Life with Pia

FINDING GOLD ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA

GPS can be so much fun especially in France on the Riviera with narrow streets that bend - no North /South or East/West- and little towns. The GPS even talks so Henry and I asked it to take the shortest way to the Tennisclub at Juan les Pins where we had a rendez vous with an old friend.

We started out being directed through the most narrow streets up and around one of the medium size mountain sides. It was surprising and fun getting the opportunity to admire beautiful houses with superb views and enjoy the look over the bay of Nice, We also a few times had to find a place to pull the car aside to give room for other cars coming roaring towards us to pass on what normally would be a one-way-street.

When the GPS finally said: "You have reached your destination" we looked at each other and laughed. We had just made the most beautiful ride and stopped at a place that certainly did not look like a tennisclub. However as adventure is a sweet part of life we parked at the one and only available space and walked down a narrow dirt road that seemed to lead somewhere. The GPS has spoken so it had to be here!

At the end of the dirt path it widened and we saw a patio dressed up with tables,chairs and parasols overlooking five really nice, red clay courts. We could not believe it at first to find this beautiful tennis club.

A dog as large as a pony greeted us warmly accompanied by the very nice hostess of this private club. We fell for the place right away.

It was then we realised that by mistake we had plotted in the wrong name of the tennis club we were supposed to go to but we chose to stay as we felt we had found "gold".

The courts were great, it was wonderful to get out to play some tennis- finally- with Henry. After the game we sat down with the charming couple managing the club. We enjoyed a bottle of Italian wine we had in the car, actually the Malvasia wine I have mentioned in my cook book you can find on www.piaseuropean.com.

I can warmly recommend to take a trip in the car with the GPS on the french Riviera and don't worry if you plot in the wrong destination- you will find a wonderful place anyhow. Maybe even find "gold" as we did!