Peregrine's coastal holiday in July

This was the first time I've led a walking holiday along the coast in July, and probably the only time I've ever been to the Riviera during the summer holidays. The trains are packed and the beaches blanketed by a solid mass of tan-seekers. But up in the hills, just a stone's throw from the Mediterranean, the perched medieval village of Sainte Agnès remains timeless and quiet, here surrounded by a veil of thick morning cloud:




Up in the hills, we continued along an ancient cobbled path to the village of Gorbio, seen below:




In the village of Gorbio:




The morning market in Menton, including the irresistible pickled garlic :




Our morning walk in Nice was topped by a short climb to the former castle hill, from where all of Nice was layed out:





Aix en Provence on Wednesday. It's not that all of the sudden everybody is now drinking "Coca Light". More of a promotion: a dozen scantilly clad teenagers dressed in red and white and handing out free samples at a busy roundabout:





The main fountain in Aix en Provence, one of many majestic fountains in town:




On Thursday the summer heat put a halt to our walking plans. We decided to head to the Mediterranean to the tiny, modest and tourist-free fishing port of Niolon, just west of Marseille. We sat for a leisurely lunch at a wonderful café, and then tested the waters in the afternoon. It was exciting to break from plan, discover a place I had never been, and wield both camera and excitement as much as anyone else in my group:




But it is a walking holiday after all! And so on Friday we were transferred to the Alpilles mountains for a last walk, amongst the pines and aromatic herbs, with a beautiful breeze and clear views:




A view of the coliseum on our last night, in Arles.




A big thanks to Sean, Al-dog, Cynthia, Lynn, and Sharyn for your company this week.