Andi and I decided to put the first free Friday I had (no lab!! whoohoo!) to good use - to visit the French Riviera. As we were pretty much on a shoe-string budget (the cheapo singaporean + indonesian in action again haha), we filled our backpacks with bread and some canned food that we bought cos we didn't wanna be held ransom by the steep prices that the French Riviera is renowned for.
With pretty tasty canned salmon! We first transited at Valence (a city just south of Grenoble) where we were greeted by a train station with one of the most modern architecture I'd ever witnessed in Europe,akin to the Dover MRT station in Singapore. We had about 40 minutes to kill, so we stood at the highest level of the station, people watching. Without warning, this deafening (seriously) roar erupted from the tracks below and faded away in a matter of less than 1 second. It was honestly a jaw-dropping moment and by the time we reacted, we only caught a glimpse of the tail of the TGV, disappearing into the distance. Since it didn't stop at the station, I'm guessing it was travelling at a speed of about 300km/h. According to Wiki, it holds the record for the world's fastest wheeled train! After that, I spent the remaining time with my camera poised and ready to record a video of another TGV speeding past but darn! That was the only one we saw while we were there. Apologies for waxing lyrical about the TGV but if you had been there, it would have taken your breath away! Haha.
Presenting... Valence TGV
In about 3 hours, we reached Saint-Raphaël and boy, was it a breath of fresh air! It was a world apart from the big European cities that we visited before arriving in Grenoble. It seemed as if we stepped into another era - a much older one, untainted by the demands of modern living.
Bienvenue à Saint-Raphaël!
However, as we approached l'office de tourisme, the plain, modest buildings gave way to a playground of yachts and the smell of money!
Yep... and not one of them is mine (boo)
And a casino too!
La Basilique Notre-Dame de la Victoire - Seems to have some Islam influence in its construction
The white sandy beaches and clear blue waters
While the uncles in Singapore sit at coffeeshops and sip coffee, these French 'Uncles' play a game called 'La Pétanque', where the aim of the game is to park your metal ball the closest to a red marker and to knock your opponents' out of the way. The uncles were incredibly amicable, they even offered to let us try our hands at it!
top left: More yachts along the way!
top right: If you can't have it, make belief
above: We learn to drive, they learn to sail
The hiking track called 'Le Sentier de Littoral' which provided picturesque views of the Meditteranean and the renowned 'Red Rocks'
Unfortunately, as time didn't permit, we had to leave before having completed the full course. Honestly, it was tough leaving this beautiful sanctuary.
Next we headed to the main road to catch a bus to La Corniche D'or - A road linking Saint-Raphaël and Cannes made by carving thru rocks. Sadly, we took such a long time trying to locate the bus stop that we had to scrap that idea. It's supposed to be a pretty awesome sight as well.
top left: view of the Meditteranean from the rather swanky housing estate we found ourselves in after managing to find the main road.
top right: an example of posh living
above: a giant aloe vera plant (u probably can use it to heal a lifetime of wounds hoho)
Port Santa Lucia at dusk
see that rainbow?
I'd never seen a more resplendent sunset
2 comments:
Seh la Vi!!
- Bongz
haha yes i see yr comments! u should bring ling-er here man!
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