Saint Raphael/Frejus France

Famous Island Castle
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When I arrived in St Raphael, I realized that I was staying very far outside the quaint downtown port area.  It was a 20 Euro taxi ride each way to get to town.  It definitely isnt as much fun to be far away from everything when you are traveling solo.  Although it ended up being a fun stay.  The first day, I figured I'd take the bus to town which was 1 Euro rather than a cab.  The bus only comes every 2 hours.  So I walked down to the bus stop in the AM and waited.  The bus never came.  About an hour later I gave up and found a bicycle place and rented one for the day.  I biked into town and was reminded that it really is one of the best ways to see a city.  It turns out St Raphael is directly next to another large city, Frejus.  In fact each city owns a portion of the port.  I biked around all day and also got a beignet that was the LARGEST beignet I ever had!  It was good though!

Cool ocean fed pool at my hotel
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After dinner I had to bike home (which is the tough part about having a bike!)  It was then I recalled how much one's butt hurts when you begin bike riding after not having done it for a while.  The pain during that half hour ride home was quite unbearable.  But of course, I made it home.  Near my hotel was a national park that honored Americans who landed on this beach in 1944.  I didnt realize America landed on this side of France too.  I guess my history isn't as good as I thought.

I recalled how much one's butt hurts when you begin bike riding after not having done it for a while

St. Raphael Beach
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My last night I had a huge plate of mussels and frittes with a bottle of french wine.  One of the half bottles they serve everywhere.  Unlike in the US, these half bottles hold really good wine and are perfect if you are drinking solo.  St Raphael was a nice stop after Monte Carlo.  Definitely worth checking out if you are traveling the French Riviera.