Eze

Today we went to Eze an amazing hilltop village located between Nice and Monaco. The site has been occupied since the bronze age although settlement records only date back to the 11th century. There is one building in Eze that dates back to 1306 it is the Chapelle de la Sainte Croix to think it has stood there for 700 years is amazing!

The bus dropped us at the Eze village, we started the climb the kids are so over stairs and tend to whinge and become grumpy....who brought them along may have to post kids back to Oz any takers to look after them let me know! It was rather hot I will give them that and it was about 2 hours after we should of climbed up the hilltop thanks to the bus not turning up sitting waiting for a bus for 2 hours was not fun.

Anyway we climbed to the top paid the 10 euros to access the garden at the top worth every cent the view was amazing. It was rather hot up there in the cactus garden thankfully there was some shade. We then had lunch at the highest resturant on the hill. M is so adventurous with her food and will try anything today it was escargot (snails), she did give me one to try which I did...thank goodness for garlic and parsley! I thought it was a bit crunchy for my liking.

It was time to explore the labyrinth of tiny passages ways with cobbled alleys that were filled with little shops containing crafts, paintings, clothing and cafes. There is even 2 hotels, I think it would be very special to stay up there.

On the way down to the Eze village we stopped at two perfumeries Fragonard and Galimard. Galimard is the oldest perfumery in France and makes its perfumes in Grasse were the micro-climate is perfect for perfume production. We were lucky enough to be invited along on a tour to explain how they produce perfume...it was fascinating. To become a nose (the people who create the perfume) you basically have to study for 6-7 years, not allowed to swim in salt water or chlorine, not allowed rich foods with spices and they work little hours for big money. There are only 200 noses in the world 40 in France.

We purchased some perfume for hubby and I and then caught the bus home exhausted.