Day 27 ... highlights "cash back", flea market and moving r-e-a-l slow-motion slow

... our day started with a bit of a sleep in and a nice well-rounded petit-dejeuner from the hotel's buffet ... felt like I needed to work up some inner-strength to go and deal with the property management (PM) company - it being Monday and "back to business" and all

... so me and Bean took the bus into central Cannes and walked slowly down the promenade to the PM's office, we were both quite nervous and I really felt like I needed my good buddy CB with me to kick-ass and get my $$$ back ... but alas, CB is not in France and I knew I needed to figure this out solo [with the cuteness of Sabine at my side ... ] so ...

• we found the company's office in quick order and were seated and asked to wait a moment to see if there was an available agent ... ... BTW I didn't have an appointment, I was just springing myself on them
• I met directly with the owner, Lao, and we had a very cordial conversation which ended with me getting most of my $$$ back - for which I am more than happy with ... I never expect to stay anywhere for free and I don't need hand-outs so the amount he proposed was more than I had anticipated receiving back so I left there with cash in hand ...
• Beanie and I were so relieved ... we slowed it down and meandered our way back to the bus stop ... pausing at the carnival area of the promenade to race remote-control speedboats [... see today's photo ] and de-stress
• as we worked our way toward the bus stop there was a flea market in full swing so we [again slowly] made our way browsing through the tables ... Beanie really wanted to buy a pocket watch [but none of them were less than 130 Euros so that was definitely a 'no go'] ... not quite sure about her facination with pocket watches -- she sure is a uniquely interesting character that gal of mine ...
• I ended up purchasing for 20 Euros a distinctly different looking wristwatch ... not sure if it was originally meant for a male or female -- it is leather and quite aged ... but I figure I can TLC it to a better state ... I love it for its distinctiveness -- now I will at least know what time it is without having to spy other people's wrists all the time - haha!
• we then hopped on our bus - reimbursement in hand - and got back to the hotel ~ heavy sigh [in a non-stressful way]

We decided after our nerve-wracking morning we'd just hang out by the pool, soak up some rays, go for a dip, and work on our puzzle books -- I'VE MASTERED SUDOKU ... for years I've wanted to try it and see what the fuss is all about ... man I kick ass at that puzzle -- haha!!! ... and of course Beanie was whipping through her word search puzzles like nobody's business ...

We had a light supper, went for a long walk around the Mandelieu hangars and then went back to our hotel room for the night ... pretty easy-going day, and I'm looking forward to another easy-going day tomorrow. The sights around the hotel property aren't all mechanical, they have some interesting statues and plant life ... including these interesting trees that shed their own bark - they're massive and peeling [very intriguing ... need to Google them and find out more ...]

Today's Photo: remote controlled speedboat racing ... haha!! check-out the pond's statue!! ... P.S. could have posted the bark-less tree picture, but ... nah

Cheers - RGR