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A more than passable Sunday on the beach
2010-07-02 11:46
Fold down the roof and take a leisurely thirty-minute drive east from
Monaco along the Basse Corniche, past Cap d'Ail and Èze, and you'll
arrive at Cap Ferrat, one of the most stunning peninsulas along the
Côte d'Azur, and renowned as one of the most expensive and desirable
locations along the entire coast. As if you needed telling, the luxurious gated villas around the
central loop road are utterly fabulous and the views to the sea are
among the best in the region.
Keep your eyes peeled as you turn off the main road onto
the Cap and you'll soon spot a turn to the right, signed 'Beach Passable'.
In peak season, this very narrow and winding road will be packed with a
continuous row of parked cars; but if you arrive early enough, a
guard will open the barrier to the main car park and you can start to
relax.
The beach is split into two sections: the public area to
the right can get very crowded, but it is nicely separated by the
Plage de Passable restaurant and bar. The restaurant offers a good selection
of dishes for lunch and the daily specials are excellent. I had the
fish of the day (St Pierre) with tomato and olive sauce, and I can
also recommend the moules marinières and steak haché à la carte for the kids.
A sun lounger can be hired for €20 for the whole day. Sit
back, relax, order a glass of champagne from the table service and
enjoy the stunning view overlooking the bay of Villefranche.
Alternatively, those of a more adventurous persuasion can climb
onto a rubber ring and a speedboat will take you out to sea with the
sole intention of trying to fling you off (€20 per person), or hire a
jet-ski for an hour (€90).
A day at Plage de Passable is the perfect way to spend a Sunday; I already have my bed reserved for next week!