A morning of walking: Promenade le Corbusier, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

The Promenade le Corbusier.

We choose to walk the Promenade le Corbusier this morning from our apartment, around Cap Martin, to the Plage de Carnoles and back, a good 10 km.

It's  a coastal path with sublime views of the rocky coastline, the sea which sparkled, the surrounding mountains and with vistas across to Monaco and to Menton as we traversed the promenade. 

It felt so good to be close to the sea and to be away from the busyness of the Cote d'Azur. 

We are now just waiting for the scorching mid afternoon heat to abate and then we plan to have our swim in the Med.

Look at this sea!

Sidebar: I do have to chuckle at the reality check of going for a swim versus the beautiful sea photos. The rocks are slippery, the beach is a pebble beach and makes it so hard to get in and out, never mind the kilometre walk down and up the hill to get to the sea.

Nothing elegant about the swim at all...took myself off to the pool afterwards which I much prefer.

We felt revived after a shower and a train ride into Menton for an evening pizza. We lucked on a good choice of restaurant not too far from the 'SNCF Gare' and ate well. 

A return visit: Apricus Osteria and Bar, Apricale

The approach to Apricale, breathtaking even on the second viewing

There is a spaciousness about having a week in one place and that has always been the pleasure of our timeshare swops around the world. 

Ambling through the village

Here on the Cote d'Azur we are nestled between Nice and Menton with Italy on our doorstep. 

We have appreciated the choices of how to put our days together and yesterday we got to go back to Apricale, the hilltop Ligurian village, for another round of delicious food and another amble through the ancient old streets. 

It's a rare treat to return to an isolated destination like Apricale and I am so mindful that these set of circumstances that find us here, are unlikely to happen again.

And what a difference to Sunday. 

The crowds had dissipated, there were no rally drivers revving up the narrow steep streets, we got to breathe in the milder more humid air and to just take in so much more of the detail of the thousand years of history in this village. 

We even found the ancient communal bread ovens, the villagers would prepare their dough and come to the 'forno' for the baking, it was used until the 1940's when the last baker stopped his fine trade.

Apricus details.

Once again we ate with joy, my burrata and fresh peaches were a perfect late summer starter and equally Fred's carpaccio was delicious. We just happily sat back with the views of Apricale and had our courses.

We also took the opportunity to natter to the maitre d about their relationship with Chef Jan and he shared lots of stories and news which was entertaining indeed and we shared a good laugh.

Sidebar: we have a late afternoon swim here at Le Golfe Bleu which is such a treat after a day out and of course after all the delicious food. We have been meeting people too at the pool. So yesterday we had a note taped to our door, an invitation for a sundowner. The American couple on our floor have owned a unit here for 25 years and it's setting is one of the best in the complex. It sure was lovely to sit back and take in the sunset, watch all the lights come on in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin with conversation rolling from one topic to another.