I'm going to try something new and post words and pictures seperately since Wordpress seems to continue freaking out on my phone. We'll see how this goes. So on Tuesday, we had a lovely day in the water. It was the perfect temperature, cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough be comfortable. The sea is also wonderfully salty so you feel super buoyant. I could just lay back, float, and let the waves lull me into a peaceful stupor. Heaven.

You would think that after such a warm, wonderful day that maybe the storms were behind us. But you would be wrong, because, as we are learning, the Mediterranean can be a fickle mistress.

On Wednesday morning, we went through our new ritual of checking at least 800 weather sources before deciding what to do. All of them, as usual, we're different. But it seemed like it might storm and my diseased self was feeling especially diseased, so we nixed our plans for Menton and decided to walk to the citadel.

The citadel is on the opposite side of Villefranche from the beach. It's a beautiful walk through the old village and then down along the sea wall.

We decided to eat lunch at a little, local fisherman hut called La Baleine Joyeuse (The Happy Whale) right by the water. It's only a small shack for the bar/kitchen and some seating either under a tent or outside. The food is simple, but fresh and good (which is my favorite kind).

While we were eating, it started to rain a little. We moved inside under the tent, hoping it would pass quickly.

But it didn't. It poured.

And poured.

Cafe cremes all around!

Not only did it pour, it seemed like we were watching the storm hit the mountains and then turn back to unleash on us again.

The little tent's roof became heavy with water and wasn't draining, so one of the men tried to push it up and off.

Instead, it gushed in through the middle because the gutter couldn't hold the volume. He had to do this twice.

The second time, most of it landed on a lady who seemed...unimpressed. That's the most diplomatic way I can put it. I'm sure you can imagine how she felt.

After what seemed like thrity minutes or more, it finally stopped enough for us to try and make our way back to town. The citadel would have to wait.

Before we left, though, we noticed the storm sewer next to the shack was overflowing and pushing up the manhole cover.

Further down the way, another storm sewer was gushing loudly into the harbor.

Closer to town, one sewer cap was completely off, laying next to the now-open manhole.

But best of all was the view. The sky looked so breathtakingly angry. I could have stayed on the sea wall all day taking pictures. It was so beautiful.

So even for all of the trouble the rain has caused, from leaks to thwarted plans, it has also brought along quite a special--and unusual--show.

Pictures to follow!