Ian F.

"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Same difference. Nobody is impressed.

I am.

Ian

-Martin

On Sat, 3 Mar 2007 11:16:59 -0000, "Ian F." <[email protected]> wrote:

>"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected].. .
>
>> Same difference. Nobody is impressed.
>
>I am.

Like the sad old British farts, who spend their days on their large motor yachts
moored stern to the jetty drinking G&Ts and thinking that everybody is filled
with envy?

Exactly what impresses you?

I was very impressed by the food poisoning I caught from eating in a Cannes fish
restaurant, it took two courses of antibiotics to get rid of it.
--

Martin

Ian F.

"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Exactly what impresses you?

The beauty of the view from my balcony on a balmy summer evening. The
companionship of the friends I have made in the town over the many years
I've been going there. The diversity of places to eat and drink. I
couldn't expect you to understand a half of it...

> I was very impressed by the food poisoning I caught from eating in a
> Cannes fish
> restaurant, it took two courses of antibiotics to get rid of it.

*sigh* *yawn*

Ian

Alan S

On Sat, 3 Mar 2007 13:56:42 -0000, "Ian F."
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected].. .
>
>> Exactly what impresses you?
>
>The beauty of the view from my balcony on a balmy summer evening. The
>companionship of the friends I have made in the town over the many years
>I've been going there. The diversity of places to eat and drink. I
>couldn't expect you to understand a half of it...
>
The beauty on the beach was great. Especially a grossly
overweight guy who was paddling near us wearing nothing but
a thong. As he came closer we slowly realised he was a she.

An indelible memory. I wish it wasn't:-)

>> I was very impressed by the food poisoning I caught from eating in a
>> Cannes fish
>> restaurant, it took two courses of antibiotics to get rid of it.
>
>*sigh* *yawn*
>
>Ian
>
Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Epidaurus
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Ian F.

"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> The beauty on the beach was great. Especially a grossly
> overweight guy who was paddling near us wearing nothing but
> a thong. As he came closer we slowly realised he was a she.

Pretty much a beach-hazard on the Riviera!

We tend to use the beaches out of Cannes, such as the Golfe Plage at
Golfe-Juan - much cheaper and less busy.

Ian

Alan S

On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 00:17:54 -0000, "Ian F."
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected].. .
>
>> The beauty on the beach was great. Especially a grossly
>> overweight guy who was paddling near us wearing nothing but
>> a thong. As he came closer we slowly realised he was a she.
>
>Pretty much a beach-hazard on the Riviera!
>
>We tend to use the beaches out of Cannes, such as the Golfe Plage at
>Golfe-Juan - much cheaper and less busy.
>
>Ian
>
We spent a fascinating half-hour near Menton, possibly just
over the border, as we had lunch watching the world's most
optimistic surfer waiting for a wave. Eventually it came -
the one and only.

I'm a little spoiled for beaches and surf, living where I
live.

"much cheaper and less busy." Cheaper was a new concept in
Beaches for us. I had never been to a beach before that
charged admission (or did so implicitly by a need to
purchase from a cafe). It's an alien concept in this
country.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Epidaurus
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Alan S

On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:45:50 GMT, Alan S <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 00:17:54 -0000, "Ian F."
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]. ..
>>
>>> The beauty on the beach was great. Especially a grossly
>>> overweight guy who was paddling near us wearing nothing but
>>> a thong. As he came closer we slowly realised he was a she.
>>
>>Pretty much a beach-hazard on the Riviera!
>>
>>We tend to use the beaches out of Cannes, such as the Golfe Plage at
>>Golfe-Juan - much cheaper and less busy.
>>
>>Ian
>>
>We spent a fascinating half-hour near Menton, possibly just
>over the border, as we had lunch watching the world's most
>optimistic surfer waiting for a wave. Eventually it came -
>the one and only.
>
>I'm a little spoiled for beaches and surf, living where I
>live.
>
>"much cheaper and less busy." Cheaper was a new concept in
>Beaches for us. I had never been to a beach before that
>charged admission (or did so implicitly by a need to
>purchase from a cafe). It's an alien concept in this
>country.
>
A post-script.

I remembered that I had put the photos on the net.
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2006...-memories.html
Scroll down to the bottom to see the patient surfer:-)

As to local comparisons, compare the photo of a Med beach
(about the fifth last) with an aerial view of my village:
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/20...ottsville.html

But I still loved wandering around over there. I enjoy the
journey more than the destination.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Epidaurus
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Ian F.

"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>>"much cheaper and less busy." Cheaper was a new concept in
>>Beaches for us. I had never been to a beach before that
>>charged admission (or did so implicitly by a need to
>>purchase from a cafe). It's an alien concept in this
>>country.

There are public beaches on the Riviera, but they're not pleasant.

> I remembered that I had put the photos on the net.
> http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2006...-memories.html
> Scroll down to the bottom to see the patient surfer:-)
>
> As to local comparisons, compare the photo of a Med beach
> (about the fifth last) with an aerial view of my village:
> http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/20...ottsville.html

Excellent pictures, Alan. Most entertaining - thanks.

Ian

Alan S

On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:15:02 -0000, "Ian F."
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected].. .
>
>>>"much cheaper and less busy." Cheaper was a new concept in
>>>Beaches for us. I had never been to a beach before that
>>>charged admission (or did so implicitly by a need to
>>>purchase from a cafe). It's an alien concept in this
>>>country.
>
>There are public beaches on the Riviera, but they're not pleasant.
>
There may be some private ones in this country - but I've
never heard of one. I may be incorrect, but I believe that
apart from some military and marine park areas public access
is free to all coastal beaches and private ownership is
banned, at least in NSW.

>> I remembered that I had put the photos on the net.
>> http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2006...-memories.html
>> Scroll down to the bottom to see the patient surfer:-)
>>
>> As to local comparisons, compare the photo of a Med beach
>> (about the fifth last) with an aerial view of my village:
>> http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/20...ottsville.html
>
>Excellent pictures, Alan. Most entertaining - thanks.
>
Thanks:-) I've been on "holiday' from the blog, time to pick
up the threads of memory again...

Did you recognise the "surf" beach? Somewhere near Menton,
on the Italian side I think.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Epidaurus
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

David Horne

Alan S <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 00:17:54 -0000, "Ian F."
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected].. .
> >
> >> The beauty on the beach was great. Especially a grossly
> >> overweight guy who was paddling near us wearing nothing but
> >> a thong. As he came closer we slowly realised he was a she.
> >
> >Pretty much a beach-hazard on the Riviera!
> >
> >We tend to use the beaches out of Cannes, such as the Golfe Plage at
> >Golfe-Juan - much cheaper and less busy.
> >
> >Ian
> >
> We spent a fascinating half-hour near Menton, possibly just
> over the border, as we had lunch watching the world's most
> optimistic surfer waiting for a wave. Eventually it came -
> the one and only.
>
> I'm a little spoiled for beaches and surf, living where I
> live.
>
> "much cheaper and less busy." Cheaper was a new concept in
> Beaches for us. I had never been to a beach before that
> charged admission (or did so implicitly by a need to
> purchase from a cafe).

What does that mean? Do you actually have to buy from the cafe?

> It's an alien concept in this
> country.

I don't think it happens in the UK, but I could be wrong. I've been in
other countries where the beaches are free, but the only to access them
is through hotels which make it very difficult for you to get through!

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Alan S

On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 02:48:04 +0000, [email protected] (David
Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:

>Alan S <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 00:17:54 -0000, "Ian F."
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> >news:[email protected].. .
>> >
>> >> The beauty on the beach was great. Especially a grossly
>> >> overweight guy who was paddling near us wearing nothing but
>> >> a thong. As he came closer we slowly realised he was a she.
>> >
>> >Pretty much a beach-hazard on the Riviera!
>> >
>> >We tend to use the beaches out of Cannes, such as the Golfe Plage at
>> >Golfe-Juan - much cheaper and less busy.
>> >
>> >Ian
>> >
>> We spent a fascinating half-hour near Menton, possibly just
>> over the border, as we had lunch watching the world's most
>> optimistic surfer waiting for a wave. Eventually it came -
>> the one and only.
>>
>> I'm a little spoiled for beaches and surf, living where I
>> live.
>>
>> "much cheaper and less busy." Cheaper was a new concept in
>> Beaches for us. I had never been to a beach before that
>> charged admission (or did so implicitly by a need to
>> purchase from a cafe).
>
>What does that mean? Do you actually have to buy from the cafe?
>
In that photo I mentioned you'll see the restaurant
structure at the beach on the Ligurian coast:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/...5/1600/004.jpg

There were three or four side-by-side at this spot. The only
way to gain access to the beach is through the restaurant.
Our understanding was that staff would be most unhappy if we
had passed through the restaurant to sit or swim at the
beach without buying something. I din't notice if there was
an actual fee for the beach - we never really tried to
enter, just had a coffee.

>> It's an alien concept in this
>> country.
>
>I don't think it happens in the UK, but I could be wrong. I've been in
>other countries where the beaches are free, but the only to access them
>is through hotels which make it very difficult for you to get through!

In Hawaii we wandered onto the beach at the Royal Hawaiian.
I suspect a similar system operates there, but I didn't
really test it because I bought a cup of coffee first.

The main beach at Waikiki was free and open. So were the
beaches we saw in Greece.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Epidaurus
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

-Martin

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:04:46 +0100, Deeply Filled Mortician
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:

>Let is be knownst that on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 04:10:37 GMT, Alan S
><[email protected]> writted:
>
>>On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 02:48:04 +0000, [email protected] (David
>>Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:
>
>>>What does that mean? Do you actually have to buy from the cafe?
>>>
>>In that photo I mentioned you'll see the restaurant
>>structure at the beach on the Ligurian coast:
>>http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/...5/1600/004.jpg
>>
>>There were three or four side-by-side at this spot. The only
>>way to gain access to the beach is through the restaurant.
>>Our understanding was that staff would be most unhappy if we
>>had passed through the restaurant to sit or swim at the
>>beach without buying something. I din't notice if there was
>>an actual fee for the beach - we never really tried to
>>enter, just had a coffee.
>
>Amazing! I have never seen anything like that in Liguria. Where was it
>exactly?
>
>Certainly where we are the beaches are free, although they get crowded
>in August.

Another trick is for hotels and restaurants to cover the beach with so much
plastic rentable furniture that there is not much sand left for others. We
noticed this in Turkey last year. On the plus side the charge was so small it
didn't matter.
--

Martin

Deeply Filled Mortician

Let is be knownst that on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 04:10:37 GMT, Alan S
<[email protected]> writted:

>On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 02:48:04 +0000, [email protected] (David
>Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:

>>What does that mean? Do you actually have to buy from the cafe?
>>
>In that photo I mentioned you'll see the restaurant
>structure at the beach on the Ligurian coast:
>http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/...5/1600/004.jpg
>
>There were three or four side-by-side at this spot. The only
>way to gain access to the beach is through the restaurant.
>Our understanding was that staff would be most unhappy if we
>had passed through the restaurant to sit or swim at the
>beach without buying something. I din't notice if there was
>an actual fee for the beach - we never really tried to
>enter, just had a coffee.

Amazing! I have never seen anything like that in Liguria. Where was it
exactly?

Certainly where we are the beaches are free, although they get crowded
in August.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

Alan S

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:04:46 +0100, Deeply Filled Mortician
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:

>Let is be knownst that on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 04:10:37 GMT, Alan S
><[email protected]> writted:
>
>>On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 02:48:04 +0000, [email protected] (David
>>Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:
>
>>>What does that mean? Do you actually have to buy from the cafe?
>>>
>>In that photo I mentioned you'll see the restaurant
>>structure at the beach on the Ligurian coast:
>>http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/...5/1600/004.jpg
>>
>>There were three or four side-by-side at this spot. The only
>>way to gain access to the beach is through the restaurant.
>>Our understanding was that staff would be most unhappy if we
>>had passed through the restaurant to sit or swim at the
>>beach without buying something. I din't notice if there was
>>an actual fee for the beach - we never really tried to
>>enter, just had a coffee.
>
>Amazing! I have never seen anything like that in Liguria. Where was it
>exactly?
>
I'd have to go back to be sure. All I can say is that it was
on a day trip from Menton, not too far, and I'm reasonably
sure that it was on the Italian side. Be fair - I celebrated
my 60th last week and it was in '03 (I'm heading towards
old-timer's disease - nostalgia ain't what it used to be).

The free beach I saw later in Italy, somewhere west of
Cervetari from memory, was also very odd, with black sand.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/...5/1600/028.jpg

Later again we found that many of the beaches on the
Adriatic shore between Trani and Bari were difficult to
access and seemed to be controlled by hotels and resorts -
most of which were closed in May. Maybe the locals knew how
to access them. We had intended staying in one of those
hotels but ended up going straight to the ferry for a
midnight departure.

>Certainly where we are the beaches are free, although they get crowded
>in August.
>--
>---
>DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
>---
Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Epidaurus
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Deeply Filled Mortician

Let is be knownst that on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:00:51 GMT, Alan S
<[email protected]> writted:

>On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:04:46 +0100, Deeply Filled Mortician
><deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:

>>Amazing! I have never seen anything like that in Liguria. Where was it
>>exactly?
>>
>I'd have to go back to be sure. All I can say is that it was
>on a day trip from Menton, not too far, and I'm reasonably
>sure that it was on the Italian side. Be fair - I celebrated
>my 60th last week and it was in '03 (I'm heading towards
>old-timer's disease - nostalgia ain't what it used to be).

The sign's in Italian. It does indeed look like the area near the
border. Quite flat, and not particularly pretty.

>The free beach I saw later in Italy, somewhere west of
>Cervetari from memory, was also very odd, with black sand.
>http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/...5/1600/028.jpg

It's all volcanic sand around here. Our beach is also black. Oddly,
you don't get dirty from it, as many expect!
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--