Villefranche to St Tropez...

We decided that no trip to the south of France was complete without a trip by boat along the Riviera.   I did a bit of research (ie looked at every boat hire company on the planet)  a couple of months before we left Perth and found one through boatbookings.com.  They were great to deal with and even booked our lunch and sun lounges at Le Club 55 in St Tropez. Le Club 55 is the original private beach club on the Riviera, opening its doors in 1955 to provide food and beverage for the cast and crew of the Brigitte Bardot flick, And God Created Woman.  Since then it has formed the hub of the St Tropez beach club scene, where it plays host to the rich and famous on their summer holidays (not to mention the odd Aussie tourist).

We met our skipper Stefan in Villefranche at 9.15 and advised him that we had banana lounges booked from 11am and lunch at 1pm.  He said something about needing to get a move on as we got on to our boat for the day.  After a few minutes cruising out of the harbour (and the obligatory photo session) , our skipper suddenly hit full throttle.  As all thoughts of a leisurely champagne brunch vanished from our minds, we braced ourselves for what became a rather bumpy ride to St Tropez.  We later found out that our lovely skipper Stefan simply wanted to ensure that we arrived on time.  WE DID!  With promises of a leisurely ride back after lunch, Stefan handed us over to the Club 55 staff who took us into shore on their small "tender".

Soon after arriving we were set up on our shaded banana lounges.  After the bumpy ride in the boat, I sank into my lounge and wondered if I could ever extract myself to go swimming.  It was so relaxing,  and with my lounge buddy Cicci beside me, I was rather a bit partial to some social commentary of the eclectic bunch of people that surrounded us.  Bit of bling here, bad plastic surgery over there, sugar daddy over to the left.   But alas, one was at a beach club and the turquoise water was inviting, and we had just enough time for a frolic in the Mediterranean before lunch.  It was a delight, and it was from this point that the day just got better and better!

Lunch at Le Club 55 was a real treat.  The surroundings are understated and despite it absolutely heaving with diners, the service was friendly and prompt.  We had heard that the food was overpriced and overrated.  We did not experience this at all.  Husband ordered mussels to start and it was one of the better mussel dishes I have tried.  We all had veal Milanese for main and it was quite good.

Before we knew it, 3pm came around and it was time to rejoin Stefan on the boat (cutely named the "lollipop").   Eating and drinking at the club had got us all hot and bothered so as soon as we got on board, we peeled off the layers and were once again frolicking in the Mediterranean Sea. It was so deep it was impossible to see the bottom, bliss!

Soon after we headed back along the coast towards Villefranche, this time more leisurely, and hearing more about the sights we passed, and Stefan taking us for another swim in an alcove along the way.  We arrived back, sun kissed and satisfied, another memorable day on the south of France.

Pics below of a great day...check the first one with my name on the place card at Le Club 55... I have decided its my European royalty name. Xoxo.