In the summer of 2010, I decided to spend my holidays in France and also to go to places where Errol once had been.
I got the idea thanks to Robert Florczak and his now-then picture of a certain church in Nice, so that I convinced the friend I was travelling with to go down to the Côte d’Azur, too. Luckily she agreed.
I contacted Robert before my trip, and he kindly sent me the address of the church and also of the mairie and hotel in Monte Carlo, which both played a role in Errol’s wedding. Thanks to you again, Robert!!!
After my trip now, I thought it would be nice to start a new folder on David’s blog where each of us who has done some travelling related to Errol could add hints and tips for further travels. This would be easier for all of us to get some basic ideas, and those who think it’s not enough could contact the person who wrote the entry for further details.
So here we go for parts of Nice and Monte Carlo.
First of all, I’d recommend you strongly not to travel in summer, but during any other time of the year. Firstly, in winter you are much more likely to meet less tourists and thus to have more time and space to actually enjoy places – without being pushed around. The Côte d’Azur is really crowded in summer; it was terrible – and terribly hot, too! So if you can, go in the winter season or possibly in spring or autumn, but NOT in the summer.
Finding accomodation in Nice (especially not too expensive one) was not so easy – especially when you travel by car, be prepared for a long search for a hotel including parking. We eventually managed to find a small kind of hostel, the Villa Aramis, which I recommend if you don’t have to stay there for too long and if you don’t mind sharing your (clean) bathroom with other people. You get some nice breakfast, too, and the host was very kind. It is situated not too near the city centre, but within manageable walking distance.
The FrenchLutheranChurch of the Transfiguration, where Errol’s wedding with Patrice Wymore took place on October 23rd, 1950, is not too far away from the city centre, yet it is situated in a quiet street without tourists. In fact, I didn’t meet any people there except for a German-speaking lady who wanted to visit a friend living nearby the church. So you have all the time in the world to take pictures and contemplate the pavement where Errol has walked – it was a great, mysterious feeling for me, expecially as it was the first place I have ever been to where Errol was, too. Whooh!
Thanks to Robert and to google maps (just type in the address, 4 rue Melchior de Vogüé, 06000 Nice, France), it was easy to find the church, and when you enter the street, you immediately recognise the place. You can actually see that it is a church, which I did not expect after seeing Robert’s picture. Unfortunately, it is not open for visits, only (probably) upon appointment or on Sunday mornings at 10.30 a.m. for the service. So if you have a choice, go there on a Sunday morning at this time to have a chance to look at the interior.
On my first visit early in the morning, as I said, there was a German-speaking lady waiting to be admitted to see a friend. I asked her (in French, first, before I noticed that she only spoke German) if the church could be visited because she seemed to belong there, but she said she didn’t know and mereley wanted to see a friend. So I took my pictures and went on to see the other sights of Nice.
Later, when my friend and I were on our way back to the hostel, we passed along once more, and there appeared a young man with a key who let himself in the gate. Once more, I summoned all my courage and asked if the church could be visited, but unfortunately, he was in a hurry. He told me that the church was open on Sundays at 10.30 a.m. during the service, and that he’d make me visit it if he wasn’t in such a hurry. Well… so if you intend to go there, maybe you phone first and make an appointment, the young man seemed very kind and I’m sure he would admit you to the church.
So much about Nice. In the further course of our journey, we also spent half a day in Monte Carlo. Of course, I wanted to see the Zaca, even though I feared it would not be there – which was, of course, the case.
Monte Carlo has got two ports; the one you should go to is the Port de Fontvieille. Already to be there makes one gasp for breath because of all the amazing yachts you can find there. I had never seen such a sight before and felt like sleepwalking while I was walking around looking for the Zaca. When I didn’t find her, I asked one of the officials whether she was in port or not. He thought for a moment, and then said she wasn’t. And, of course, he didn’t know where she was or when she might return. BUT he told me at which spot she would normally be anchored, so of course I went there and took a picture. I add this plus a map with a cross for the exact spot, so that you don’t have to search for a very long time.
I hope for you that you will be luckier. Maybe our Spanish authors know a little more about where she can be found in the summer, which regattas she normally takes part in and when she returns to port for the winter?
If you need some further tips about other sights of Nice or Monte Carlo, feel free to contact me.
— Inga
Anonymous
August 16, 2010 at 12:31 am
Aresia! What a wonderful job you did on this article! Loved the pics, too. And welcome back on the internet and to our blog!
Anonymous
August 25, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Fabulous Flynn travelogue, Aresia. I'm so glad I could be of help. Keep up the wanderlust!
Anonymous
August 26, 2010 at 4:34 am
Wonderful tips and great article. I'm sorry the Zaca wasn't available; very disappointing for you.
Anonymous
September 6, 2010 at 12:59 am
Hi Inga;
This is a very nice article and I am glad you saw as much as you did!
What a pity that the Zaca was not in her dock, maybe better luck next time around.
The pictures are very nice! Didn't you take pictures of the mairie and the hotel? Maybe there are more pictures to come?
Great job!
Anonymous
September 16, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Aresia: Right now on EBay (to the tune of five thousand dollars…!) is the wedding album of Errol and Patrice Wymore, replete with photos taken at the wedding – all originals – and actual invitation. I about flipped when I saw it. Out of my league…grin….but wow…I assume the seller must have somehow snagged it from a family member…it is all original. The photos have never been seen before in public. Great shots of Errol and Patrice dudded up in their wedding clothes. I can't beleive it's for sale, you'd think Rory or someone would be hanging on to this. The seller claims the family knows he has it. Go figure….
Anonymous
September 16, 2010 at 4:38 pm
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY! Wow, thanks for telling us! It IS unbelievable that the children don't want to keep it, and I'd like to know how the seller came by this!
Anonymous
September 16, 2010 at 5:02 pm
I actually sent him a message asking him just that. I don't know if Patrice let go of it or….are there others out there like this? I could hardly think so, but maybe I am wrong. I think the same seller is also selling some letters written to Patrice's parents from the Zaca. Maybe someone more knowledgeable on this blog can give us some input?
Anonymous
September 17, 2010 at 12:03 am
Well here we go, he responded to me. I'll paste his reply here:
Hello, Always nice to meet a Flynn Fan. Errol's wife, Patrice Flynn sent this album to her mother in Salinas Kansas for safekeeping in 1952 while she and Errol were sailing the seas on their Yacht Zaca. I believe her mother (Mrs Wymore) passed away sometime in the early 80's and it went on to her brother James Wymore in Phoenix Arizona. James gave it to his daughter for safekeeping and over the years it ended up in storage. The storage bill was not paid and susequently it was auctioned off. I purchased it from the collector that acquired it from the man who purchased it at the auction about 15 years ago. I do not know how to get in contact with Rory but I would not have the heart to solicit him anyway. I spoke to James Wymore(Pats brother) a couple of times and also had a long and wonderful phone visit with Mrs. Flynn in 1997. I sent them both copies of every photograph and letter plus original photographs of the family going back to the late 1800's. Some of the letters you can see in my store. I also have the letter Mrs. Flynn wrote on her hospital bed right after she gave birth to Arnella Flynn. That one I am saving in case I ever get time to write a book on the True Story of Errol and Patrice Flynn. Kind regards, Phil Rimer
Anonymous
September 17, 2010 at 4:01 am
Hi Inga;
The children don't have it.
It is Patrice who is selling it or her family!
Anonymous
September 17, 2010 at 4:06 am
It is Patrice who is selling it!
Anonymous
September 17, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I know, dear Tina, I just meant that I was wondering why Rory or Deirdre would not want it…
Anonymous
September 17, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Thanks for sharing, this is most interesting! And most expensive, too… What a pity! Maybe we should start a collection on the blog to make it “blog property” :-).
Anonymous
September 18, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Now 50% off!
Anonymous
September 18, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Now 50% off!
Anonymous
September 18, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I saw that, “only” $2500.00 now….sigh….still out of my league…
Anonymous
September 20, 2010 at 1:42 am
I saw the album for sale at $6000.00 about six or more month ago.
I can't believe the sellers story about that the Wymore family would not pay storage fee. More important, how would a photo album end up in storage, furniture yes, but a photo album – never – in particular Patrice's. A photo album does not take much space and anybody knew, as well then – the value of it.
I should have copied it when I saw it on eBay to see if it was the same seller, but hind sight is 20/20 vision – right.
These are all stories to which we will never know the answers, only Patrice will know what is what!
tina thrower
February 26, 2013 at 8:27 pm
my grandmother cecil onrette odette seclet had a relationship with errol,she was the same age just a few months older she was born 10 april 1909 she lived in marsielle france,when she lefted to come to england she came with erroll to northampton,, not sure how long they were together but i do no she was with him on her 21st birthday because he brought her a watch engraved to cis love errol flynn,she told me a few things about him and the things they use to do
Inga
February 27, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Tina, thank you so much for sharing this interesting event with us! Could you tell us some more about what you know from your gran? This would be great!