I though Nice was expensive but London tops it easily. And you don’t get much for your money. I don’t mind paying for good things; I hate paying for poor ones. Those of you unfortunate enough to have to overnight near Heathrow, be sure to skip the Thistle, unless of course you like looking up in the shower at a mildewed, peeling ceiling. Sadly, the most expensive hotel on this trip (about $200) turned out to be by far the worst. But enough grousing. The plane leaves in an hour and if things go as they should, this will be the last on-the-road post.
I’d had a nice Nice day planned for yesterday – go to see the Musee Chagall and the Musee Matisse in Nice, drive over and back to Monaco and then to the airport. Nice is so pleasant. To get to the airport, you simply follow the Promenade des Anglais along the waterfront and, voila’ there you are.
But the two Musee are closed on Tuesday, turning the first part of my plan into a “mardi gras” indeed. But the drive was nice; the coastline is beautiful and there were several towns that would have warranted further scrutiny. They have great names like Cap d’Ail (Cape of Garlic). It would be fun to come back armed with a bushel of money.
The car turn-in and flight went smoothly. If I could have counted on such efficiency, I could have stayed in Nice and flown here in the morning. But, no regrets (except at my choice of hotels) and now I’m checked-in, fed and relaxed.
There’s a lot to be said about a slower pace. The Europeans have figured it out. For example, the independent gym where the hotel sends its guests, doesn’t even open until 0630. They were shocked at my mention of 0500 starts in the U.S., or forbid, 24-hour fitness! Anyway, the bill’s paid and I can meander to the gate with an hour to spare.
