Transportation along the Cote d'Azur is superb and one half hour after departing la gare de Nice-Ville we arrived at our destination, Menton, where the sun shines 316 days per year.
After a short walk to City Hall to meet Christophe, our guide, who abandoned the gray north of France nine years ago.
It was here that Jean Cocteau was asked to paint the Salle des Marriages. Chrisophe's commentary was rich, complete and enthusiastic.
Our next move was mountain climbing as we took the footpath through the Vieille Ville to the Basilica of Saint Michael, site of the annualFestival de la Musique
and ultimately the Vieux Chateau.
After a light lunch near the ocean we visited the Jean Cocteau Museum and the nearby Sarah Bernhardt permanent expo housed in an ancient fortification facing the sea and incoming invaders.
And all around us were the colourful art nouveau grand hotels that have been converted into short and long term rental apartments.