Nice

The train ride from Marseille to Nice was uneventful, and I arrived at the Columba Hotel in mid-afternoon. I was disappointed because it was drizzling. I have been waiting so long to see the French Riviera in all its splendour. But such would have to wait for another day. The inclement weather gave me the chance to go to the American Express office and pick up five letters from Kathy and a postcard from Mom. I managed to take a brief walk around the city, but it had to be brief because of the rain.

The next morning, the sun was shining, and the temperature perfect. Immediately after breakfast, I set out for Passage Messina, where I booked a tour of the city. The sky was blue and the sea almost the same colour. I felt like I had finally found the French Riviera. No wonder it's called the Côte d’Azur!

I discovered that while the Mediterranean Sea and beach were most attractive, the area's topography was equally striking. Nice sits along the Mediterranean Sea.

The coastline features sandy and pebbly beaches, with rocky cliffs along the shore. Between the coast and the surrounding hills, there’s a relatively narrow coastal plain where the city itself is built. Immediately behind Nice rise the Alpes-Maritimes hills, part of the southern Alps. These hills are often steep and forested, offering breathtaking views of the city and sea. The terrain creates a fascinating panorama, which is one of the reasons Nice has been a popular tourist destination for decades, if not centuries.

I've never been a beach lover - I enjoy the panorama, but after a short while, I want to explore my surroundings. So, I set out for the Monastère de Cimiez. Since the 16th century, it has been used by the Franciscan Friars. It now houses the paintings Pietà (1475), Crucifixion (1512) and Deposition (1515). On display are also more than 300 documents and works of art from the 15th to 18th centuries. Walking through the nearby cemetery, I discovered it is home to the graves of renowned painters such as Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy, as well as the 1937 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Roger Martin du Gard. It made for a fascinating ½ day of probing!

After more sleuthing, I discovered the nearby Russian church of St Lawrence (modelled after Moscow's cathedral). I slowly began to understand that Nice has more to offer than just a rocky beach with people lounging in the sun.

Then, it was off to Monaco via the Grande Corniche. That ride provided me with an extraordinary display of opulence and beauty - in that order! Coming back via the Base Corniche afforded me a different perspective, equally fascinating. Meanwhile, Monaco was "interesting," but since I'm not into gambling, it only added another feather to my cap of touring.

I was disappointed in the Oceanographic Museum. I've heard so much about it. But, in fact, nothing compared to the Seaquarium in Miami or Marineland in Los Angeles.

The Casino itself was not as impressive as I had hoped, but I did gamble and lost $.60! Nevertheless, Monaco from the Haute or Grande Corniche offers a stupendous view, and as we travelled along the Basse Corniche on our way back to Nice, the Riviera was terrific in all its colours in the sunshine.

I became so enthralled by the area's beauty that I decided to spend two extra days in Nice. As a consequence, I decided to take an excursion to see small villages in the Alpes-Maritimes. My first stop was in Grasse, the world's perfume capital. Here, there is the biggest perfumery imaginable. Would you believe there are 30 in total in Grasse? On the way, we visited the old cities of Vence and Gourdon. The former was established in 419 AD and is famous for its artistic heritage, medieval old town, and absolutely stunning mountain views.. The latter is a picturesque medieval town perched on a rocky hill, offering panoramic views of the Dordogne Valley. The tour offered me stunning views and fascinating educational insights.

I managed to find time to walk along the Promenade des Anglais. The English sure know how to pick their recreation spots. However, I was surprised to see how cool it was once the Sun went down. Nobody swims at night!! Having said that, the beach is rocky and not sandy,

Nice #2.m4a