Arriving in Cogolin we are faced with the most complicated entry into an AirBnB that we ever encountered. The parking area is gated with the key being in the apartment. The apartment has no area to stop in front so we drop one of us to get inside to get the keys while the other one does loops with the car in the neighborhood. There are three layers of security getting to the apartment and while getting in goes smoothly getting out is more difficult as you have to find hidden buttons to press just to exit the gates. Then we park and then we carry the bags the long way around to the apartment, phew.
While expensive this is just a one bedroom apartment, more like a studio really that has a small area sectioned to be a bedroom.
However it has quite a large balcony that we can use to enjoy views of the interior courtyard which is quite relaxing versus the hubbub on the other side towards the public street.
At this point we know that our friends will not make it today as they are stuck somewhere on the way due to one reason or the other so we decide to go eat dinner. There is a restaurant close by serving mostly pizza and we order one and then it is a waiting game for about half hour until we finally get it.
We take the pizza to our balcony and start eating it and then we hear loud booms and other sounds which leads us to investigate what is happening. We have to go to the other side of the building but from here we have a great view of the fireworks that just started.
And they continue for quite some time, they are quite impressive and with various colors. We are not sure why there are fireworks but for sure we will not complain.
The end of the spectacle is also quite impressive with multiple fireworks launched at the same time and then covering the sky, like in the movies.
After a good night sleep we find out that our friends are on the way so we decide to explore the area so we can see if there are places to park or any beaches nearby. We find a nearby beach which seems nice and then also find a sign explaining that we had a fireworks festival the day before, interesting.
We explore the beach more and it seems to be quite large so we can likely come here with our friends when they arrive. There is also a restaurant which might be great if they are hungry when they arrive.
There is still time so we decide also to explore also the boat ferry station from where we plan to go to Saint Tropez after the friends arrive. We get the schedule and it seems that they go all day so we are all set on this at least.
And then we find out that they arrived but we cannot understand where they are located until we find them in a parking lot behind the trashcans. At least they found a parking spot, there aren’t many available in the area.
They are quite hungry so to the beach restaurant we go. As it is right between breakfast and lunch we order mostly lunch items to cover both meals. The food is reasonably good and then it is time to go to the beach.
Our friends have brought a store worth of beach items that we unload before getting ready to get in the water.
The water is warm enough and we enjoy playing and horsing around for some time before it is time to exit, we have to visit Saint Tropez now.
After returning from Saint Tropez we spend another hour with our friends on the beach enjoying a glass of wine and the beautiful huge moon rising above the sea. And then it is time for our last night in Cogolin, tomorrow we return to Lyon via Aix en Provence that we want to visit.
