NICE, MONACO, SAINT PAUL DE VENCE, and the CÔTES D’AZURE

                                         NICE

 

Arrived in Nice on a bus from Aix En Provence, and headed to what would become the worst hostel in which I had yet to stay. Regardless I had good roommates, a couple of giggly Asian girls on holiday and a quiet young Chinese fellow. The bunk beds were flimsy as hell, kind of like a really crappy swing set your wife would make you take back for fear of killing the kids. In fact, I was grateful the Chinese guy on the top bunk was skinny or I would have spent the night in fear of being crushed. As it was, none of us got a good night’s sleep anyway since the mini-fridge kicked in every half hour and woke us all up. Of course, the crummy beds would have kept us up if the fridge hadn’t.

The reception, kitchen, dining, computer, and recreation area took up about 300 square feet so things were very cramped. You could barely hear yourself think with all of the goings-on, from people checking in, cooking, watching TV, yacking, and of course, let’s not forget the douche with his hair in a man-bun trying to get laid singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. It seems every hostel in Europe has some man-bun toting nimrod playing or practicing this song. Must be a new aphrodisiac, but for me, it has turned into an ipecac anthem. It’s getting so I start to cringe when I see a guitar.

Thankfully I had views like this and other distractions to offset the hostel in question.

The main square in Nice.

At night the guys on the platforms around the square glow in different colors.

The Old Town

The daily flower and farmer’s market.

For those of you who were unaware, there are three Statues of Liberty. The large one in New York, the life-size one in Paris, and the 4.5 foot one pictured here in Nice.

Le Negresco Hotel – This hotel uses furniture from the 18th Century in its rooms.

                                        EZE

A perfectly delightful Medieval village perched on a hill between Nice and Monaco. There are numerous galleries and shops on its winding streets as well as two five-star hotels with Michelin star restaurants.

Le Chateau de Chevre d’Or – One of those five stars I mentioned.

It was breakfast time so I had tea & croissant on the terrace, and what a terrace. Note the hand-painted china with goats on them. The Chèvre d’Or is the golden goat in French. I got off very easy for 11 euros. I have it from a good source that a basic glass of champagne will set you back twenty-five. Good thing I don’t drink……..

But the view is intoxicating, nest-ce pas?

A wonderful little interlude.

                                                   MONACO

Hotel De Paris – Monte Carlo

The Grand Casino of Monte Carlo

The Côtes d’Azur is so awash in extreme wealth that I splurged on an Italian, magnetic, crocodile money clip from a deluxe casino shop. It was less than half the price of an LV money clip, and theirs is synthetic. There is an area nearby called Cap Ferrat where the real estate runs 250,000 euros per square meter, so I figured my 110 euro purchase was a bargain. I have to say that I dislike Cap Ferrat on principle since Bono and the Edge have property there.

Oceanographic Institute – A place where Jacques Cousteau spent a lot of time.

One of Jacque’s toys collecting dust in a parking lot. This was built in the Sixties. I think the Beatles ripped off the Yellow Submarine idea from old Jacque.

The Church where Grace Kelly married Prince Ranier. A little-known fact is in the movie “To Catch a Thief”, Cary Grant complained about the speed of her driving on exactly the hairpin turn where she had her fatal accident. Contrary to some opinions, she was not driving hazardously but suffered a stroke in the middle of the turn causing her to catapult off the cliff.

Changing of the guard at the Royal Palace.

Park by the Sea.

                                 Antibes

My Tour Group and Guide

That triple line of red bricks was built into the wall as a shock absorber for the many quakes experienced in the ancient world.

Sorry, they wouldn’t let me take pictures of Picasso’s work.

This is a nice piece by someone else.

                                                   CANNES

Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere – That’s where the red carpet is placed for the Cannes Film Festival. There is always some kind of event or festival going on in Cannes. That’s why you see this ugly piece of machinery in my photo. Other than that they have three of the most expensive hotels in Europe here with people throwing around obscene amounts of money.

You can’t park your boat here unless it is at least 70 meters long. There were about ten of these monstrosities parked here. I wonder how many of them were bought with dirty money.

                                       ST. PAUL DE VENCE

St. Paul de Vence shot from the bus. Another amazing Medieval village beloved by some of the greatest artists of the last few centuries because of the amazing light by which to paint. Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, and Chagall lived here to name a few. The town is the second most visited in France after Mont Saint Michel.

Café de la Place – Grabbed a bite here, and learned that some scenes for a movie with Richard Gere were shot here recently.

The stonework was so pleasantly artistic.

The signage also had a nice flair to it.

Art Galleries Everywhere

The Outer Wall

Jams for every occasion.

The bus stop back to Nice.

One last look at the Negresco and the beach, and I’m out of here. It’s been hot for over a week.

I’m ready for some cooler weather in the Scandinavian zone. See you in, Stockholm. Funny that the yellow and blue on the beach are the colors of the Swedish flag.