PARADISE AT LAST (EUROPE 1991 Part 3 )
When you travel around Europe with two mates in a very small car the sense of humour eventually wears thin , that's when you call on your 'other self' for ideas on how to create some sanity . My idea of leaving one of our touring party at a truck stop was I admit rather harsh to say the least, my next idea however turned out to be possibly the greatest idea of my life . I don't quite remember the content of our conversation that day but all I know is that my idea to leave Brett and Peter and go and experience the French Riviera was a 'master stroke'.
'See you guys in ten days' were my last words as I boarded a train bound for Monte Carlo (I started at the top as far as destinations were concerned) and I enjoyed every minute of 8 hours or so of 'silence' . No singing , no threatening to kill anyone , no arguments regarding who had the worst haircut , just peace and quiet , I found 'my happy place'.
When I finally arrived in Monte Carlo all I heard was noise, loud noise, cars screaming around, this was Monte Carlo ? I was expecting the sound of birds singing and waves rolling into the harbor, so what was this ? "Eskoo voo parlay ongley" (Do you speak English?) 'Wee Bonjour', Goodo mate what's the noise ? 'Grand Prix' What Grand Prix? 'Monaco Grand Prix' You serious ? I jagged the one weekend of my first ever trip to Europe and in particular Monte Carlo and the Monaco Grand Prix was on ?!! Now you are talking!
I stayed at a Youth Hostel , drank fosters beer and watched the Monaco Grand Prix , practice one day , the real gig the next. To me it was just like that Mid strength beer ad on Television 'What are the chances ??' I lived it up with fellow tourists at just $35 Australian dollars per night in a hostel that I had to share a room with 7 other blokes. Sure it wasn't luxury but affordable on my budget.
I looked up a local Tennis Tournament , in a place called St Maxime , 15 minutes away on a ferry from St Tropez ( home of the rich and famous ) , I played , got beaten first match , but by this stage I was just happy to be on the French Riviera , life was good....
No one spoke English at St Maxime until I met a school teacher who told me I could not only stay at his villa overlooking the harbor but would I mind if he went away for three days on business and would I please look after his villa?! Seriously?! (trusting people these French) . If I had owned a mobile phone back then I would've sent both Brett and Pete a text with every obscenity imaginable , plus a picture of my 'new premises', such a shame that technology was a few years away . Tennis for me was now second on the list as I experienced just what the Riviera had to offer a 21 year old who had conveniently 'lost' his touring mates to gain some sanity. As I said before, it was a master stroke'..........
'See you guys in ten days' were my last words as I boarded a train bound for Monte Carlo (I started at the top as far as destinations were concerned) and I enjoyed every minute of 8 hours or so of 'silence' . No singing , no threatening to kill anyone , no arguments regarding who had the worst haircut , just peace and quiet , I found 'my happy place'.
When I finally arrived in Monte Carlo all I heard was noise, loud noise, cars screaming around, this was Monte Carlo ? I was expecting the sound of birds singing and waves rolling into the harbor, so what was this ? "Eskoo voo parlay ongley" (Do you speak English?) 'Wee Bonjour', Goodo mate what's the noise ? 'Grand Prix' What Grand Prix? 'Monaco Grand Prix' You serious ? I jagged the one weekend of my first ever trip to Europe and in particular Monte Carlo and the Monaco Grand Prix was on ?!! Now you are talking!
I stayed at a Youth Hostel , drank fosters beer and watched the Monaco Grand Prix , practice one day , the real gig the next. To me it was just like that Mid strength beer ad on Television 'What are the chances ??' I lived it up with fellow tourists at just $35 Australian dollars per night in a hostel that I had to share a room with 7 other blokes. Sure it wasn't luxury but affordable on my budget.
I looked up a local Tennis Tournament , in a place called St Maxime , 15 minutes away on a ferry from St Tropez ( home of the rich and famous ) , I played , got beaten first match , but by this stage I was just happy to be on the French Riviera , life was good....
No one spoke English at St Maxime until I met a school teacher who told me I could not only stay at his villa overlooking the harbor but would I mind if he went away for three days on business and would I please look after his villa?! Seriously?! (trusting people these French) . If I had owned a mobile phone back then I would've sent both Brett and Pete a text with every obscenity imaginable , plus a picture of my 'new premises', such a shame that technology was a few years away . Tennis for me was now second on the list as I experienced just what the Riviera had to offer a 21 year old who had conveniently 'lost' his touring mates to gain some sanity. As I said before, it was a master stroke'..........
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