Musee Renoir

Renoir's olive orchard.

The house where Renoir spent the last years of his life is now the Musee Renoir.  The land was a producing olive orchard, a working farm, not like Monet's flower gardens.  Renoir suffered from rhumatoid arthritis.  He painted by taping the brush to his hand.  The sculptures you see, were designed by him, but another artist did the actual work, with Renoir sitting by him, saying move this, more here, less here.  It must have been frustrating for him and the other artist as well.  There was no picture taking allowed inside the house, although we couldn't see any reason why. The house is not in very good repair, maybe that's why no pictures.

Renoir mentored young artists.  There were always several living with the family, some for so long the rooms are named after them.  When they were putting the museum together, these same artists donated their works that were finished at the house, or pictures they did of Renoir, or even items he had given them.  Renoir does come across as one of the good guys of art.

The walkway from the back of the house into the gardens.

 The museum closed from noon to 2.  We had left the house and were wandering around the gardens, when a woman came and told us we had to leave.  We didn't realize they closed the gardens as well!  So, where we could take pictures, there wasn't time to take pictures.  Oh well.

The only stature we had time to take a picture of.

Our Apartment in Cagnes-sur-Mer

Apero time on the balcony.

View across the street.

Looking west down the beach.

We really did not want to stay in a hotel.  There were no gites nearby, so we rented an apartment for the week for 250 euros.  It was on the second floor (3rd in American) with a balcony over looking the sea.  Ok, there was a road between us and the sea, but we chose to ignore it.  The main room was combo living/dining, with a tiny little kitchen to one side.  Behind sliding doors was the bedroom with a big closet. The bathroom was also large, with a seperate WC, where the washing machine was hooked up.

Dining area.  The dishes were stored in the small buffet.

The coin cuisine (small kitchen) in an alcove off the living room.

It was a very comfortable place to stay.  The only bad thing was no internet, but we survived.  They did have a coffee pot! 

Cote d'Azur

The beach at Cagnes-sur-Mer

This isn't the best of pictures, but it does show the line of color change from light to deeper blue.

Lovely ladies on the beach.  They didn't seem to mind the rocks.

Azur is the color of the sea here.  It changes from a light blue near the shore, to varying shades of deeper blue the farther out you look.  The beaches are not sandy, but rocky.  There are still folks sitting and sunbathing on them, but I don't see how it can be comfortable, it's even hard to walk on! 

Optis in a row, follow the leader.

Hobie 16

The French government subsidizing sailing schools for youths.  There is a very active one in Gagnes-sur-Mer, with boats from small optis for the little kids to bigger catamarans for the teenagers.  They were out sailing most days.  I don't know if it's considered a sport for school credit or and extra curricular activity.  Either way, France is turning out a lot of sailors.

I planted these same hibiscus in our front yard in New Orleans.

The climate here is mediterranean, which means it's hot and dry in the summers and rains in the winter.  The plants are gorgeous!  Even in October, the bougainvillas and  hibiscus are in full glory, such vibrant colors.
Other plants that we think of as potted plants are growing huge outside, even the banana has fruit!

Euphorbia in front of a building in our apartment complex.