Family time at Camping Manjastre

The last week in Camping Manjastre, with Aaron, Kylie, Mia, Abi and Raphy, and Emma, Steve, Jackson, Isabel and their cousin, Elliot.

It was very busy, but enjoyable, after we all recovered from Emma and Steve's accident at Troyes, as they were driving south.  They were initially held up for four hours in Dover, due to the lengthy queues which resulted from the French security checks at the port.  Then at 3 am as they were driving on the motorway, their car ended up sliding along the road upside down.  Miraculously they all climbed out of the car, with barely a scratch or bruise.   The emergency services and hospital were fantastic, and before long they checked into a hotel, and had organised a hire car so that they could continue on their journey the next day.  We were so pleased they did this because it was a traumatic experience for them, and they needed to finish off their holiday and bring a bit of normality back into their lives.  However it was also very brave of them to drive on the motorway again and it took considerable courage to do so.   We were extremely relieved to see them all arrive safely.

We made a short visit up to the hilltop village of Bormes les Mimosas, in order to see the Dali exhibition at the museum.  Unfortunately the museum was closed on Mondays.  So we walked around the streets instead.

Always a pretty village.

A family dinner at the restaurant at Camping Manjastre.  

We bought a new inflatable mattress to use in our tent. Emma and Steve tried it out in the living part of their tent.  A very comfortable and luxurious mattress but too big for our tent, or the sleeping compartment in Emma and Steve's tent.  What ever shall we do with it now?   At the moment it is still down in our caravan.

We visited Acqualand for a day of fun on the waterslides.  I managed to go on two of them, with Emma's help.  Very funny.

There was a lovely swimming pool, which had a wave machine.  Raphy loved jumping the waves.

Lunch with the children's friends, just before Aaron and Kylie left to drive home.

And yet another meal, not altogether healthy, with hotdogs, chips and pasta, plus a few lettuce leaves.

We went into Le Lavandou for the evening, in time for a few photographs before the sun set, and it became too dark.

Emma, Steve, Jackson, Isabel and their cousin Elliot in the centre.  

Walter and me, looking very tanned after three weeks in the sun.

A very glittery ferris wheel.

Emma and Isabel on the ferris wheel.  A very fuzzy photograph, which depicted how Emma felt as she wbizzed around in it.

Pleasure boats and restaurants.  Sixty years ago Le Lavandou was a small fishing port.  Now it is a holiday resort.

More yachts.

We finished the evening off with ice creams, and a waffle for Isabel.  The ice creams were the best we had eaten on this trip.  Even when sitting in the orange glow of lights and furniture.

And Emma and Steve have taken the plunge and have bought an old Dutch caravan in Camping Manjastre, which will be stored at the campsite.  I know they will get heaps of fun out of it, as we have over the past sixteen years, and also Donna and family when they had one down there.  Fantastic news.