After the long day we had yesterday, we needed a shorter excursion, and this one—“Create Your Own Perfume”—fit the bill perfectly. Again, this was an excursion that I had planned and booked 90 days out (the limit for returning Castaway Club members). I knew the girls—especially Megan—would enjoy the opportunity to make their own sweet-smelling stuff. But I had some reservations about the excursion because of a negative review I had read beforehand. In fact, I was going to drop it when I got onboard. But a member of the crew working at the excursion desk recommended that we keep it. She said she had been on this one and that it was actually quite fun. Our excursion didn’t meet to go ashore until 1:15pm, giving us an opportunity to catch up on some sleep and just hang out on the boat. We enjoyed a late breakfast at Topsider’s with our friends from our Day on the Farm excursion, Brian, Karen and Marley. They are going with us today. Arriving at the port aboard a tender, the water below was crystal clear for nearly 10 feet deep.
Amazing. A DCL photographer was lurking about and snapped a family photo. Maybe the best one of the trip. Our group was small, but included several families that we had encountered on our previous excursions (apparently we all have the same great tastes). We board our bus and make the short drive up the coast of Nice for the feature event of the afternoon—making our own perfume famous Fragonard perfumery. On the way up we stop for a grand photo of the Magic. As in La Spezia, the Magic was anchored off shore, sideways in the harbor. The Villefranche coastline was magnificent, full of fishing boats and multi-million dollar yachts. I can easily see why the rich and famous play here. Our guide tells us that the annual Cannes film festival is held just an hour away. I’d love to come back to that event some day.
We arrive at Fragonard and make our way inside. The perfumer’s master “Nose” and a very pretty apprentice give the group a lesson in making perfume. I feel like I’m back in chemistry class. In front of us is a collection of beakers, droppers and a specimin bottle half full of clear liquid. Hmm. The perfumers introduce us to the concentrated aromas in each of our bottles—vanilla, lavender, citrus, lemon and more. Wow! The smells are intoxicating. Using our new ingredients (and within certain guidelines) we concoct our own perfume and give it a name. I call mine “Mediterranean Dream.” Angie’s comes out cloudy due to some soap residue left in her base liquid. They give her a new bottle and she tries again. But she liked the first one better. Because of seating arrangements, the girls are sitting away from Angie and myself. The pretty assistant, Irene, is helping them. She comments that Maddie has a good nose and has made a nice fragrance. Maybe there is a future here.
During the course of our demonstration we learn that there are very few master “Noses” in the world and that each one makes very good money. But they only work a few hours a day. Sign me up! Satisfied with our concoctions we move on to tour the small, but efficient Fragonard factory. In addition to their fragrances, they also make soaps, creams and other beauty products. After the tour, visitors are given the opportunity to purchase wares at a special factory price. Capitalism is good, no matter where you are! Leaving the factory, we make a short drive to Eze, one of the most picturesque villages on the Cote d’ Azur. It is perched on top of a huge rock and is located halfway between Nice and Monaco. On a funny side note, it’s the first time that we’ve seen a cat in Europe.
Our guide shares with us that Eze was one of the places that Walt Disney visited frequented during his travels. Apparently, he was so impressed with a local restaurant that he convinced the owner to expand into a hotel that you can stay at today (Albeit a bit pricey). And one can definitely see traces of this beautiful French architecture in the theme parks in California and Florida.
We drink in the tranquil beauty and do a bit of shopping before heading down to the busses for the return to ship. Several of us trek into the nearby (new) town of Eze for a bite at the bakery and a last taste of France. At port, we return to the ship while other passengers in black tie tuxedos and little black dresses are heading in … to the Grand Casino in Monaco. Initially, this was something I wanted to do (I envisioned being James Bond in Diamonds are Forever). But my senses—and my thinning wallet—made the choice to decline easy. Have fun at the casino, I tell them. Last tender to the ship is at 11pm. Back on board we get prepare for tonight’s show, When Mickey Dreams. I’m glad I skipped the casino because the show was very cool, mixing DCL cast members with Cirque de Soleil-type acrobatic performers based in Villefranche. I was amazed by the athleticism of the troupe, at one point climbing 20-foot poles with their bare hands. Their bare hands!
Dinner tonight is semi-formal and in the upscale Lumiere’s. Angie and Maddie both had the lobster tail. I had the tuna. Both were delicious. We’re a share-the-food sort of family. At first our Belgium table mates didn’t know what to make of it. But by now they’re joining right in on the fun. Erich and myself are eyeing the same two desserts on the menu, but neither can decide. So we order both and split. Yep, we’re rubbing off on them. After dinner we head up to Deck 9 for the Party Paradiso Deck Party. It’s definitely not as lively as the previous Pirates party. But it does finish with a nice laser light show. I notice that at certain times the powerful green laser lights are bouncing off the glass of the houses on shore. I’m sure they’re happy about that intrusion. Sorry! Not much going on after the show, so we say our goodnights and head down to the cabin. Meg is out with friends. But she has a definite earlier curfew tonight.
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