St Tropez, aka Posers Paradise!
Finally by 9.30 in the morning of the 15th June, we were back on the water and saying goodbye to Frejus!
We headed back towards St Tropez, to anchor in a quiet bay just around a small headland from the town, to chill out for the day, watch the sunset and eat on board.
The following morning we then jumped in the dinghy to go exploring. We had read that there was a coastal path around the headland, but could we find it… having double backed on our ourselves at least a couple times, as all we saw were private gated properties, we gave up to follow a rather uninteresting road route on google which took us 40 minutes later, into the heart of St Tropez.
Well what can we say about St. Tropez, except it really is a different world from us mere mortals… Long popular with artists, the town attracted the international “jet set” in the 1960s, and whilst the cobblestoned La Ponche quarter tried to hang onto its past as a fishing village, it has had no choice but succumb to the super yachts which now more than outnumber the fishing boats in the Vieux Port. We wish we could have gone back in time to when it was that old traditional fishing port, full of character, rather than what it is now. Don’t get us wrong, the old town is still beautiful with its cobbled alleyways, lined with cafes and boutiquey shops, all good for window shopping, but the port itself is now full of enormous power boats, all plastic and bling, some so tall that they hide the facades of the beautiful buildings behind them.
St Tropez Port, nowadays
Albeit with the odd token sailboat…
Not to mention the restaurants that lined the port, boasting their infamous clientele.. we did have a giggle at the position Prince Harry has found himself in though..
Wandering the back streets of the La Ponche quarter was far more pleasurable but having stopped for 2 coffees at the princely sum of €12… we didn´t partake in lunch!
St Tropez Old Town
We even came across this image in an old photographer’s window… for those who have never been to my (Chantal’s) mum’s house, we will enlighten you… there is a photo on her wall, which bears an uncanny resemblance….
Given much of my childhood summers were spent with my parents at my grandfather’s house in Nice… and the age of the photo.. you never know!
We also walked up to the old castle, to take in the views across the town and out towards Port Grimaud, somewhere we do want to go, but on our return back through France later this summer.
On our way back down through the old town to try to find the coastal path, we found clearly the best place to buy a Tropezienne cake….
Sadly there was a 20 people queue down the street, so again for another time, if they do mini versions…
Finally we did manage to find the start of the path, out past the cemetery, at times through the bushes and shrubs, and then right along the waters edge, more than a little nervous that we would have to retrace our steps, again, as each bend came up .. would there be a way through?
Until we rounded the final corner. OMG, what has happened to our quiet little bay with only half a dozen of us at anchor? On our way back in the dinghy, trying to find Seaclusion we might add, we lost count at 50 boats around us…
We had forgotten it was a beautifully sunny SUNDAY, probably a taster of what July’s French Holidays will be like. But by 6pm, peace and tranquility were resumed and we soaked up the last of the rays for a while before our sundowner, which I have to say have, since then, been few and far between due to the lack of sun, then dinner and a peaceful night’s rest.
Tomorrow will be pastures new.
17th June 2024
