Activities – ANTIBES (Theâtre show, 6 and 7 June 2014)

The magic of the internet and social media bought my attention to an overseas blog the other day educatingcambodia.com and the fantastic work done fundraising for schools and a health clinic in Cambodia.

I have a huge interest in charities affecting children, and this blog resonated with me as a very important cause and a great belief in my eyes that children receive education if possible and a chance at opportunities in life.

How does this link to my own blog here on the French Riviera?  One of their Cambodian schools has been christened as ‘Antibes School’, a lovely gesture in consideration of the hard work and fundraising from local people in this region, including efforts from Hilary King who is based on the Cap d’Antibes.

Hilary King previously directed the Red Pear Théâtre in Antibes, and now produces professional musical and theatrical productions in English in support of the Cambodian cause.

This coming week on two nights – 6 and 7 June – Hilary will be hosting a World  Premiere cabaret at La Timonerie, when National Treasure, Anne Reid returns to the Riviera to give the very first performances of her brand new cabaret “Love Bytes.” 

Anne is one of Britain’s most-loved and respected actors, star of the very popular Last Tango in Halifax, Ladies of Letters, Dinnerladies and Coronation Street.

Ever since she was memorably electrocuted by a hair dryer in the early days of Corrie, Anne has been a familiar figure to audiences everywhere in her many roles on television, stage and screen.  In 2004 she received accolades and acclaim for her starring role in the film The Mother, as a woman who has an affair with her daughter’s boyfriend, played by Daniel Craig.

Her cabaret career started right here in Antibes in July 2012.  That first show, performed with her award-winning musical director Stuart Hutchinson, went from La Timonerie to the West End where she garnered rave reviews in the national press. 

Never was “book now to avoid disappointment” more sincerely meant! Anne’s unique talents, humour and warmth make for an unforgettable evening of pure cabaret joy.

 
Please note the show is at La Timonerie and NOT (for technical reasons) at Théâtre Antibea as previously stated. La Timonerie has a ground-floor toilet for show patrons, and any persons with reduced mobility must advise in advance to allow for seating arrangements.

What: Cabaret theatre show ‘Love Bytes’ starring Anne Reid

Where:  La Timonerie, 250 avenue Malespine, 06160 Cap d’Antibes.  Note: Off boulevard du Cap on the corner of avenue Malespine is an estate agent called Kapnist.

Time:  Show commences at 8pm.  All attendees welcomed from 7.40pm onwards. The show is preceded by a short introduction about what they have helped achieve in Cambodia, then Annie’s cabaret is around 1hour 30minutes with a 15 minute intermission for complimentary refreshments.

Cost: Donations of 25 euros (cash please) include complimentary wine and canapés at intermission. All donations go, as always, directly to the schools’ project in Cambodia.

Seating:  There will be a limit for seating, so book now to avoid disappointment.  Contact Hilary King directly to reserve your seats, via French number 06 63 63 19 01

Transport:  La Timonerie is easily accessed via car from nearby Antibes or Juan les Pins. There is carparking on the street outside the venue.  There is no train station nearby.  Alternatively, refer below:

• Buses:  Number 2 bus with Envibus departs Antibes Gare Routière at 7.10pm. Current timetable is here  ligne002_oct13reed_web Get off at a stop on boulevard du Cap after Jardin Thuret.  You will need to find return transport after the show as these buses do not run late in the evening.
• Taxis:  You can contact Allo Taxis on local French number 04 93 65 33 87, or why not combine the cabaret show with a sightseeing tour beforehand? – prebook your Tuk Tuk tour with TukTukAzur via www.tuktukazur.com

For more information and to support Educating Cambodia:

Website: www.educatingcambodia

Twitter: @educambodia

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/educatingcambodia

 

Sightseeing – JUAN LES PINS (Visiobulle)

One of the main drawcards for visitors to the Côte d’Azur is the proximity to the sea and beaches.

There are sheltered sandy beaches (Garoupe beach on the Cap d’Antibes), pebble beaches (Nice seafront) and wild, rugged coves for swimming (the Esterel coastline and Sentier Littoral walkways).

Juan les Pins beachfront

Recently, it was a beautiful sunny day and we decided to spend the morning on a boat excursion, and with an active toddler I didn’t want a trip with a long duration.

The boat excursion that offered us a good option is the Visiobulle in Juan les Pins – a glass-bottomed boat that cruises to the nearby Cap d’Antibes.  The cruise is just one-hour long so it was perfect for a short trip.

Visiobulle, Juan les Pins

The Visiobulle berths at the Ponton Courbet in Juan les Pins, and has many departures daily (departure times current as at April 2014):

April, May, June, September:  11am, 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm

July and August:  9.25am **, 10.40am, 11.55am, 2.15pm, 3.30pm, 4.45pm, 6pm

Prices:  Adults €14, Children 2-11 years €7

**There is a reduced price for this 9.25am departure: Adults €12, Kids 2-11 years €6

Look for this ticket office (see photo below), you show up to the ticket office 15 minutes before each departure to purchase your tickets.  The boat operates every day except in bad weather and takes 58 passengers (and 2 crew) but it is very popular in high season.

Visiobulle ticket office (on the right-hand side), Ponton Courbet

The boat has shade covering so the seating is mostly covered for hot days. Plenty of seating.  There were families with baby strollers, and also a few passengers who were elderly or with restricted mobility and the crew were very helpful assisting them onboard.

The commentary is in French and English, but even though the crewmember had a microphone it was difficult to hear over the sounds of the engines so sit near the front of the boat if you really want to listen to the commentary.

The boat cruises to the nearby Cap d’Antibes past Port Gallice, plage des Ondes, Hotel du Cap Eden Roc and Pointe de l’Illette with the small lighthouse.  You will cruise past private villas unreachable to the public, and see the rocky landscape of the coastal walkway.

vintage postcard of Pointe de L’illette showing the mosque of Illette, then known as Villa La Sarrazine (this is where the Illette lighthouse is now). Image copyright patrimoine-de-france

The boat spends approximately 20-25 minutes in the Baie des Milliardaires, at which time they allow passengers to head downstairs to the glass-bottomed viewing windows.  The descent is via approximately 10 (steep) stairs with handrails. Wait a few minutes for the sand that is stirred up to settle.  It is not as extensive as a glass-bottom boat excursion in the tropics, but we saw various schools of fish, sea urchins, starfish, sea algaes and rock formations.  There are display posters in the viewing area alluding to what may be seen. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a clear photo of the viewing area as there were too many passengers onboard.

I noticed many families onboard and my impressions were that children from toddler age to around 10-12 years were happily entertained, but teenagers were bored!

Visiobulle, Ponton Courbet (avenue Amiral Courbet), Juan les Pins

Access:   Arrive to Juan les Pins by car: The nearest pay carparking is on avenue Amiral Courbet, the Ponton Courbet is at the seafront end of this road.

Arrive to Juan les Pins by train:  Exit the train station, turn right and walk along avenue l’Esterel, then turn left onto avenue Amiral Courbet. Follow this road directly ahead to the seafront (about 400 metres), you will see a restaurant ‘La Terrasse’ and a kiosk selling fast food directly across the intersection. Ponton Courbet is located to the right of these.

Arrive to Juan les Pins by bus:  Bus numbers 1 or 30 (Envibus) from Antibes, alight at stop ‘Ruban Bleu’ in Juan les Pins, cross the road and Ponton Courbet is 50 metres past the restaurant ‘Sun 7’.  Bus number 200, alight at stop ‘Regence’ and walk down avenue Amiral Courbet to the seafront.  Ponton Courbet is the jetty opposite the small roundabout.

Toilets:  There is a toilet onboard, but I would recommend using the automated accessible public toilet at the entrance of the Ponton Courbet prior to boarding.  The pay toilet is located in the silver cubicle by the motorbike stand, cost 50 centimes.

Food/drink:  No refreshments sold onboard so take your own food/drinks especially water.

Travel Tips: Don’t forget sunscreen, and also a warm top. We were on the boat on a hot sunny day, but once it was moving there was a strong breeze which was quite chilly. For best viewing opportunities, sit on the left-hand side of the boat (as the boat is facing forward) to see the Juan les Pins coastline, then when the glass-bottom viewing area opens downstairs stay on the right-hand side of the boat as this is the side closest to the rocks that they cruise beside.