.
From Sarasota main town we crossed over the “John Ringling Causeway ” to Lido Key and the St Armands shopping area where we had a very nice lunch.
Then off to the beach for an hour before heading home via the very impressive “Longboat Key” with all it’s very luxurious houses and resorts along both sides facing the ocean or Sarasota Bay. It is only about 100 m wide with a road up the middle and the properties either side. All private access for about 5 to 8 miles with not a bar or restaurant in sight.
Good day out finished off with a bottle of pink and the marvellous sunset
We only had a brief visit so will go back again to explore some more
Cool bench
Cool shades ? Er doesn’t think so.
In a parking “lot” for lunch and a few typical sized cars tried to crowd me out. The looks we get driving this thing around is amazing. People have come up to us asking what it is. That’s what you get when you rent a category “A” car. My only defence is that I would not have believed that the US had such a thing to rent. It is a ” top of the range “!! Fiat 500 auto with sunshine roof, radio, 4 wheels but is does have cruise control. It’s great.
Waiting for the fishing fleet
Great sunsets from our patio
Immigration a nightmare as usual, took about an hour and then another 45 minutes to get the car and eventually arrived at condo in the dark at about 8.30.
Awoke the next morning a bit early and it was still dark.
Once light we went shopping to the “Publix” supermarket over the local causeway and then back for a little brekkie and then a walk along the beach towards Clearwater.
View from our patio
Belleair Beach
Local wildlife
And more
We had a friend for breakfast
We have had trips to St Petersburg , Clearwater and popped in to see our Condo at Itopia
Sun is shining and about 85 degs
Bay Watch ??
Flying out from Gatwick at 12.55 on BA arriving 18.45 at Tampa International.
A couple of weeks ago at Emsworth, Hampshire
The perched village of Peillon
L’eglise
Chapelle des Penitents Blancs with it’s very old and rather deteriorated frescoes completed by some Italian.
Great but rather misty views towards the coast.
Beautiful day so decided to head inland just a little a way and went for a 2 hour walk on the ” Tour du Mont Gros” which is behind Cap Martin near Menton.
Cap Martin in the foreground, Menton in the middle and Ventimille in Italy in the distance.
On the other side of the ” Mont” super views over Monaco.