Sainte Marguerite Island

Today was another 12 hour sail.  But we were rewarded at the end by the perfect anchorage.  We anchored in the Plateau de Milieu which is between two Islands, one of which is Ste. Marguerite.  The water was dark blue and royal turquoise in other spots so we picked the lighter color knowing the bottom would be more sandy and easier to stick the anchor. This island is the nearest to Cannes, France.  This weekend was the end of the yearly Cannes film festival so we decided to anchor out. It was a bit rolly at first but calmed down for the perfect nights sleep.

We got up to a leisurely breakfast and pulled out the dinghy for a ride ashore to see Fort Royal.  It is famous for holding the “Man in the Iron Mask” for a period of eleven years in the 17th century.  They claim that they still don’t know his identity to this day.  He was transferred to the Bastille prison in France where he died.

There was also a very nice Sea Museum showing the various artifacts that have been found in the many shipwrecks around the coast.  I found this fascinating.  One of the exhibits showed the ceramic vases and how they were loaded with fish and sea salt and then how they were found at the bottom of the sea.