For the first time since we arrived in Italy we crossed the border into another country and spent a day in Nice. The three hour seaside train trip along the Italian Riviera Ponente and into France was just beautiful. The French coast, in particular, is absolutely stunning. The water turns a more turquoise shade of blue, and the hills rolling to the shore become greener and gentler, punctuated by pink clusters of buildings around every bay and cove.

In Nice there is the famous long, stony beach in front of the crystal clear azure water. Overlooking the beach is the Promenade d’Anglais, a leisurely pedestrian walkway with great people watching. Behind that, palm trees and grand pastel buildings line the coast as far as the eye can see. At the western end of the beach Colline du Chateu rises from the water for stretching views of the beach and city. The charming old town, full of restaurants and shops for the tourists, is nestled between the beach and the hill. The best attraction in old town is the many creperies where you can watch crepe makers expertly smooth batter over the special burners, knowing exactly when it’s time to flip and just how much nutella to spread over the warming treat.

One thing about Nice stands out is the abundance of English speaking! Walking down the street we heard just about as much English as we did French. In Genova it may be days between hearing English on the street. The variety of cuisine was also more extensive than what we’re used to. We found nearly every type of asian and middle eastern cuisine, particularly in the area near the train station. In the old town there are almost as much Italian restaurants as French ones, not to mention the numerous Irish pubs! One pub even broadcasts all kids of international sports, including baseball. Looks like we found a place to go if the Red Sox keep going strong!

For more photos of our trip to Nice, click here!

Last Modified : June 18th, 2007
Filed under : Trips
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