WELCOME TO NICE!
Hello!
Here are a few pictures of my apartment in Nice, on the French Riviera....also known as
Cote d'Azure (the blue coast). Enjoy, and let me know what you think!!
This view is of the Bay of Angels as it curves along
the Promenade des Anglais, in central Nice. The red spot on the photo, located in the
central left portion of the picture is the location of my apartment. Here you can
see the different beaches that are accessible from the apartment by walking across the
street. The Mediterranean really looks as blue as the photo shows. Also
noticeable in the picture is the rising elevation of the city. The Alps (Alpes
Maratime) are only about an hour away by car, the closeness of these high elevations allow
for nearby winter sports and help protect Nice from harsh European weather, allowing
the palm and citrus trees to flourish.
The attraction of Nice lies in the sheer range of activities available within the city itself, and in surrounding Provence. Rollerblade along the Promenade des Anglais in the morning, take in a museum in the early afternoon, stop for flowers or fruits glaces (candied fruits) on the Cours Saleya on the way to the beach, dine in the balmy open air until late into the evening. The town also makes a great base for exploring with excellent rail links to the beautiful town of Antibes, the distinctive beachfront of Cannes, and the romantic principality of Monaco. Nice is, quite simply, an unforgettable experience.
The picture on the left is a view from the balcony
looking west, showing the curvature of the Bay of Angels. The extreme tip of land in the
distance is the location of Nice International Airport. On the right is a
closer photo of the beach, directly across the street from the apartment, looking east.
The beach is a short hop and skip in front of the balcony, as you can see.
On the various public beaches you can sunbathe, sit under an umbrella sipping wine, or
simply people watch. The public beaches are interspersed by private beaches, where
for a few Euros/Francs anyone can rent a deck chair and sunbathe whilst being served food
and beverage of your choice.
Again from the balcony, looking east towards the
port of Nice, and in the direction of Villefanche and Monaco. Villefranche is around the
piece of land protruding out in the foreground. Monaco is about 30 minutes away, depending
on the route you take. The ocean always seems to be the two shades of blue
illustrated in this picture. --On the right is a picture taken further east down the
beach, from the Promenade.
Here is a guest injoying the balcony, happy to be
away from the worries of work, soaking in the brilliant sunshine, and the good food and
wine on the French Riviera. No wonder she is smiling...life is really good
here! Perhaps she's about to take a day trip into the nearby hills north of
Nice. Here one can visit a perched village such as Gordoun (pictured), or the mecca of
perfume making, Grasse.
Here are some guests on the balcony, as viewed
from across the Promenade des Anglais.
Inside the apartment, there is plenty of space for
lounging and inside dining - although most visitors like to take their meals on the
balcony. From the balcony you can watch the beauties lying on the beach and
the rest of the world passing by on the Promenade. There is a television, with cable
access and a couple of English speaking channels, such as CNN. However, most find
life outside is much more interesting!
This is a picture of the larger of the two
bedrooms - spacious, light, and airy. Both bedrooms have ceiling fans, and all rooms
with the exception of the hallway have ten foot ceilings. The kitchen is well
equipped and recently updated. It has a washing machine,dishwasher,gas stove, refrigerator, and most
of the utensils needed to whip up your own feast. Excuse the quality of
these photos, they are pictures of pictures! This year I plan to get better pictures
of the interior and post them here.
Pictured here, within the Old Town (Vieux Nice) is
the flower market. This area is lined with cafes, restaurants, and night spots. The flower
market, (Marche aux fleures) is open Tuesday through Sunday from early morning until
midday. On each Monday the flower market is replaced by an antique/flea market which is
open until the early afternoon. The flowers are a mass of colours and perfumes, the fruits
and vegetables are ripe and enticing. Just the place to buy your lunch and take it home,
or sit at one of the cafes in the market place and sip a cool beer... or, enjoy a famous
Salade Nicoise! On the other side of the market, the small winding cobblestone streets are
full of boutiques, artisans, and restaurants featuring local cuisine.
These are pictures of the town center of Nice
(Place de Massena), where you can sit under an arbor of flowers and vines, and
watch the fountains play, or take a break before you stroll into town to do some shopping
on Ave. Jean Medecin.
Just in case you want to see exactly where
everything is, here is a map of the area, showing the many museums and places of interest
within walking distance. This particular map is acquired for free at the Tourist Office,
just look for the Office de Tourism on the Promenade des Anglais near where Rue du Congres
hits the Promenade, or at the train station. Here you can find someone who speaks English
to inform you of local events, and answer most questions about activities in Nice!
Here are a few basic facts: The apartment is on the
3rd floor American (Second Floor,European). It has a dining room, living room, entrance
foyer, and kitchen. Two bedrooms, one with a king size bed, the other a double bed. Both
bedrooms have ceiling fans. There is a bath and a half bath. There is plenty of storage
space, and linens and towels in the apartment. The ceilings are ten feet high, creating a
light and airy atmosphere, and the sea breezes keep the apartment cool and fresh day and
night. However, I think the best feature is the lovely balcony overlooking the
Mediterranean!
For more info, click here to link to a
site that provides some good pictures and maps of Nice (the text is in French). Au revoir!
click here to email Jean 