12. Nice

It begins. We arrive and take taxi to our hotel in Nice. Luggage arrived as well.

Hotel Anis is a nice little boutique three star hotel in a run down kind of area. I think it looks quaint. Perhaps I see with rosé color glasses. I had stayed at a fabulous place in Nice previously, Victor Hugo hotel, also boutique but it was not available. Anis had a good review in most sites, a bit in need of renovations. Smallish rooms and washrooms that are small but adequate.

We decide not even to unpack, just get out there to see what there is and to pick up some dinner. We caught the city bus to the far other end of the Promenade Les Englais. At the port area, lots of restaurants and interesting people watching.

We walk, we sit and enjoy appetizers from France and I have a Caesar salad with chicken, a few bottles of rosé wine shared, big bottle of cool sparkling water. So enjoyable to sit and enjoy the view. A few local ferries, lots of tourists.

We walk down the Promenade on way back to our hotel, and get about half way, enjoy gelato at Gelateria Pinochio. We look at the map and see we are about half way, it is late and dark. We get a taxi to the hotel and have a great sleep.

Night one in France. Beautiful heat, people swimming in the sea. Music by buskers, couples walking hand in hand, women in high shoes, practical tourists. Stunningly beautiful.

Today we walk down the other end of the Promenade and get as far as the Gelateria …. So we have now walked the whole length of it. Yippee. Coming back later today for a swim. Today Sarah is feeling the heat and so we shall do some shopping. Tomorrow train to Antibbes and then Cannes, also hoping for a swim in the sea.

It is beautiful here,like Hawaii temperature and palm trees, beach and lines of hotels on the beach. Perhaps less people and a bit more organized and spacious on the beach. Less sandy and more rocks may be the deciding difference. Cool breeze is coming in from the water. I love Europe and France, as well as Italian Riviera. A lot of people vacation here and I can see why. So laid back and people walking to and from as well as along the beach.

Beautiful, wish you were here, (We see the umbrellas and lounge chairs from the movie, French Kiss)

Pamela