Ile Ste-Marguerite

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Sat 26 Jun 2010 09:01

Ile Ste-Marguerite
 
Sunday 13th June, 2010.
 

Ile Ste-Marguerite

 

Sunday, 13th June, 2010.

 

We wake to a quiet morning and so after breakfast we moved Ariel closer to Ile Ste-Marguerite in order to visit Fort Royal where the Man in the Iron Mask was held for 40 years.  The cell is approximately 12 feet by 12 feet with heavy wooden doors.  An artist by the name of McDonagh was held there later and he drew pictures on the walls.

The name of the man in the Mask was never revealed and there are about 30 possibilities.  One being the twin brother of Louie but no one knows.

The fort was built by the Romans and to keep it self sufficient they had cobbled stones to act as drain pipes and all the rain water was collected in order for it be to used in case of a siege.  A large cannon was on display which was used to fire hot cannon balls.  The place is well kept and most of the buildings inside the large walls are still as they were. It is now used for school children to holiday in on school trips as well as day trippers to visit.

On returning to the shore we found baby Ariel (dinghy) was missing.

Two girls told us that the four boys they were with had taken it to the other island.  Well after a little while we spotted them near our friends

boat and we telephoned Trisha and Clive to ask them in their best French to return the dinghy.  Now Jim has had a 3 metre cable made up for securing baby Ariel when we leave it.  Another first!!!!

We spent another lovely still now on anchor but the next day had to move into Antibes as the weather forecast was bad.  We passed huge beautiful houses on the way into Antibes bay where we anchored for lunch and a swim.  Late afternoon we sailed across the bay to another marina to pick up Geoff and Vivienne from Nice airport.  Once they were abroad we headed for Antibes marina where we spent several days while the weather calmed down.

 

PS The night before while stopping near the fortified tower on St. Honarat which is very distinguished we met one of the young monks dressed in his brown and white habit wandering along one of the very peaceful lanes.



 

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