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  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 25

    Nice Day 6

    May 8 in France ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Another beautiful day. Headed out to the port for a cruise on the Nice and Villefranche-Sur-Mer bays. We were glad we got tickets the day before because it was packed boat. Today is a national holiday, so it wasn't just the typical tourists on board. This hour long cruise took us first into the Villefranche-Sur-Mer bay, just east of Nice. This is a very posh area, with lots of very expensive homes owned and used by very famous people. The apartments here can also cost into the multi millions. The entrance to the bay was filled with a massive cruise ship. We then headed back toward Nice and did a tour over to Hotel Negresco and headed back to the port. An absolutely lovely morning
    After debarking the boat, we headed over to the old town for lunch. This place was really packed, so I can only imagine that during tourist season, it's over run. Anyway, we had a lunch of the local onion tart and simple bread, the pissaladière and socca. While it actually didn't look very appetizing, it was quite tasty. After lunch we walked around the old town. This is the usual warren of medieval streets lined with shops and restaurants. Two large churches there are very ornate and in amazing condition.
    After a walk down the Promenade, we decided to sit on the pebble beach for a while, which was super enjoyable. Then we headed back home by way of the Musicien district.
    We resteda bit, then headed out again to walk through the northern part of the Liberation district, then came back. But a quick stop for some ice cream was in order first.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 24

    Nice Day 5

    May 7 in France ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Today we headed south toward Antibes. There is an entertainment area just north of there in Biot that has an amusement park and a Marineland, which is where we went. It ended up being a gorgeous day, although there were definitely thick clouds hanging around the mountains.
    This is a very well done park, with a number of shows, sea lions, dolphins and orcas, as well as aquariums and a couple penguin displays. The park is dedicated to preserving habitat and rescuing hurt animals.
    An easy day with both walking and sitting and an easy train ride both to and from.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 22

    Nice Day 3

    May 5 in France ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    We went to the flower market this morning. They do sell some beautiful plants and flowers here, but it is mainly a produce market. Some really good looking stuff. This is really close to the Promenade, so we walked out there and strolled east, around the Colline de Chateau and into the port again. From there we got lunch, then eventually boarded a very crowded bus to take us to the Rothschild mansion and gardens over on Cap Ferrat. It was a terribly windy and bumpy ride, especially seeing we stood cheek to jowl with everyone else. A ton of traffic and a huge menace of bicycles made for start and stop motion, too. A very unpleasant ride.
    But, we eventually made it and got to tour the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, as well as its extensive gardens. The house was really lovely, and while definitely a house built with no expense spared, was not over the top or gaudy. The gardens were beautiful, and some of the roses were blooming nicely. The Villa was having a rose event that weekend, so there were a number of vendors there selling different things, but they had lots of roses for sale.
    The return trip to Nice was just as terrible as the ride out. Overcrowded, standing room only on windy roads through the hills. We were definitely glad to be back.
    We ended the day with a walk through the Musicien and Fleur districts. Stately old apartment buildings are the main construction here, with a few newer builds in these quiet, residential areas.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 21

    Nice Day 2

    May 4 in France ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Bit of an adventure today. We eventually got going and headed over toward the port district. Luckily, we arrived just before lunch, so the crowds were pretty small. We found a great place to eat at the Place de Pin. Sitting in the warm sun was a real treat after the last three weeks. Our Asian inspired lunches were excellent. My curry was listed as three peppers hot, but I personally would have only given it a one.
    After lunch, we headed up the hill of the Colline du Chateau. This hill dominates the city and has spectacular views of the city, the mountains and the Mediterranean. Again, lots of people out enjoying the day. It's still cool, but the sun is out and it's quite lovely. Walked around the port area a bit, then headed back. In the afternoon, we took the tram as far as it would go into the foothills. We actually discovered this was not a place we'd like to be,though the views were really great. Not a particularly nice part of town.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 20

    Nice Day 1

    May 3 in France ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    After arriving, we headed north a couple blocks to the Gare du Sud, an original train station in Nice. It's now a multi venue restaurant with various food related and clothing shops. Trendy but not upscale, we had lunch here that was pretty tasty, but more than enough to not want a big dinner later.
    Later on, we explored the main shopping drag, Avenue Jean Médicin and the Place Masséna. Tons of people out. This is definitely the most tourist-visited place on our trip so far. Lots of different languages heard. There's just about every shop available along this street. From there, we headed out to the Promenade des Anglais, the big walkway along the coast. There were a few people on the beach, and some doing various activities, like wind surfing, in the water. Probably still a bit chilly for that yet, but we didn't go down to find out. Regardless, the water is a beautiful blue, hence the name Côte d'Azur.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 20

    Aix-en-Provence to Nice

    May 3 in France ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Boarded the bus to the Aix TGV station, which is not in Aix, for a half hour ride. Easily got there in time to board the TGV to Nice. Lots of people riding today, and a lot looking for seats, as though they hadn't purchased a ticket. A fairly uneventful ride along the coast, minimal viewage due to trees on the water side and cliffs on the land side. But, it was a beautiful day. Arrived in Nice and found our lovely flat.Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 19

    Aix-en-Provence Day 2

    May 2 in France ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Here we go again. Rainy, cold and windy. We ventured out eventually to get breakfast. There's a boulangerie very close, so we decided early on not to get food, namely breakfast, for the apartment. After that, we headed back to town to check out the markets. Lots of clothing at the main one, but there was another with a wide variety of food items, and a smaller one with flowers. We had enough of the weather, so we went back to the apartment, stopping by the same bakery for a lardon quiche that was quite yummy.
    Our afternoon brought us to the Musee Granet. This small art museum covered a wide variety of styles, times and forms. Probably mostly paintings from French painters, but also had local archeological and sculpture exhibits. Well worth visiting, especially as it was rain, cold and windy free.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 18

    Aix-en-Provence Day 1

    May 1 in France ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    We weren't sure what was going to be open because of the Labor Day holiday. However, most touristy things, as well as plenty of restaurants were open. We walked to the old town and looked around a bit. The weather was harsh, with wind and rain, so we checked out some restaurants for later. We found a place to have a coffee, then with better weather, we explored more.
    Aix is a charming town with an Italian feel to it. Lots of piazzas, or places, that are totally paved with tile. Not the standard pavement everywhere else we've been. Lots of restaurants, lots of shopping.
    We came back later at dinner time for a meal at Cambarou, a lovely restaurant. Our meals were fantastic and the wait staff took good care of us. Later, we walked about the same route as earlier to see if nightlife picked up. Indeed, it did, but perhaps because of the weather, or that we spent nearly 2 hours at the restaurant, things were winding down.
    All in all, a good day. Finally.    Read more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 18

    Montpellier to Aix-en-Provence

    May 1 in France ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    Today we say goodbye to Montpellier. Although the forecast doesn't call for much of a change, we're hoping this move brings more sun and warmer temperatures.
    We had an "animals near the track" delay that caused us to miss our scheduled transfer. No big deal, though, as it's a regional train and we caught the next one. Arrived at the studio apartment an settled inRead more

  • TravelerFrance2024
    Day 11

    Clermont-Ferrand Day 4

    April 24 in France ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Today is dark and gloomy. Not a spot of sun to be seen. The temperature is hovering around 45 with the wind around 10 mph from the north. Cindy is still sick and the dreary skies make for a depressing setting. This makes four days in a row. By the time we leave tomorrow morning, the wind should finally be changing direction. 2 weeks of cold north wind makes for a challenging vacation.
    This afternoon we headed over to the Michelin headquarters and museum. This museum is well worth the visit. The original Michelin brothers were quite the entrepreneurs, essentially either inventing or improving much to do with the travel industry. Obviously, tires are their big thing, but the scale of the travel guides that the world has come to use as a standard definitely changed how we think about and do travel. If so mething didn't exist to support their production and testing of tires, they invented it. Very clever and industrious.
    So, a couple hours of visiting away from our apartment was good, but nothing changed in the weather, or the gloom. Upon arriving back, our key failed to unlock the door. So, after an hour or so of getting the manager to come over, then the locksmith, we were finally back in the apartment. About two hours total before the locksmith packed up. And it cost €800. Not that we had to pay, thank goodness.
    So, a mildly eventful day came to a close. I have to say I won't miss C-F when we leave tomorrow. However, I think the potential for outdoor activity here is wonderful, just in the summer...    Read more

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