La Cote d'Azur: Antibes

I took a trip to heaven last week on the shores of the Mediterranean sea in the south of France. Honored to be invited by a friend, blessed with beautiful weather and arriving just before seasonal visitors crowd every spare inch of beach, I was fortunate to have a knowledgeable guide to the area. First stop: The very beautiful and very chic Antibes. Winding roads lead around the sea offering tiny private coves, the water clear and aquamarine lapping the rocky shoreline. Parasol pines unique to the region grace the landscape, the snow capped French Alps in the distance provide a stunning backdrop, and boats both large and small are to be seen everywhere. The homes are built for the comfort of the uber rich, the boutiques cater to the nouveau-riche with money to burn (and questionable taste). Restaurants line the promenade next to the beach, and to my surprise tables are set up on the sand for dining served by a barefooted wait staff! The harbour is home to giant yachts and elegant bayliners, as well as sleek racing vessels that were being prepped by well tanned and muscular crewmen for the upcoming annual regatta. The focal point of Antibes is the Musée Picasso which is housed in a castle-esque structure overlooking the bay surrounded by quiet little narrow passageways, the old village of Antibes. In the center of old town an open air market offers fresh fruits and vegetables for sale in the morning. Then the vendors disappear and are replaced with bistro tables for the lunch crowd to sit and enjoy a sandwich, a beer, or a refreshing glace. Little shops sell the usual touristic kitsch; T shirts, postcards and brightly coloured flotation devices, but the real fun is to explore the little streets where you will find a charming old church, a cat perched on a windowsill, and potted flowers accessorizing the front stoop of an ancient dwelling. The peaceful ambiance of old Antibes is in juxtaposition to the excesses of wealthy partiers who will arrive soon to dance in trendy nightclubs until dawn, bathe in Cristal, (literally-they prefer to waste the finest champagne rather than drink it) and snort bowls of cocaine. It is the joie de vivre, the joy of life!