XVI INTRODUCTION. 



It is true that, on returning home from one of these visits, 

 it is doublv hard when Mav, instead of promised delight, 

 brings only rain and cold. 



There are but few districts in Europe which enjoy so 

 sunnv a climate as docs the Ri\iera — perhaps only Greece 

 and parts of south and central Spain. When it does begin 

 to rain on the Riviera the downpour is heav^', so that, strange 

 as it ma^■ appear, the vearh' rainfall in Nice is, on the average, 

 greater than that of Paris, Berlin and c\'en London. As 

 much as 300 millimetres of rain has been known to fall in 

 twenty-four hours with a south-west wind. This wind, called 

 the Libeccio, rarely blows in winter. At this time of year 

 it is generally the south-west and east winds which taring 

 rain. We suffered much from the east wind, the Le\'ant, 

 during several of our spring visits, but the Sirocco, the south- 

 east wind, is usually dr\' on the western Riviera. The Tra- 

 montane, or north wind, prevails in winter, and to it the 

 Riviera owes its sunny climate. It is well f<.ir the traveller 

 if this wind should continue into the spring. It is hardly 

 to be felt in the sheltered spots of the Riviera as it strikes 

 the sea at a considerable distance from the shore, raising big 

 ^vaves when it blows hard. The Mistral spreads fanwise 

 over the Mediterranean and strikes the Ponente from the 

 north-west. At times it blows very strongly in Nice, but 

 with less violence in Mentone, finally dying out at Bordighera. 

 It always sweeps the sk^■ clear, however cloud\', but leaves 

 it as it found it; for the clouds rapidly gather again as soon 

 as the wind drops. In fine settled weather there is a light 

 land breeze on the Riviera in the nuijrning, from the cooler 

 coast towards the warmer sea. The temperature of the land 

 then rises with the sunshine, whereupon the sea breeze sets 

 in, from the cooler sea towards the warmer land. It is well 

 til be carefid at this time, for the temperature of the land 

 falls rapidly — often seyeral degrees. At sunset also the air 

 cools very quickly in consequence of the sudden precipitation 



