Lyon to Monte Carlo

Up early, pack the bags and check-out of Villa Florentine. I know Lyon very well from numerous business trips and almost 6 months stay in Genas. It had been a 4 years since my last visit and although Villa Florentine still remains at the pinnacle of luxury hotels and fine food, it has become excessively expensive and the city has become a little shabby with road works at every street corner. What I once described as my favourite city now holds little attraction in comparison to Troyes, London or Monte Carlo.

We headed off to visit friends in Condrieu which is en route to Monte Carlo and only 30 miles south of Lyon. I haven't seen Unna and Lewis Whiting for 30 years. We arrived at their beautiful home at 11.30am and had drinks on the terrace. Una had prepared a lovely lunch, started with Parma Ham and Melon and a delicious pork casserole with orange segments raisins and grapes, complimented with new potatoes. I worked with Lewis 1984-86 in Africa and Middle East sales at ICI Organics, Lewis was instrumental in my formative years a truly brilliant mind matched with lightening wit and humour. It felt as though the last 30 years had not happened and we just picked up where we left off. We had a tour of their magnificent home which is set in a National Park and is the home of Cote Rotie and a number of other wine producers. An all too quick visit as Monte Carlo called. We promise to return and take some Taylors Yorkshire Gold tea.

One big push down to Monte Carlo with just a stop to re fuel 60 miles North of Monte Carlo where we encountered the most amazing electrical storm, where the warm air from the mountains was meeting the colder moist air from the sea. The temperature dropped from 36.5 Celsius to 19 Celsius in the space of 5 miles and there was a short but torrential rain storm. Once we had had driven through this the temperature steadily rose to 28 Celsius on our arrival at Monte Carlo at 7pm. We checked-in at The Fairmont Hotel for a 4 night stay, the car was whisked away and all the bags promptly delivered to a nice sea view room. Heidi was very excited as she is a regular visitor and seems truly qualified as a tour guide. We had a table booked at the L'Argentin at 9pm which was rearranged to 9.30pm without any fuss. L'Argentin now has an outdoor terrace which affords a great view of the harbour entrance. No starters, Heidi had a fillet of Turbot and I had an Argentine Beef Fillet, both exceptional and complimented with a half bottle of Sancerre and a half bottle of Cote du Provence. No sweet and across the road to Café de Paris for a hot chocolate and a cold beer. Back to the hotel to the Billionaire Club, a new addition to the hotel which has backing from Flavio Briatore. We had 2 Billionaire bombs (vodka cocktail) The music was very chilled and I got to thinking of a song I play by the Charlie Hunger Quartet: When the day is done!!!