We where off to Antibes mid morning under overcast skies. An almost winter gray type day, the first I have had since I got here in mid-Sept. Had our on private car until we got to Cannes and "Bruiser" and her dog got on. It was big dog and had a muzzle so we figured we should not argue On the way home it was standing room only as it was Friday night everybody was traveling.
Antibes is a great town. It is actually a large metro area, but on the water front is great. It has a beautiful large old walled city on one side of the port and a large fort on the hill on the other side of the port. The port is actually surrounded by part of the old wall of the city. The old town has great little shops, narrow streets, lots of flowers and a small Picasso museum. We had a windy lunch in the park and then walked the old town and visited old Picasso. The town was still pretty busy even though it is late in the tourist season. We talked to several Brit's, a couple from Hawaii, Finlandiers, and students from Holland. As is required by law, we found a nice small side walk cafe and had a mid-afternoon coffee. The owner was very nice and despite the fact he spoke perfect english, he patiently waited as I worked my way through my poor french. After the coffee we walked around the port to the castle on the hill. A lovely walk around the bottom on the water and up the hill through a park to find that it is closed for the season. Went back into the Centre de Ville in the modern part with a nice park and a big fountain. We caught the 6:15pm train home.
pictures
In the distance over the red roof is the Castle. Through the sea of masts is from the other direction looking from the castle to the old walled city.
If the rich live in St. Tropez and park their boats in Cannes, they bring them to Antibes to be worked on. I can honestly say that I have never seen so many super-mega-yachts parked in one place in my life. The whole downtown water front offices where yacht related, service, crewing, managing, insurance, etc.There was lots of activity on all of the boats, painting, varnishing, redoing interiors, etc. We were slightly surprised to see a "Discount Marine" van pulled up behind a 300ft yacht. I am sure the owner did not know that it was there. The interesting thing is that in the States you would never be allowed to walk among these boats. They would be behind locked gates with lots of security. We have not been to a marina yet that all docks where not open to the public, who actually owns them, just as we own them in the US as they are all on public waters.
This small little cruise ship with it's own long dock and security, (but not to keep you away) is named "Kingdom" and it's home port is Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I will let you guess who owns it.
POLITICAL STATEMENT OF THE WEEK
Almost all of the super-mega-yachts are registered in Grand Cayman, like that infamous company Halliburton, to avoid taxes and regulations. At least 3 of these monsters I know are owned by Americans who made their fortunes in the USA. They also claim to be great citizens. To me they are not. Great Americans are like the late John Moran. He owned the Toyota distributorship for the whole SE USA. In his life time he had over 50 boats and the last 20 or so in the mega-yacht category, all named "Gallant Lady". He was very proud to register all his boats in the USA and fly the Stars and Stripes on them. He said he had made his money in the USA and the small inconvenience of taxes and regulations was well worth it for the "privilege" to fly the "red, white and blue" flag on all his boats. He was truly a great American citizen.
We will probably go back to Antibes on a sunny day as there where many great photos to take in the light.
