A silhouette appeared on the horizon. It was from the third-floor window of the Prince de Galles hotel in Menton, through the motionless fronds of a palm tree, and into the far reaches of the Mediterranean Sea. And it was highlighted by a reddish dawn where the sun would soon rise from the waters.
Corsica.
I had heard that on clear days the island of Corsica could be seen from the French Riviera, but this was a first for me. I snapped a couple of pictures in excitement, and ran downstairs to eat breakfast. By the time I had taken the first bite of my pain au chocolat, the fiery sun appeared from the breakfast room, and Corsica had already vanished. For the remainder of my five-night stay in Menton the elusive silhouette wouldn't reappear. But the view from my room wasn't any less spectacular.