48Isea&iISPRING-SUMMER 2010

SPRING-SUMMER 2010I sea&iI49aboardashoreThe serene Ligurian Sea is the perfect antidote to a hedonistic charter along the Côte d'Azur.Cruise from the port of St Tropez along theglamorous French Riviera before turning to idyllicPortofino and the vertiginous Italian RivieraByMiriam Cainfrance & italyThe stretch of coastline between St Tropez and Portofino has it all - shimmering light,southern heat and northern elegance. Made famous by the movie and rock 'n' roll glitteratiof the 1950s, the Côte d'Azur exudes an eternal glamour that captivates all who cruise there.Yet for all their silver-screen fame, the towns and villages strung between beaches andmountains have never lost their quaint allure.Sun-drenched sands The Riviera is all about glamorous beaches, and the Provençal coastline is arguably the mostfashionable seaside resort of all time. From Pampelonne Beach near St Tropez and the Porquerollesislands to the sandy coves around St Jean Cap Ferrat and Juan Les Pins, the beaches string togetherlike a dot-to-dot of iconic hotspots. The best thing is, while you have the glitziest ports known toman at your manicured fingertips, you likewise have tranquil islands that seem a million miles frombustling St Tropez. Known as the Golden Isles, the Iles d'Hyères and Ile de Porquerolles have small bays borderedby heather, scented myrtle and pine trees. Surrounded by a marine reserve, the waters are teemingwith fish - don your flippers and snorkel as these are well worth a day's exploration. When youwant to return to the jet-set throng, simply set a course for Nikki Beach or Club 55 on the livelyPampelonne Beach. Life at Pampelonne rarely starts before midday, so as the morning sun gathers heat enjoy a fewhours of water sports and peace before hitting the most hedonistic strip of sand on the Côte?