Advertisement
Photo 2
Eglise Russe Today was one of those days that you wish would never end. Idyllic I think is the perfect word for it. I have been doing a lot of coming and going in the last few days. Actually in the first two weeks of this trip I have made 8 train trips. So I decided to just relax in Nice and enjoy all that it has to offer. Today would also be my last day in France so I just wanted to soak it in a little and reflect on the trip so far.
My day would start with a short walk to the beautiful Russian church that is just stone's throw from my hotel. The church is just incredibly beautiful and intricate. Unfortunately I was not able to enter because the church service was actually taking place.
From there, I would walk over to the Promenade des Anglais. I walked along this pedestrian walkway that lines the coastline of Nice. It essentially goes from the port all the way to the airport. I walked a short way and then made a stop at one of the beaches. I would sit there for over a couple of hours just reading
Photo 3
Eglise Russe my book, listening to the waves and watching Nice life go by.
The weather was perfect and the water and sky were incredible shades of blue that defy description. At around this time last year, I was in Bali and was seeing rice fields that spanned every shade of green. Today it was every shade of blue.
The Promenade des Anglais is just entertaining as can be. It attracts locals and tourists alike. There were people jogging, biking, walking, rollerblading. Some were alone, there were couples, there were families. There were some reading books, painting, taking photographs or just soaking it in. There were some enjoying the beautiful waters and there were some enjoying the incredible sunshine. There were also plane after plane flying quite low as they leave and land at the airport that is just up the Promenade. All in all ... just loveliness. Flower vendors had also popped up along the promenade. Today was the May 1 Fête du Travail and the tradition is to offer Lilly of the Valley.
After a relaxing start to the day, I would continue up the Promenade towards the Cours Saleya. I would need to make a quick
pit stop at one of the public bathrooms. I was greeted by a lovely gentleman, rather portly wearing a lovely zebra print speedo. It was not the first speedo of the day and it certainly would not be the last!! Those things should be banned!
The Cours Saleya is entertaining because it has a rather large flower and food market. I grabbed a small basket of local strawberries and headed back towards the beach to once again read my book and stare generally into space.
I walked around a little bit more and came upon an odd little celebration. It was a good sized gathering of people all wearing weird hats, drinking wine, singing and generally having a good time. I don't know if this had anything to do with the fact that it was the May 1 holiday. They definitely looked like they were having fun!
I would then climb the stairs towards a panorama that offers these breathtaking views of Nice. You could tell that by that time, the crowds on the beach and the Promenade des Anglais had really started gathering. So I joined them and walked again along the coastline to reach the
Photo 5
Another trompe l'oeil ... the windows and balconies are not real Blue Beach where I would once again just sit and read.
The only thing that made it that I left relatively early was the fact that I was turning a lovely shade of red!! I made some freckles today. So not an exciting day but definitely a very relaxing one. I feel like I went to the spa!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.31s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 13; qc: 61; dbt: 0.0925s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Francine
non-member comment
Oh yes! Nice is definitely nice! Love the Russian church. I am sure the phote does not really do it justice. And the "trompe l'oeil"...you know how the "library" in the Montreal train station never ceases to get my attention:) Lily-of-the-valley...love those humble flowers! And what about the "Boîte à Voeux" It was nice that you were there on 01 May to capture a "esprit de fête"