Friday, September 30, 2016

Cannes, a sleepy village.

Nobody seems to mind us parking at the beach. It  seems very quiet here, most in habitants are still indoors being dressed by their nurses, the younger minority are on their other boats in the Caribbean. 


Thursday, September 29, 2016

Shut down in Nice.

With obvious security everywhere in the city we set up in view of a couple of police vans in Massena Square. By the end of the first song I had a good crowd, towards the end of the second song, with an even bigger crowd you can see plain clothed security jumping out of their van and a marked police car skidded to a halt behind Dad. Two plain clothed police went straight to my Dad and ask if I was with him, they had obviously been watching us set up.

We had to stop because I was too young they said. That has never been a reason to stop me before. It was pretty obvious that the security get very nervous if there is any kind of gathering after the events in July.


The greek God Apollo was watching over me from Fontaine du Soleil.

But more seriously, the fear of a second attack has made the Police Chief and the Mayor worry about their jobs. It said on the local radio that, "in respect of those who died" in July, there would be no festivals or entertainment on The Promenade des Anglais for 12 months. The night after the Paris attack a year ago every restaurant was full to show respect for those who died and disdain to the terrorists.
It was very sad to see some of the tributes left behind where that dreadful attack took place.

particularly teddy bears, dolls and baby toys


Not much happening in St Maxime so we are heading to Cannes about an hour away, maybe bump into a star or two.


Get that red carpet out!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

San Maxime on route to Puget sur argens at le mas des escaravatiers.

We moved to the other side of the bay opposite San Tropez to San Maxime, nice swimming but pretty quiet after San Tropez.

Meeting up with Simon on Sunday.


We met Simon and his son last year in Stromboli, a small volcanic island off Sicily. They live in Nice. They also climbed the volcano. We left to go up at 3pm so as to arrive at dusk to get the best views of the eruptions. It was totally amazing. We came down through the ashes in the dark.
 Anyway that was another trip and another story.
 Simon is a DJ and is playing at a "brunch party" at a vineyard with a big pool on Sunday at Puget sur argens at le mas des escaravatiers. He has asked me to play some music and there is going to be loads of other kids so it should help my french too.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Piano man

I was excited to play in San Tropez again and in Cecile's Gallery but as we were just setting up "the Piano man" came and said I could not play. This is him. His tie is a piano.


He told Cecile it was either him or me. Cecile was quite upset and surprised, he had played for her during the Regatta for 7 years so she did not want to loose him. He finally agreed to let me play 3 songs.

I played my songs and got a great crowd and Cecile put the hat around, she gave me the hat to keep and it had 95 euros in it. 



This is "the piano mans" crowd











This not not the Policeman who told me I could not use amplification yesterday...........he seemed to be enjoying my music.


Monday, September 26, 2016

We hit San Tropez..............

Had a great busk on the sea front in San Tropez, it was a bit dark when we got there and Dad asked what was going on, it was pretty busy. "Only the most important Regatta of the year was the reply".
 It is Classic Yacht week.



I did a busk and then a second set, had a great crowd and a record number of notes in my ukulele case. The police drove passed several times so we thought, great, no problem. It seems they were waiting until we had finished to tell us that amplification was not permitted. Dad says they were afraid my audience might set upon them.

The lady in black was really excited to see me, said she was in Paris yesterday and saw me on face book.





A lovely lady called Cecile from a shop/art gallery opposite asked if I would like to play in her gallery space on the sea front the next night, there would be a pianist playing also. Dad said I could but only if I have a siesta before as it was to be a late night show. I left my amp and stuff with her so I could ride in the cycle buggy back to the van.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Crusty french bread and crusty french motor homers.

Saintes Marie de la Mer had little to offer other than on of the most beautiful churches.



Once a year gypsies from all over France make a pilgrimage here to bath in the water and pray to the black Saint.

She was apparently a trusted and dedicated servant companion of the 3 Maries.


               I enjoyed the campsite because it had a swimming pool and shop that I went each morning to buy croissants. Dad said it was a bit crusty like most of the elderly french inhabitants. The people running the place seemed a bit "end of season".

We did not find any music.

Crusty french bread and crusty french motor homers.

 I enjoyed the campsite because it had a swimming pool and shop that I went each morning to buy crousants. Dad said it was a bit crusty like most of the elderly french inhabitants. The people running the place seemed a bit "end of season".

Thursday, September 22, 2016

The Mediterranean at last.

Later that afternoon we arrive in Saintes Maries de la Mer in The Camargue.
It's a gypsy town so Dad hopes we can find some interesting music and he wants to stay here for a few days so we can catch up on this Blog. I like this place too, it has a good swimming pool and the beach has good sandcastle building sand.

Arles.Singing and Spooky Sculptures.

A great busk in the beautiful city of Arles, still in Provence ( I sold 4 DVD's, 3 to one lady who was taking them home to India as gifts)




 I sang opposite The Chapelle Sainte-Anne  where  a wonderful exhibition of  Pierre della Giustinas' latest work was on show, brilliant! (9thSept to 8th Oct)






We can smell the Mediterranean.

We didn't get to Orange, we made a wrong turn somewhere and Dad said we should really be going South anyway.
After a wonderful day, firstly canoeing 8 Kilometres down the River Garde and under the famous Roman Aqueduct, Pont du Garde.






and then on to Arles.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

The Popes Palace




Until 1309  Popes moved around quite a lot, probably in a more grand style than us. They built a magnificent Palace in Avignon and lived there until 1377. It is known as The Popes Palace strangely enough. We spent a couple of hours walking around it, Dad said he could have spent a couple of days.

Dad took loads of photos,click here

Polish Peter in Avignon, a true gentleman..

We had arrived at a pretty grotty campsite the night before and looked out a good place to busk, just beside The Popes Palace. When we went back to set up Peter had just started playing.

7

Peter played beautifully, songs about love, caring for fellow creatures and our planet mixed with a little Hendrix. He was very happy to stand aside while I played and he danced to "What's up."

Dad described him and a lovely New Age type person.
He invited us to a free campsite on the edge of a lake 25k north near a town called Orange.




Peter carried on playing after Ruby and her audience left. We saw him a hour later playing to absolutely nobody, he said he had made 60 euros in the morning in another spot and that he was just playing for the enjoyment. He was still there hours later when we passed him on the way back to the van.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Giovanni's birthday party, Switzerland


Giovanni wanted me to play guitar and uke at his birthday party in the very fancy Kursaal Hotel/ Casino but thought that I should not play the pipes.
When I did anyway he just melted.

Pauls for lunch and sadly leaving Bern heading for Lausanne.

It was hard to leave Bern again, this is the second time, It is a unique city/village with warm friendly people. We met Paul, the big guy the right, a year and a half ago on a ferry between islands in the Canaries. We have been friends ever since.


Dad has hundreds of photos and videos to upload from this amazing city, watch this space.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Poo and too many buskers!

Tomorrow is Giovanni's party and then we are leaving Bern so we try to get a final busk in.


It's not looking good, there's dog poo on my spot and what's this another busker?

Every where we go there are buskers, did someone say the money was good here?






Monday, September 12, 2016

Murton

Murton, a secret beach that everybody seems to know about but rarely uses. Not much happening but a wonderful escape, only 45 mins from Bern.




Friday, September 2, 2016

Calais to Brugge.

France didn't last long, we are in Belgium and it's dark.


In the morning we find we are parked next to a giant bowl of grass soup, I dive off the spoon.


We head into Brugge and I do my first continental busk.



Later we find out the significance of the giant bowl and spoon

Salvador Dali



A Museum of Salvador Dali stuff.









My new favourite artist.