THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11:

My first full day, committed myself to settling in my home and walking up the hill to the medieval fortified village of Fayence. In spite of its size and the British accents everywhere, the hilltop village has retained the charm of its medieval origins.

First sight of the church!! I entered St Jean de Baptiste, paid for a candle which I lit, and prayed for the safety of my Grandson Justin, in Iraq. I will repeat this ritual at every church I encounter.

I located the tourist office, entered with the mandatory "Bonjour, Madame," (Madmoiselle) and proceeded to ask questions in rusty, rudimentary French. Exiting with the mandatory "Avoir, merci" and her reply "bonne journee" I had two bus schedules and two train schedules:

My adventures begin.


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12:

The local bus stop is just a few paces across the street. #31 will take me to St Raphael. One Dramamine and an hour and 20 sweaty minutes later I decent at Gare routiere. This usually means the GARE TERMINAL. Not this time. So I asked the driver, a kindly young woman, which direction to the real 'gare' and of course proceeded in the wrong direction.

A couple miles pass and I enter the humid, sticky gare. Just for kicks, I walk into the room for information and TGV bookings. I sit, pretending to intently read some literature, and COOL DOWN in the air-conditioned room. Aahhh, sweet. Took a couple swigs of my warm water, ate my apple and left.

Now that I had sea legs, I directed them to the Gare routiere, which should've been what I was just leaving. As I happily walked along, since I felt so confident I could find my way easily back, I stopped in a Monoprix, my favorite mid-line department/grocery store. I purchase green, menthol scented tissues and along the way, a white chocolate gelato. Life doesn't get much better than this.

The picture above is my shot across the little inlet where I exited into the waterfront area from Rue Amirl Baux.
Had to remember this in case this Gare was the one I would use to travel afar. There's also a McD's on the corner, which you cannot see from this distance.

Bracing for the beautiful but wicked ride home, I took another Dramamine with warm water. Gosh, c'est chaud. And that doesn't mean cold.

In a few days I will take the bus to Grasse and find the Gare there. I have been informed it's a much easier bus ride.

Tomorrow is Market Day and Christine, a friend of my landlady, will pick me up at 10:00. Don't we love shopping!!!