Legally Speaking: Sanremo

The Africa Accountability Colloquium IV may not sound like a good time.

Because it's not. 

But, a legal colloquium held on the Italian Riviera in the charming coastal retreat of Sanremo-well, that is an international law consortium I can get behind.

And it did not disappoint.

As Jason's unprofessional attachés, we accompanied him for four sun-soaked days by the glittering Mediterranean.

While he attended boring briefings, we traipsed along the seashore.  Watching surfers, gelato-devouring, surrey-riding, playground gallivanting.

Exhausting. And lovely.

* If you ever find yourself in Sanremo, you must, must, must indulge at Gelateria Lollipop. The name made me skeptical. But their gelato made me weep. Well, nearly. Go there.

Hiking to the historic Santuario Madonna Della Casa, up the serpentine cobbled streets of the medieval town, La Pigna- the citta vecchia (old city)-was an adventure for my entourage.  Like a hobbit village built ascending the mountainside, La Pigna is a curious marriage of antiquity with Italian vibrancy.

And so I hauled my enormous BOB stroller up about a million steps to the elusive summit that boasted stunning views and yet another old, famous church.  

And then took a billion pictures in the hopes of snaring one where none of the three look drunk. Or angry. Or both.   

Fortunately, my kids did not die en route. Since they thought they would. Either by heart attack or at the hand of "that ISIS guy."  

Apparently, there were a few potential jihadists espied on the climb. 

(Such little dramatists. Where do they get this?!)

Our final seaside day was spent in the country of Monaco where we were warmly welcomed with a traffic ticket for a violation that was lost in translation. Seriously.

But, then we took in the views and forgave them everything.

Friends, this little principality is stunning. Monaco will take your breath away.  And you will probably burst into song. Or at least Eowyn did. Strangely, "The Hills are Alive" seemed totally on point.

Leave it to the fake French. Those Monegasque are architectural artists.

Of course James Bond plays black jack at the Monte Carlo Casino. Of. Course.  There is no prettier place to gamble.

Plus, as a fellow Philadelphia native, I feel quite confident that Princess Grace and I would have been fast friends. We both loved spending summers in Ocean City. We both love fashion. We both love lipstick. Best friends. Obviously.

Framed by enchanting gardens, atop a seaside cliff, her fairy-tale castle and the illustrious Saint Nicholas Cathedral sit majestically, brilliant and shining against its Mediterranean footstool.

Magical.  Just magical.

And as we wound our improbably large SUV, tracing the Grand Prix's track as we headed towards home, we blessed the Africa Accountability Colloquium IV for these memories.

Said no one (else) ever.  

These two. 

Geletaria Lollipop for the win

Cole will be such a boring adult. 

To be fair- they do adore him. 

La Pigna with my posse

This beauty

Practically a tween

It was a long hike in La Pigna

But, smiles can be bought with - you got it- gelato! 

Princess Grace's castle guard

Who doesn't love a trumpeter who can also fire an automatic weapon with ease?!

Princess Grace's "crib"

Again...the palace de Princess Grace

Saint Nicholas Cathedral (wedding chapel of Princess Grace)

We could have been besties. She should have been buried in Ocean City. 

Monaco picture fail. Like I didn't capture its beauty sufficiently.