With a name like “Nice,” how could this city on the French Riviera not be a great place to visit? We’ve been here a few times. It’s great to discover new places when traveling, but returning to a favorite destination is fun, too.
Our day started in Antibes. We checked out of Hotel de la Place and drove to St. Paul de Vence, where we had lunch. I ordered a burger and fries, à la française. By “à la française,” I just mean one of those fantastic burgers and fries that the French make so well.
It’s a pleasure to just stroll around St. Paul de Vence and take in the atmosphere of that modern-day medieval village. Ever since artists like Matisse, Chagall, and Picasso called this place home, it has been a haven for artists. An art lover could easily spend more than a few euros here.
We’re saving our euros for Nice, (and the trip home). The drive from St. Paul de Vence to our hotel in Nice took just 30 minutes. We’ve stayed in this hotel – Hotel de Suede – once before. It’s comfortable, the location works well for us, they provide a good breakfast, and it seems like a good deal for the money.
La Pérouse
On a previous visit to Nice, we stayed in a hotel called La Pérouse. It’s ideally located on Colline du Château – the hill between Promenade des Anglais and Nice’s large marina.
Each room at La Pérouse has a small balcony overlooking the whole expanse of the beach, the Promenade des Anglais, and the blue Mediterranean sea. The rooms are tiny, and the great view comes at a price, but it’s a special place to stay one time.
Oh, and in case you’re driving, (as we were), parking for La Pérouse is about a quarter mile away. (Plan on getting lost the first time you look for the parking lot). Almost forgot about that little detail.
Au Revoir, Rental Car!
Hotel de Suede gets bonus points for being one block away from the rental car office where I can unload our rental car. After checking in, that task was happily achieved in short order.
We spent many an hour in that car during the past two weeks. Had some great times. Am I going to miss it, maybe just a little bit? Not really!
The neighborhood surrounding Hotel de Suede is a pedestrian zone packed with shops and restaurants. Promenade des Anglais and the beach are two blocks away.
After resting up for a while, we went out for some refreshments and later, dinner. The walk-street in front of the hotel is lined with restaurants on both sides. Hundreds of outdoor tables beckon one to settle in, have an ice-cold beer, a glass of wine or something more interesting, and watch the world go by.
Le Happy Hour
The weather in Nice is almost always warm, and since it’s on the coast, there’s almost always a breeze – perfect for sitting outside in the evening.
We settled in at a place on a corner, a block away from the hotel. Our table was ideal for watching the endless parade of people walking by. Nice is a popular tourist destination. We could hear all kinds of different languages being spoken by passers-by. And as always in Nice, lots of British accents.
We ordered a dozen oysters and a half-carafe, or demi-bouteille, of local rosé to wash ‘em down. Unlike at home, people here drink rosé by the gallon. It’s crisp, clean, dry, and it’s served ice-cold. Provençal rosé has just the slightest hint of a pink hue. It suits the food and the warm weather.
Ahhhh… no wonder we keep coming back to Nice.
To be continued…
Note:
Great photo at the top of this post is the view from Hotel La Pérouse. Credit: istockphoto/StockByM
