During our long leg of travel in Europe a few years back we wanted to get a taste of luxury vacationing in the French Riviera by the Italian border. Many of the towns along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea are travel destinations for the ultra rich and famous, such as St. Tropez. Nice is a popular town to visit for anyone interested in the French Riviera. According to history, Nice was discovered by the Greeks, conquered by the Romans, and although occupied by France in the 17th and 18th centuries a few times, it wasn’t until the Treaty of Turin in 1860, that it was finally given over to France.
Our visit to Nice was a highlight. It felt like a short vacation while we were constantly on the go from one European city to another. We stayed with a woman who was also from Vancouver, with Polish ancestry. She retired in Nice after receiving her Polish passport to teach English. Her home was near the Promenade de Anglais which skirts the Mediterranean waters. Our visit to the town was a week before the attack on Nice where a truck ran into pedestrians walking along the Promenade during the celebration of Bastille Day in July of 2016.
The town of Nice sits along the coast overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The roofs of the buildings are covered in orange clay tiles, similar to what you would see in many European countries such as Croatia or Montenegro. In addition, many of the apartment buildings in Nice are impressively beautiful in their classic French style.
Promenade de Anglais
The Promenade de Anglais stretches from the Nice airport to the old part of town. It is a wide walkway lined with palm trees where you can sit and observe swimmers cooling off in the water. The stretch of beach alongside the Promenade is covered in pebbles instead of sand. The week of our visit was a popular time for tourists because football teams from all over the world were in town for the 2016 Euro Cup. Therefore sports-related activities, specifically football, were featured on the pavement of the Promenade for families to enjoy.
The Polish team were staying in a hotel near our Airbnb. Many Polish nationalists who were determined football fans visited the town and walked the streets. We saw a group of Polish football enthusiasts singing their national anthem loud enough for everyone to hear.
Underneath the Promenade by the shore you will find restaurants and cafes. We tried some classic French crêpes there, except served in a not so classic fashion.
We enjoyed a drink here near the promenade hiding underneath the shade and looking out at the dazzle of the town.
Colline du Château
On our first day in Nice we picked up some bread, cheese, a bottle of red wine, and climbed up the Colline du Château also known as the Castle of Nice, for a panoramic view of the town. We walked down the promenade and into the old city where the trailhead begins. The view was spectacular, the breeze had just the right amount of je ne sais quois, the food was scrumptious and the wine, inebriating. In our buzzed state we felt relaxed, close to each other, overlooking the moving sea, our bellies full, and feeling thankful for our freedom to travel.
Nice Old Town
The charm of the historic European architecture in the old town of Nice is a very inviting atmosphere. We walked through the many alleyways and narrow pathways in between tall buildings where floors stacked over top of each other, huddling close like cold children. In the lower floors of these buildings you will see many shops, kiosks, and restaurants. Old town Nice reminded us of the small streets in Italy. The windows had the same worn out, colourful rectangular, thin shutters with slits.
When walking in Nice the hills of the Parc naturel régional des Préalpes d’Azur can be seen in the distance sheltering the body of the town.
Most days you can find flower markets and food markets in Cours Saleya of old town. We tried fruits, different baked goods, and browsed through the stalls.
The Beach
The rocky beach by the Promenade is a main highlight of the town. The bright blue waters were warm under the sun and relaxing.
One night during sunset, we bought a bottle of wine and sat on the rocky shore watching the waves, and the bio luminescent blue fish in the water. We heard the noise of the street behind us, including the cacophony of revelry from a party some metres away. In our drunken state we decided to go over to them and hang out. The group were students and travellers drinking, dancing, and daring each other to jump into the cold water naked. It was a fun evening meeting locals and travellers who offered us a memorable night in the city.
Èze
Climbing the mountains in the south of France is quite an experience because of the magnificent view below. We took a train to a nearby town called Èze, east of Nice. The medieval village which sits at the top of the mountain, is believed to date back to the 9th century. It now houses hotels, boutique shops, and restaurants for tourists to browse through. There are beautiful gardens and cobble-stoned pathways.
This small village is where you can find the Nietzsche Trail. It is named after the famous and controversial philosopher Friedrich Nietzche, well known for his nihilist outlook on life. He used to live in this region during the 1800’s and would hike up the trail to the top of the village, finding not only magnificent beauty, but also inspiration.
It can be a hard climb if you are not in shape since there are steep paths with minimal shade. If you go, bring lots of water, a hat, and sunscreen.
Monaco
Further east of Èze and Nice is the small luxurious country of Monaco. This is the second smallest country in Europe, the first one is the Vatican. Our visit to the country displayed a culture of rich livelihood. We saw the Monte Carlo casino where everyone looked like a character from the James Bond movies. They were beautiful people dressed in expensive clothing and driving expensive vehicles. Similar to Nice, you will see houses built into the soaring mountains, and many yachts parked at the coast.
The old town of Monaco was similar to Nice’s old town, yet cleaner and brighter.
Paragliding
On our final day in Nice we decided to go paragliding over the azure waters. We had seen para-gliders flying off into the sky since we got into town, and finally jumped on the idea to go for a ride. The view was amazing. It was quiet in the sky, only our voices and the wind whipping by could be heard. In silence we watched the sea below us, the mountains behind us, and the vast open area ahead of us.
Is Nice a town you’ve been to before or like to visit? Comment below!
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