La Colline

"La Colline" is the name of the apartment where I'm staying. If you wonder why, it is also the French word for hill - or, for me, it means a damn difficult steep walk in the hot weather.  You start at the Bas Corniche which is the lower road running along this part of the Côte d'Azur.  (There are also the Moyenne and Grand Corniches, up way higher.)  From the Bas Corniche, you walk up a pedestrian alley my friends and I have called Ruelle Crottin de Chien because of all the dog poop on it. You have to be careful, particularly walking down the hill, not to slip on it. Lately, however, I have to say the walkway has Beene cleaner so maybe it gets washed occasionally.  While I have already whined about this "hike" in some emails and blogs, I thought a visual may give you an idea that I'm not overly exaggerating. This is the first bit and you can see the apartment up in the top right of the picture; it is the second down from the roof on the corner.  So, you walk up this part of the hill.  Then take a breather if it is hot to catch your breath.

Next you turn a corner and walk up some more, go around a bend and walk up to the road. But, you aren't finished. When you read the road, you have to walk up it, go around a corner where you are finally on the level and then it is a simple stroll to the entrance. It is actually getting easier to do but I also admit I avoid doing it if I can. Of course, the need for food and wine makes it compulsory sometimes.

However, when you get here, you are rewarded with the view; e.g. the cruise ships in the bay the other day! And, this apartment is probably only about halfway up the hill!  The other picture was taken from the front of the building looking further up la colline  The bad news is that the Bas Corniche is not at sea level. There are two similar walks to get down and up from the quay.  No wonder French women don't get fat!  I confess that sometimes after dinner, I've splurged for a taxi (€15) to get home!