I was never very excited about driving. Growing up in Ohio, road trips were a monotonous blur of agricultural fields and the sprawling outskirts of towns. But, driving through France was a real delight. The topography was dramatic: lush green grass and trees adjacent to jagged cliffs. The scenery did not disappoint once we headed into Italy either. Towns were stacked on the hillsides, struggling to fend off the aggressive landscape that threatened to smother them.
After our successful journey through the mountain, we were more than ready to refuel our car and stomachs. Thankfully, we were in Italy where even the most basic rest stop serves up some excellent coffee. What a treat. We joked that we could just tour around, sampling the delicious grounds at the many rest stops.
Our band of merry travelers pulled into the apartment/hotel about six hours after we left Switzerland and were greeted with by the sun and a fresh Mediterranean breeze. The room we stayed in was perfect: modern and clean, with two bedrooms, a nice sitting room, and a kitchen. The terrace was the best part, as we had a view of the Mediterranean … well, apparently we did. The concierge swore it was there behind the clouds. If we looked to the right though, we could see the medieval city of Èze. Like many medieval cities, Èze was built on a hill. Actually, in my geography book, it qualifies as a mountain, as it was a beast to push a stroller up. The structures, stacked one on top of each other like a sand castle, were breathtaking. The narrow streets invited you in … and their labyrinth twists and turns did not release you easily.
Recharged by our successful arrival, our crew set out to explore Èze. Trekking up the mountain, we were greeted with shops, flowers, and smiling tourists. Once in the old city, we explored the ancient narrow streets, where we lost ourselves in the stores and art galleries around every corner. We also noticed a beautiful garden nestled into the fortification. A restaurant with an outdoor terrace beckoned to us and we sat there and plotted our strategy: our plan was to explore Monte Carlo, Cannes, and Nice in the following three days.
