Sanremo, Italy for lunch

We went to Sanremo today for lunch - it's a sign of how close borders are in this part of the world that I can go to lunch somewhere, and that requires crossing 3 national borders each way... I've been there before and not a lot has changed - it's still a pleasant little town, with nice weather and the smell of the sea. (Monaco doesn't smell of sea, despite it being just over there - it's kind of weird...)

Anyway, this time we literally went just for lunch, so no photos of the old town (though you can find those in my last Sanremo post). But I do have a couple of photos to share, in case you're interested:

Sanremo:

Map in Sanremo bus station:

Houses and a river:

Restaurant we didn't eat at, but which was in a very pretty square:

View of the port from where we did eventually eat lunch:

The best bit about eating in Italy is the free Limoncello after lunch. (Note: probably not standard, don't rely on getting it, be lucky in your choice of restaurants...)

Sanremo has a big square just above the bus station. The best thing about it is this frog bin:

I still want to live here:

(This blogpost is largely in the interests of keeping me busy enough to ignore the child that's been screaming outside for the last few minutes solid. So if it looks a bit pointless, well, yes. You're right. But if you wanted deep insight and philosophical debate, I should tell you I think you might have come to the wrong place in any case...)

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Paris Day 2 - Chartres

OK, so not really Paris at all. But it wasn't far. And our guidebook described Chartres cathedral as "the crowning architectural glory of Western civilisation". And who could miss that?

In case anyone reading this is similarly inclined, the trains go from Montparnasse station and cost 14 euros per person each way. Chartres is a pretty enough little town, though there doesn't seem a huge amount to it other than the cathedral. (Which is nice.) Many hundreds of photos will follow when my camera issue is resolved - the carving everywhere is exquisite. If you're very lucky, I'll even look up the historical blurb for you, rather than making you google it. Aren't I kind?

If you're going to Chartres, though, don't leave it too late for lunch. Eat before 12:30. (My boyfriend has just pointed out that our experience may not be universal, and I shouldn't generalise like this. He has a point - take this as a disclaimer of sorts for the entire blog and all entries past and future.) I say this because we didn't try finding lunch until about 13:00, and the restaurant we chose, in the middle of the tourist district, ran out of eggs, so I couldn't have an omelette. Not daunted, I ordered the plat du jour, only to find they'd run out of that too. I settled for a Greek salad, which was nice enough. But I wanted an omelette. So, you should learn from this and eat early.

The station platform numbering system in Chartres is also interesting. By which I mean functionally innumerate. Platforms go: 1B, 2, 2, 2B, 6, 8, 12. No indication as to what happened to numbers in between. Like 5. Poor 5. Cut off in the prime of his life.

I'm being very antisocial. So I shall leave you now. Tomorrow, you may get a bumper weekend edition of the blog, letting you know all about the canal St Martin, La Vilette, free concerts and the Louvre. Or not, depending on my mood at the time.

Oh, while I remember, my sale has been extended into August. So if you're looking for unique jewellery, go look at my Etsy shop - prices are 40% off until the end of August.

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Sunshine's back

If I'd waited til now to go for a run, it would have been a good idea - it's beautiful, warm sunshine again. And the sea is all turquoise again and lovely. Albeit with slightly fewer boats than normal.

Today's healthy lunch is pretty similar to yesterdays, with carrot sticks replacing stew. Do I get a prize for eating more rice cakes in a week than anyone else? They're oddly addictive.

Also, I have succeeded in finding someone to fix my jeans. I bought some jeans months ago, that were the right size (well, they are now, anyway) but the legs were way, way too long. Apparently people with a waist my size ought to be about 6 foot. I am, as those of you who have met me will know, not quite 6 foot. So I have finally managed to find a woman who will fix them for me - and she didn't laugh too much at my utter incompetence sewing-wise. I know it's a simple thing to do, but I can't do it. I am ashamed of that, if it helps at all... Anyway, next week she'll have trousers for me that I can wear outside without trailing in the rain and dog shit. What more could anyone ask for?

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Lunch

It's definitely summer - it's been so hot this morning, it was a relief to walk in the shady streets of the old town, to go to the post office. Any tips on wasp deterrance would be very welcome though; they like summer, and Oscar, and I'm a little worried they might decide to set up home here...

Today's lunch is fresh, warm baguette from the best bakery in the world (although the baker is a bit grumpy, sometimes, today she was all smiley!), serrano ham, chilled chevre and pesto. No one is to even think of mentioning the calorie content in this meal, else I will find you and hit you. It's summer, calories consumed while preparing to go to the beach don't count.

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Week 2, Day 1

Why are the hills always in the wrong place? I swear, they do it on purpose.

Week 2 is harder than week 1. I'm kind of dreading week 3, now.

However, today, I'm off to Italy for lunch and market shopping. Because it's Friday and it's sunny again.

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