European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 2, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A can to miss destination stories and photographs by Leah Larkin features editor some places Are so Beautiful so wonderful that you keep going Back. You re never disappointed there s always something new to discover and it s fun to retrace your Steps in your favorite haunts. The sights the smells the tastes the atmosphere a All become comfortably familiar. For Many a including movie stars artists and authors the dutch with their trailers and the germans with their dogs and of course most frenchmen a such a place is the South of France the Riviera in All its coastal glory and Provence with its ancient towns and ruins. Last fall friends who had moved Back to the states from Europe returned for a visit. They too Are fans of Southern France and wanted to go Back to their favorite part of Europe. We spent eight Days driving along the coast visiting places like Nice Cannes and Monaco and then drove into the Hills to explore new territory. There were a unforgettable meals on outdoor terraces with views that begged for big screen filming picnics with a Bounty of fresh fruits cheeses and meats just purchaser from open air markets visits to famous museums and Sites walks through postcard perfect towns and villages strolls along Chic boulevards frequented by the upper crust fascinating people watching at cafes in the Sunshine. Our base for the first few Days was Pegoras a tiny town about 11 Kilometres from Cannes. 1 he hotel i e Bosquet was perfect a Small Complex tucked away on a Side Street on the Edge of town Complete with swimming Pool and a pretty Garden for breakfast a Fresco. In addition to the setting much of the hotel s Charm can be credited to the owner. Mine. Bernardi a warm and Friendly woman who Speaks English and is eager to assist and please tier guests. The first evening after a quit k c ool off in the Pool we drove to Cannes to Check out the Boulevard de a Croisette the coastal thorough ire lined with swishy hot Els statuesque Palms Swanky t Afes and shiny limousines. In All glitter just Peutec i Lor those glamorous movie stars Whir congregate there during the nines film festival the City s yearly main event. In Nike tie other big name i Ity on tin i Oast the Fane y Street is the promenade Des Langlais. We did our pro menacing there by Day. The atmosphere is not quite As up Market and Chi Chi As Cannes,.but Nice is much More than a fashionable resort it s a big Busy City whose1 old town Vieux Nice Section is a wondrous Mae of Skinny streets that Snake Between narrow buildings and in and out of am sent Pla As. Crammed in the old Cut Arfer Are intriguing shops my favorite is Al Iari at 1 4 Rue Saint Francois de Paule an old fashioned Nook stuffed with the specialities of Provence olives and herbs Lavender soaps and its own Light mile Olive Oil. If you re into cooking the latter is a must to take Home on one of those Pla As is the c try s food and Flower Market food like this you be newer seen peaches the Sie of melons artichokes that belong on the cover of gourmet Magazine tomatoes that Are state fair material. This has to be what inspired artist Paul pm one to create his luscious still lifes. We could t resist. We had to buy and go Oft to a beat h for a pit me. To drove got k in tie direction of can and ont Nueil i it a Cage a i stripes buy Jijine 3