Today started with real excitement. While having breakfast flashes, explosions and smoke started from our neighbouring property just outside our kitchen window. After much French exclamation and shouting sirens started. It turned out that the electricity junction box had shorted out and the flashes were from the wiring arcing. It had been raining and presumably water had got into the wiring. We lost power for a few hours and, because the street is so narrow, the electricians “services urgencies” van blocked the street until he got it repaired.
You’ll see from some of today’s photos just how narrow the streets are. Rue Sous Barri, our street, is the narrowest in the town and you can see from one of the photos that Jan can just about touch both sides of the street at once. This brings about some very imaginative parking and driving skills.
As today was a public holiday (we’re not sure what for yet) this morning we went to the Musee Renoir (so much culture !!) in Cagnes Sur Mer. Renoir moved to Cagnes Sur Mer in 1903 for relief from his arthritis. He bought an olive grove to the east of the town, known as Les Collettes, where he built a house and studio (the yellow villa in one of today's photos) where he worked until his death in 1919. Here he painted some of his most famous works including “Washerwomen at Cagnes” and The Farm at Les Collettes”. The Musee remains virtually as Renoir left it, including some of his paintings on the walls and everyday items lying about – among them his painters coat and wheelchair.
From the musee there is a good view of Haut de Cagnes where our apartment is. Unfortunately the day was a bit grey so it isn’t the best photo, however it gives you an understanding of us being just below the castle at the top of the town.
After collecting supplies from the le poissonnerie (fish shop), la boulangerie (bread shop), la charcuterie (deli) and le marchand de legumes (greengrocer) for lunch and dinner we headed back to the apartment for a relaxing afternoon (another one ). Jan is asleep on the couch so it's left to me to update the blog.
Tomorrow is our last day on the Riviera before we drive up to Provence.
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