SAINT TROPEZ

Well, we're posing in front of two huge yachts, so it must be Saint Tropez day!

The students had some free time to look around the Vieux Port and the various shops.  Alejandro and Daniel were evidently just too tired.  We did make them be on the bus by 8am after all.   Poor lads.

After lunch, we showed the kids where the "beach" was-the beach being a slab of concrete from which they could jump off

And the water was super cold, which was delightful!  Some of us took an hour long cruise around the coast line while others choose to soak in the sun for one of the last times.

Dinner was back in Nice and shockingly I was the only one who ordered pizza.  Have we finally turned a corner on that?!

And cue ice cream.

Only 4 days left...Where did the month go?  A demain!

MONACO ET LA PARFUMERIE FRAGONARD 

 Et nous voilà, à Monaco!  

Our first stop was the Musée Océanographique.  Here are the front and back sides of the museum, which is really an aquarium.

Inside the aquarium, the variety of fish was stunning.  I couldn't believe the rainbow of colors I was seeing.  Si beau!  There were so many different types of fish and sea life.  Just unbelievable.  Here are my favorites.

One could even caresse a shark.  Me, I did it!

After the aquarium, the students had some free time to explore the old part of Monaco and get some lunch.  I visited the cathedral where Princess Grace married Prince Rainier.  For me it was second only to the wedding scene from "The Sound of Music."

Then some of us visited les jardins exotiques and some of us hauled up a hill to see the exterior of the Casino.  Since one has to be 18 to enter, all family fortunes are still intact!

Then we headed to Eze and toured the famous Parfumerie Fragonard.  Our tour guide was quite a hoot as she insisted that the best way to learn French was to, ahem, take a French lover... Anyway.

Many of our students left with gift bags...Mother's Day is only 10 short months away after all!

After the perfumery, we climbed yet another hill (today was full of hill climbing = not fun) to the village of Eze.  Super cute.  A lot like Saint Paul de Vence, so I'll spare you more photos in what I feel is already a photo-heavy blog.

And for dinner, all-you-can-eat sushi.  How American!  This is when having five boys with you comes in super handy.

Tomorrow is Saint Tropez.  Leonardo, look out 'cause here I come!

SAINT LAURENT DU VAR

Today's blog is all about this tonight's soirée in Saint Laurent du Var with the Saint Laurent du Var students.  Of course we had class this morning, but that's old news.  Of course we ate lunch together, lovingly prepared by the staff, but that too is old news.  And of course we went to the beach, but again, rien de nouveau.

There was a lovely buffet.

And then the show!  The performances and ensuing dance party were both successes and one only needs to see the pictures as proof.  Et les voila!

Even the staff got involved.  I was forced, forced to sing a duet with Cyril.  And to sing next to a professional is not easy, so of course I forgot the lyrics.  It was a rather unfortunate moment in my life.

And here we are gettin' jiggy!

Tomorrow is Monaco.  His Royal Highness Prince Albert is expecting us at 10:30.  We mustn't be late!