Hyères.

Hyères, France.

A vantage point amongst orange tiles and canary-yellow alleys.

Hyères has a long history of being visited by Brits, including Queen Victoria and an assortment of ambassadors and the odd author.

In 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson visited and lived in a hotel here for a few years. Clearly in awe of this town, the oldest resort on the French Riviera, he wrote then: "That spot our garden and our view are sub-celestial. I sing daily with Bunian, that great bard. I dwell next door to Heaven!" He wrote later on in his life: "Happy (said I); I was only happy once; that was at Hyères".

My reflection on Hyères may seem considerably less hyperbolic and poetic. I can say that it was very busy, very hot and very pretty.