‘Of all the beaches in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.’
Bogart to Bergman, Costablanca
It’s a sunny day in the French Riviera. I slip on a pair of oversized glasses and look for a empty space to claim on the crowded beaches of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. My youngest son and I are surrounded by an international assortment of men, women and children, socializing and swimming in the clear turquoise water. Their picnic baskets, blankets and uncovered bosoms are scattered underneath large open umbrellas. There‘s barely room to walk. We try our luck on the other side. Lifting my dress, I wade through the swash. Kaveh swims through the shallow water beside me as gentle waves caress my ankles and calves. A stranger catches my eye. ‘What are you looking for madame?’ ‘A less crowded beach.’ I answer, a spark of hope in my eye. When a local speaks, I pay attention.
Moments later we’re cascading down a steep flight of stairs to a private cove surrounded by cliffs, glamorous resorts, and yachts out in the distance. We’re back in the golden era of Hollywood. We follow the wooden pathway lined with brilliant white orchids out to a soft pebbly beach and wade out into the ocean. The water is so silky and smooth I want to bathe in it. Magical hours pass. I dry off with a good book, enveloped in the afternoon heat, while Kaveh skips rocks along the shore. The beach makes an excellent babysitter. Later on we'll enjoy the fresh catch of the day, accompanied by delicious burrata and an artichoke salad. I'll sip on an excellent wine recommended by the maître d. We might even spot a celebrity. The place is ripe with them. Before we hail a cab and retire back to my hotel, I scan the beach one more time. Of all the beaches in all the towns in all the world, by fate I walked into this one.
Click HERE for a link to this little piece of paradise
