Week of 24 January 1927

Monday, 24 January 1927

Arles

Fine - cold - sunshine. Colder than yesterday. Polly rather tired so she did not do anything out of doors before lunch. I walked round the town in the morning. In the afternoon we visited the church and cloisters of St Trophine. The Musée Lapidaire. Les Alyscamps. The Musée Réattu. Thermes du Palais. After tea we walked round the Arena and the Roman Theatre.

Tuesday, 25 January

Arles Toulon

We left Arles by train about 9.30 am and arrived Toulon about 12.20. Left our luggage at the station. Had lunch. Visited the syndicat d'Initiative and looked at rooms at Victoria Hotel and then at a curious little hotel on the quay. Hôtel du Pont. Decided on the latter and our kit was sent for from the station. We took the tram to Les Sablettes and looked at "The Golf Hotel" there and had tea. Back to Toulon by boat. Had dinner at our hotel and went to cinema - Les Demi-Vierges.

Wednesday, 26 January

Toulon Les Sablettes

Polly and I went by train to Murillon [?] to look at a small hotel there. Too dear for us but very clean, which cannot be said of our Hôtel du Pont! We lunched at a restaurant and telephoned to the Golf Hotel at Les Sablettes and booked a room and got our baggage on to the small motor boat and went to Tamaris where the boat stopped. Walked to Les Sablettes.

Fairly good room at The Golf Hotel - but the people too dull and elderly for words. All British!!

Our hotel bill at Toulon in pounds sterling = 13/4!! This included room with eau courante + petit déjeuner + baggage for station.

Thursday, 27 January

Les Sablettes

Polly decided to stay in bed as her cold was heavy. I went for a walk to St Mandrier and back before lunch, and at 1.15 took the boat to Toulon - had my hair cut - tried to get pedicure but failed and walked about till 4.30 and took boat back.

Friday, 28 January

Les Sablettes

Bright and sunny but cold out of the sun. Polly got up late and sat outside in the sun before lunch. I went for a walk. In afternoon we went for a walk. Letters reached us including one from Leslie Fryer to say that poor Kitty had had another heart attack on Thursday 20th January. I had had a post card dated 23rd Jan to say she was better.

3 days pension at Golf Hotel @ 55 frs each, with various extras (wine, service, etc.) = 448 frs @ 120 francs to the £ = £3-14-8

Saturday, 29 January

Les Sablettes               Carqueiranne (Var)

One or two people bathed in the sea in front of the hotel. I met a Colonel McNeece, late RAMC from Co.Donegal in the hotel - who knew a lot of people we know.

We left the hotel about 1.45 just after lunch and drove to Toulon and took the 2.5 pm train at the Sud de France Station (narrow gauge) and arrived at CARQUEIRANNE 2.35. Left our kit at station and walked to the HOSTELLERIE DU BEAU-RIVAGE and engaged a room. Looking out on the sea with splendid view. Having got our kit out of the station we went for a walk. Very picturesque place. We sent off telegrams to Pippa, Anne and 15 Pelham Court, giving our address.

Pension 45 francs per person.

Sunday, 30 January

Carqueiranne (Var)

Lovely sunny day. We took a walk along the cliffs to the little harbour. Marigolds, etc. being picked for the market. After lunch with corridors wide open filled with hot sunshine - we went by 3.30 train to Hyères. Walked up hill behind Hyères - had tea at English tea room and back by 5.28 train.

Violets being picked at Hyères. Narcissus and ranunculus also being picked. Mimosa just beginning to come out.