First, dressed for a stroll and a ride on the tram.
After nap, play date at home with Elliot and Mael, our little friend who sailed around in Dubai and Egypt with his parents on their dhow.
Today we discovered a beach we weren't familiar with: Plage de Darse in Villefranche. Tucked away beyond the old port of Villefranche, it was intriguing and fun - with a floating raft off the shore that you could swim out to.
Here's the walking path that leads to the beach.
Me out on the raft... The lighting makes it look like it's the end of the day but in fact it was 10 a.m.! Swimming out to this raft was a thrill for me - even though it wasn't that far really or that deep - but it did remind me of rafts at Shadow Lake in VT that we used to swim out to. Even sometimes the French Mediterranean can feel like home!
Estelle really felt independent today in the water with her "swimmies" on her arms - she did not want to hold onto us and twirled and turned in the water, giggling away.
As always, the huge cruise boats visible in the Villefranche bay - today's was called "Norwegian Gem". Thomas asked what "gem" meant in English. I said "bijoux". He said "But I thought that's what "jewel" was?" I realized that I don't know what the difference is between a gem and a jewel. In any event, it's the same word for both in French. This are the kinds of discussions you have on a Saturday morning on the beach in an international marriage. Never a dull moment.
A shipchandler at the Port.
Surfer's paradise?
Leaving to walk back to the car.
Yesterday when Elliot and Mael took out every toy, every book, every game, and every puzzle Estelle owns and then some, Estelle discovered a few things she didn't even know she had - like this decorative gift bag that looks like a teddy bear. Someone gave us a gift in it when Estelle was born, and I had it tucked into her bookcase as a cute backdrop to some books. Like I said, EVERYTHING got played with yesterday afternoon!
So today, she decided it was a hat. I came around the corner and found her just walking around the apartment with it on her head.
Sometimes, just the fake credit cards you get in the mail to promote something can provide hours of entertainment.
Who knows what fun tomorrow will bring!
