A short break

                                                                   Nice, France

Last week flew past as I was getting ready to go away for a much anticipated long weekend in France. One of my oldest friends had booked a big house in Provence to celebrate her 50th, and her partner's 40th birthdays and they'd invited 20 friends to come along. It was so exciting, it seemed quite unreal until we were on the way to the airport on Friday morning. Husband and I landed in Nice at about 4pm, and had five hours spare while we waited for two friends, who were sharing our car to the house. We drove the short distance to the town centre, and stepped out of the car into bright sunshine, palm trees and warmth. It was glorious.

  We strolled around the old town, soaked up the Mediterranean atmosphere, and had a meal in a little bistro in a square. I love the colours of Nice. 

There were more French delights to come. The next day, a big party of us headed into Grasse, a place I've always wanted to see. The perfume industry is big in Grasse, there is evidence of it everywhere.

                                                  The Perfume Museum, Grasse

            Perfect little town for mooching around

We walked, sat in cafes and bought some beautiful soaps and lotions from the  Fragonard shop.

                Tamsin sampling the scents 

Saturday night was a birthday dinner and lots of celebrations, and then a chilled Sunday morning by the pool at the house, and a big barbecue lunch, before heading back to the airport at 2 o'clock. 

 Lemon birthday cake baked at the house by friend Ronnie 

Not even a storm at Nice airport, with lightning forking around our aeroplane could take the edge off a really wonderful weekend. I'd love to go back there, with more time to explore. Hope you enjoyed the sunny interlude. 

Just one final snap: is this what is known as a cool cat?