First Stop: Nice, France

Before heading off to work in far-away Zambia, we figured some R&R was in order in less far-away France. So with friends in Nice and in Corsica, we made a bee line for the Meditterranean. But first, there were some final things to do chez nous....

Holy pigsty, Batman! Could our place be more trashed? The final hours of packing, in all their stressed-out, messed-up, boxes-to-be-filled, goodbyes-to-be-said, and things-to-be-mercifully-thrown-away bizarreness....

And so it all came down to three big boxes (thank god we're getting reimbursed for the extra luggage charges), two equally outrageous suitcases, four carry-ons and a taxi ride to Dulles Airport. Thanks again, Rod and Scott, for the help.

What a face! We couldn't have had a better welcome in Nice than that given by Fabien,originally of Martinique, formerly of D.C., and now of Monaco. He complained that life on the Cote d'Azur is too laid back. Hate that. Anyway, we came bearing photos of his boyfriend from our send-off party. That may be why he's smiling so nicely.

We first thought these were Roman ruins on the hill above Nice....until Paul spotted that they were "only"the ruins of a cathedral built in the 1300s. Oh well, the Roman ruins would come later.

Nice in the late afternoon Mediterranean sun....

....and one of its many narrow streets.

Fabien and Sharon, hangin' out with us on the fabulous and pricey beach in Nice. Sharon had just moved to Nice from D.C. Not a bad choice, Sharon.

Above Nice, with the Promenade des Anglais boardwalk and beachfront in the background.