October – Anniversaries Here – and There
Monday, October the 14th marked the first anniversary of our departure from the United States on a rainy Saturday from Dulles InternaƟonal on an Air France to Paris, Charles De Gaulle arriving the next morning and connecting to a flight here. What a year it has been for us!
I have enjoyed wriƟng these rambling reports, and plan on continuing, but with a slightly modified format; one I think you will appreciate: more pictures and fewer words by me, just brief captions without editorials and French lessons. If anything in this and future editions of notre vie à Montpellier that puzzles you or you might wish to comment on, you are welcome to correspond with me, and I will do my best to answer you one on one. And if you just want to say “hello” or “thank you” that’s fine too. Of course, if you do not wish to receive these reports, you won’t hurt my feelings if you say “stop” and if your preference is the “delete” button, I’ll never know.
So, without further to-do . . .
Our New Home – 506 Higher Roch, 123 Rue Alexandra David Neel
AŌer moving in on 1 August we have finally finished furnishing our apartment. This is a tour of what we have done.
So there it is: the results of two + months of furnishing our new home. The Floor Plan gives you the layout of the rooms.
We love it! The balcony is a real plus with access to it from the living room, kitchen, and both bedrooms through glass doors, all of which have electrically operated shades that can be lowered and raised individually or simultaneously at the touch of a button. The heatng and cooling works well and is almost silent. With our new furniture we have all the storage we need. And if you would like an in-person personal tour, you know how to contact us!
Celebratng our Twenty-seventh Anniversary in Menton
Menton, France is on the Mediterranean at the Italian border six hours by train by way of Marseilles and Nice. It is a city of 30,000 year-around residents that swells to over three Ɵmes that during les vacances saison of July and August (which is why we chose to go in October) occupied since the paleolithic era. Right on the French border with Italy where a small cove of the Mediterranean abruptly meets the Alpes Maritimes that protect it from the north wind. Famous for its lemons, it is a favorite destination for yachting (especially the super-yachts) and smaller cruise ships call occasionally from late May to mid-November. Consequently it is a gourmet paradise. It is also a feast for the eyes in vieux Menton around the Cathedral Basilica Saint-Michael-the-Archangel.
We made our plans to visit over a month before, but the weather didn’t take reservations; so for most of the time we had to take that into account. Day and night while we were there we had to be prepared for it. Obviously It was not beach weather.
Overcast skies and storm clouds, but there are those intrepid yachters that will defy them, and go to sea anyway.
Bonny was rather impressed by the Casino, but we decided to explore Menton’s market instead: impressive quality!
This is what Menton would have looked like on a sunny day. That spire on the left is the Basilica Saint-Jean-the-Archangel.
Obviously, our views required many more steps…
Many, more … steps! But the views, far and near, are magnificent!
It came as no surprise that Menton attracts artists, ancient … and modern – even around doorways.
Surrounded on three sides by mountains with the Mediterranean to the south, full of surprises, here,
there, everywhere, we loved every moment until, au revoir.
For our anniversary dinner we chose Le Galion for its menu and location and the many great reviews it has received. It was the perfect place for us. Obviously, with a name like “Le Galion” we expected a nautical atmosphere, and its location in the Nouveau Port de Menton fit into that well. Even though the sun had set we could still make out the sailboats docked at the quai. We began with (what else?!) glasses of Champagne, and shared an entre of a half dozen of very beautiful Gillardeau oysters. Bonny chose the house-made fresh spaghetƫi with lobster from Brittany for her main course, and I chose the Black Angus rib-eye. Both dishes were delicious, beautifully prepared and served. Bonny enjoyed a glass of 2017 Chassagne Montrachet and I, a glass of 2014 Chateauneuf du Pape with our mains courses. For dessert I had apples poached in Calvados, and Bonny defaulted to (what else but?) another glass of Champagne! What a night! But all
things must end.
À bientôt !
John & Bonny
La Vie de Montpellier 
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