Menton, part un.

We took the train from Milan, and managed to have a charades-type conversation with a cute old Italian lady across from us. She was very excited to hear Marc was a chef and quickly told all the other ladies who later sat in our area at the following stops. Menton is right on the Italian border, Ventimiglia is it's neighbour on the Italian side (and according to our Milano hostel roommate, it is where mafia guys too old, and hence too expensive, to keep in prison are shipped to).

We loved Menton! It is a small city, or maybe you could classify it as a large town, either way, it's great. By far, we were the youngest people in town. Everything was clean and pretty and the surrounding landscape was mountains and sea. This is the original place where Marc wanted to stage, at Mirazur, unfortunately it did not end up working out (but we did go to there for lunch, Marc was all smiles, that will be a blog post on it's own).

The view from our hotel (there are really no bad views in Menton).

Our first day, and already so happy (...according to Marc, I'm waving at an armless man in this picture).

In the neighbouring town, Roque-Martin, looking at Menton.

Everything's pretty!

Italy another km? Let's go!

The end of Menton...

...Italy on our left...

...France on our right.

The next day we followed a seaside path in the other direction...

...2 hours later, we were in Monaco. (Notice the racing curbs here...)

A 1Euro train ride, over a 2hr walk back, was the obvious choice of transportation back to Menton. Monaco's train station seemed futuristic. The whole tiny city was incredible, with unbelievable luxury yachts that you never thought would exist, and public elevators to navigate the steep streets.

Un express & une cafe creme (good in whatever European country you're in).

Our last night in Menton, we checked out some pretty views and quaint little side streets. Italy is behind me here.

...but before we leave Menton, you have to visit Mirazur and attend the annual citrus festival...