Sainte Maxime revisited.
Posted by Big John on June 24, 2008
I did enjoy my trip to the ‘jolly old’ French Riviera, where I spent a good deal of time doing what I do best: that is leaning against something with a glass in my hand. 
In this case (see left), I am on the balcony of our rented apartment, and if you look over my right shoulder you can just about see the Bay of Saint Tropez. Not exactly a great sea view, but with the £ Sterling @ 1.20 € it’s all I could afford after a 400 mile drive with petrol (gas) costing nearly £1.25 per litre (around $10.50 per gallon).
I stayed in the very pleasant little town of Sainte Maxime, just across the bay from Saint Tropez, which ‘she who must be obeyed’ and I first found by ‘accident’ twentyfive years ago, and I’m pleased to say that although there have been some changes in that time much has remained the same, although I could have done without the bloody ‘RAP’ music which now seems to be popular in many cafés and bars.
When I last visited the town a couple of years ago I noticed that loud American voices were to be heard in every café and restaurant as were those bloody awful ‘Sloane Ranger’ British accents. This year they seemed to be missing: so I suppose that the results of the ‘credit crunch’ are not all bad
The missing Yanks and posh Brits seemed to be having little effect on the bar and restaurants which always seemed to be doing good business …
… I now know why so many French women are so skinny. Their meals seem to consist of a plate of lettuce for a starter, followed by another plate of lettuce as a main course. Now many of these ladies are of course very ‘chic’ and attractive, but a few are of the … “Didn’t you used to be Brigitte Bardot” … variety, with long bleached blond hair framing fifty years of sun tanned wrinkles. Their favoured dress seemed to be white lace underwear and cowboy boots. Not a pretty sight, but ‘c’est la vie’.
I’ll be back soon with some more observations on our French cousins, but in the meantime here’s a couple of photos to wet you appetite …
…. Now that’s what I call a take-away.
Terri said
Great photo of you, John! My kind of traveler….with the requisite glass in hand! The view from your apt. looks gorgeous.
Did you say $10.50 a gallon? Ouch! I figured it would be high….we rent our car in Montpellier and then drive to Caunes Minivois. Ah well…..ya only go this way once, right? We’ll pay the cost of gas.
Really looking forward to hearing more of your trip. And VERY happy to hear that perhaps we won’t encounter as many of those loud and rude American’s when we’re in France in October! Guess the bad economy is good for something!
Ed said
I don’t eat lettuce, that’s why you can’t have seen me there ! Moreover I avoid the Riviera in the Summer.
I look forward to read what else you have to say about us. It’s fun !
Ginnie said
It’s great to have you back, John and I assume you are feeling better if you can post pictures and all. It looks wonderful.
My kids surprised me with round trip tickets to Italy in Nov. so that helps to keep the price feasible… but the decline of the dollar is really a bummer. But, as you and Terri say “it keeps the tourists at bay, too”.
SilverTiger said
We have just been to the “English Riviera” but I suspect that the name is something of an exaggeration.
Most of the natives I saw were eating chips rather than lettuce…