Bonjour! We are now in Mougins, France…a lovely little village outside of Cannes and 15 minutes from Nice. Our journey fromAmsterdam to Mougins was…well…stressful for Dad but I will share about that later…the challenges of the Paris Train stations, the Nice train station and the rental car counter at the Nice Airport.
When we got our car (Fiat500) at the Nice airport, we left into a torrential downpour. Driving to Mougins was dicey and Dad got lost several times…small roads and quick turns were his demise. After many retries and a learned familiarity with the Round-Abouts in France…every ½ mile it seems…we arrived at our temporary home in Mougins…a beautiful cottage overlooking the valley (Dad and I didn’t learn this for 2 days until it stopped raining). We arrived at 1245Am and found Hortense, our host, pushing water out of the house…it was completely flooded. We are staying in a guest house next to the main house. Our room is spacious, warm and comfortable. Hortense was concerned with me getting on the furniture…oh well. We helped Hortense clean up water…but it kept coming in…so we settled for wine, cheese and bed. Dad and I were very tired from the trip and both of us slept very hard. I curled up next to him…very grateful that he brought me along.
The sun came up and the rain continued. Dad and Hortense took me into town for a little shopping at the Casino…a little like a Target with food. I had to stay in the car…one of the very few places I am not welcome. Dad and Hortense bought some cheese, yogurt and wine…and Dad bought a coffee maker for the room along with a large stash of pods. He cant live without his coffee. Oh…and a bottle of Scotch and…can you believe it…a bottle of Whitford Reserve for about $35. Cheaper than the states!!! After driving to the Market, we returned home to the flood. Hortense wanted to stay and fret over the water…but dad insisted on lunch…so we drove to a small local restaurant in Old Mougins called l’amandier…best rated restaurant in Mougins. I was allowed in the restaurant…all of the restaurants are very welcoming to me. I curled up under the table and went to sleep. Lunch was wonderful and very reasonable. Dad had wine, an appetizer, a beautiful plate of Oslo Bucco, the special of the day and the House red Wine. Most of the house wines are from Provence…very close to us. Dad loved the wine. After the main course, we were served cheese and then small desserts and coffee. Dad thought it was a magnificent start to our adventure in France. Beautiful meal. Hortense went to the hairdresser and Dad and I drove back to the house to get adjusted. Dad hung clothes and stacked his underwear, tshirts, pants and sweaters in an old armoire converted with shelves. He also successfully hooked up Amazon Firestick with the VPN so we can watch American TV if we choose.
In the evening, we were invited to a dinner party at Hortense friend Wendy’s home. It is just beautiful…Dad said that it was like living in a museum. So many glorious pieces of art…paintings and sculpture. Wendy was gracious…I got a little excited and peed on the carpet…Dad was so embarrassed. She has two little Schnauzers who were chasing me and I just got excited. Dad took me outside for a quick walk and I relieved myself. The dinner guests were wonderful…mostly ex-pats living in Old Mougins. They were all very welcoming to Dad and loved me (who doesn’t love me!) We had pasta, wine and cheese and a wonderful conversation about the origin of language. Ralph, a young Lebanese man married to Ashley (an American) contends that origination of language was to keep secrets from village to village…like a code. Dad had never considered this but it makes better sense than the Tower of Babel story in the Old Testament. Ralph has a business translating documents for his customers…very interesting man. Wendy is the life of the party…very extroverted and loving life. She invited us to a dinner on Wednesday night…she was concerned that we might have plans! Go figure…its like our calendar is so full.
It continued to rain as we drove back down the hill. Hortense and Dad had a glass of scotch before we retired to bed.
Rain defined our stay in Mougins through Monday morning…and then the Sun came out and we first saw the beauty of Mougins and the Côte d’Azur (French Rivera). Green hills with beautiful Chateaus…the glistening Mediterranean Sea in the distance. Our walk up the hill is a wall, ivy-lined, curvy road. Dad is always concerned when we walk because the cars can come quickly…but I am fearless (because Dad is vigilant and keeps me out of the road). Hortense introduced Dad to Joost…a very kind man with a beautiful wife…and they have a dog named “Indie” who looks almost like me. Joost picked Dad and I up on Sunday (in the drizzling rain) for a walk in the forest. Wow! Pristine and undeveloped wilderness area. Indie and I were able to run off leash while Dad and Joost walked. We ran through puddles and streams, up trails…we even saw a small waterfall. It was fun…we walked over 5 miles through the forest and did not see a soul. Fun to run and play.
Hortense left for the States early on Monday and Dad and I woke up in Mougins totally alone for the first time. Dad straightened up the flat and then Joost and Indie came by to take us on another long walk in the forest. Fun!! After our walk, Dad showered and ventured into town to find DogFood for me. I am used to my Raw Diet…but they don’t sell it here. Dad found a healthy brand of canned dog food called DogLove. I actually like it…but do miss my Steve’s. I find that I need to drink a lot more water now and my poops are bigger and softer. I know Dad prefers the raw diet because he doesn’t like picking up my messes…but I am happy so he’s ok. Lots of treats and marrow bones too.
We finally found a place where I CAN’T go…the grocery store called Casino. Dad took me in and got quite an animated lecture from the manager in French. I am not sure what she was saying…I don’t think Dad knew either…but she kept pointing at me so Dad took me out to the car. No worries…he wasn’t gone long.
Our life here has been defined by food and wine. Dad has eaten at several local restaurants and has his favorites.
Lovely Thanksgiving in the village with new friends. Chicken (all of the Turkeys were frozen) and great company..very diverse…American, Lebanese, Italian, Romanian…they don’t understand Thanksgiving…and they REALLY don’t understand Black Friday…which the stores in France have adopted.
I really want to get this posted…so much to share…Mougins, Nice, Antibes. All unique and beautiful and the people so kind. I am welcome in every restaurant…sometimes Dad sneaks me a morsel. I have been invited into kitchens…petted…loved. No one has turned an evil eye towards me…so happy to be here.
Dad was dealing with water again this morning after the rains yesterday. The chateau leaks through the walls…not good. More on that later. Will do a post dedicated to food…and we are planning to head to Italy on Thursday…Verona, Rome and Florence.
For now, we are enjoying an Italian lunch in Nice…the sun is out. The Med is beautiful…and life is good. Time of discovery.
Au Voir…
Maggie (and Doug)
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