antibes

A word of advice - never offer something to us if you don't really mean it for - licketysplit - we will take you up on whatever it is, and you'll find yourself trapped in your own kindness.  During our little stint in France (ok, it's been a while now, as some of you have made more than clear), Pat and Christine offered to harbor the kids for a night and, in the very same conversation, Tim's aunt, Dominique, offered the keys to her home in Antibes while she was to be away.  Rest assured, we swiftly accepted both offers before they could retract.  Faster than you can say it's-been-five-months-since-you've-been-away-from-your-kids-and-that-was-for-an-international-move-so-it-doesn't-count, we were on the road.  Don't get me wrong, our kids are the peachiest, but stepping away allows for perspective on said peachy-ness.

Man, we were happy to see this Citroen Deux Chevaux (2 horse power)
try to overtake the Camaro.  There were cheers; there were upped thumbs.

When Americans move to Europe, they start doing really annoying things like putting piles of photos online of their travel adventures.  Here's why!  Here's why!  Trips like this one here are the equivalent (in distance) of spending a night in, say, Milwaukee if you live in Chicago.  Remember how close all of these neat things and places are to us, and I'll try not to sound defensive.

Antibes used to be a rustic fishing town, but now it pulls in flocks of yachts and tourists.  

Look at the yachts.  More importantly, look at the Alps in the background. 

This being off-season, we were free to enjoy the turns of muted, pastel walkways and the crisp sunshine in peace.  I liked the walls.

And the water, of course.

That's a 6 person canoe.  

Upon entering the door of Dominique's narrowly stacked and memory-steeped apartment (once owned by Tim's great aunt Renée), we found a pair of eyes observing us. The lovely portrait of Valentine Audoy graced the wall and kept calling our attention.  She was Tim's great-great-grandmother, who died of TB at the age of 36.  

We saw a lot of Christine in that portrait, and the top third of her face reminded us of someone else.

Well, sort of.