ON TO FREJUS

We thought an early start for Cassis would be ideal for a stop on the way to Frejus. Little did we realise that as it was a holiday (VE Day) many others thought the same. To actually get the car into Cassis without a long walk was virtually impossible. We could not find any parking so we continued along thinking that the Corniche road would be pleasant but decided against that with still more than 100 kms to go and lunch time looming and us getting hungry. We did stop at a little village along the way - a place called Auriol and ate at Cafe du Marche. For 12 euro we had the daily plat of sautéed lamb and steamed potatoes followed by fromage and coffee.

Our waiter, a really nice and chatty bloke suggested to hit the toll way rather than the coast road if we wanted to make Frejus in reasonable time - and we did.

On arrival at our hotel, a building of a couple of centuries of age we went for a walk in the historic centre of this charming town. It reminded me a little of Venice without the canals. The colours, the architecture  had a similarity. Frejus' historic centre is one of those snail-like villages that winds around itself on the highest point of the terrain.

We walked the streets with stops at the Information Centre and naturally a cafe/bar to have a relaxing drink while taking in the ambiance of Frejus.

The view from the hotel room.

The architecture in Frejus is quite different with many different Mediterranean influences.

Even on our few hours during the afternoon, Frejus captivated us. Its history dates back to Roman times with ruins of both an Amphitheatre and a Theatre much the same as Arles, Orange and Nimes all dating back the the 1st Century AD. During the Roman occupation of France, the ruins that we've seen spread from Provence and further north to Lyon and even to the Loire.

We stopped for a cold beer in the Place and then walked into the  church to be cleansed.
Even lit a candle for the local Saints.

Colours range through the citrus spectrum with orange and yellow to the blues and mauves of Provence. 

We found a wonderful local family restaurant tonight only 30 metres from the hotel. The food was fine and the owners were very friendly. She was from Denmark and met her now husband in Frejus twenty years ago. Their young boy frolicked in the restaurant while in the corner an older man sat eating with his dog sat under the table on a rug. The dog went outside at one time and then returned to his rug under the table quite contented with his station in life.

As we sat eating our meal, a song came on the radio that seemed familiar and it was. Gotye singing, "Someone I use to Know" with back up from Kimbra. The song seems to be a hit all over the world and the video of the song has met with critical acclaim. Gotye is a Melbourne Bayside boy. Real name is Wally - why wouldn't you change it for fame and fortune.

Tomorrow we hope to visit the Roman ruins before moving on to Grasse and Vence via the coast road for our next overnight stay.