Greetings from sunny albeit cold Paris! I just came back from the Cote d'Azur, or famously known as the French Riviera. My roommates and I had planned this weekend getaway back during the first week of September--little did we all know it was exactly what the three of us all needed.
To give everybody an idea of what France and Paris has been like for two months...the whole country has been protesting due to Sarkozy's "brash" decision to move the retirement age from 60 to 62. The metros in Paris are more crowded, smell worse and are delayed more than they already are. Shop windows have been shattered, tear gas has been thrown and bystander Americans have been warned. If you don't believe me, check out the front page of the NYTimes.com or tune in to ABC's World News Tonight.
Essentially, Parisians and Frenchies alike are protesting almost every week and its affecting transportation and my patience immensly.
Fed up with the whole stiffled morale in France, Heather, Lindsey and I jetted off to Charles de Gaulle for a hour flight to Nice. We were greeted with blue skies, Mediterranean climate and people smiling(Parisiens, like New Yorkers and myself, do not smile often). After a 15 minute bus ride to a nearby stop, we were picked up in a van by a dreadlock-sporting, Bob Marley tri-colored cap wearing guy from Manchester, England of all places. The hostel we checked into(yes Mom and Dad, your daughter stayed in a hostel) is rated one of the top 5 hostels in the world--it's called the Villa Saint Exupery. I stayed in a 12 person room including Heather and Lindsey.
After checking into our hostel, we headed down to walk around the city of Nice. I could not believe how much Nice reminded me of Italy's prized Amalfi Coast. Most of the buildings were brightly colored, like those found in the sun drenched piazza's in the various Italian cities and towns I traveled to last January.
The first place my roommates and I went to was Cours Saleya, which is the largest fruit and flower market in all of France. If I can appreciate one thing and one thing only from the European lifestyle, it is the abudance of markets it has. Nothing is more enjoyable then walking around a martket on a lazy day looking at the local produce and products the vendors have to offer.
From the market, we made our way to the beach. The beaches in Nice, are unlike every beach I've ever seen or been to because instead of sand, it has gray rocks. Four hours later of sun tanning sans sunblock(whoops), we went back to the hostel to check out happy hour. When my roommates and I saw 1 euro beers and cocktails for under 5 euro we were sold.
We settled down in the large dining area(which was basically transformed into a lounge), we scouted out a group of 5 or so people. Turns out they were Australian and were willing to play the drinking game Heather, Lindsey and I wanted to play. It was a great night and a good end to the first day in Nice.
Day Two of our French Riviera vacation was a repeat of the day before: wake up, walk around town, tan for 4+ hours, shower, dinner and hang out downstairs at our hostel. This second night we met another group of Australians--they were two childhood friends who decided to travel around Europe for 3 months. They were so friendly and very easy to relate to--my roommates and I are trying to get the two of them to visit us in Paris soon.
Day Three was welcomed with some unpleasant news: our train had been cancelled to, of course, the protests/strike in France. On a whim, we tracked down the nearest AVIS, rented a car and started our trek from Nice to Paris. We stopped at Monaco and Monte Carlo to see the casino and of course, how wealthy the place is said to be. A simple way to describe Monaco and Monte Carlo is pure luxury. I have never seen so many yachts and $300,000+ cars in a condensed area. Monaco was a picturesque detour, but I've realized that I prefer Nice and the laid back atmosphere it provides its visitors with.
After Monaco, we went from the sea side to the mountain side. The famous road we were on for the majority of the trip is called Route Napoleon. The history behind this road is really interesting..here's a link to give more information on it:
Route Napoleon History.
The only way to describe this 14 hour ride, was an experience of a lifetime. The landscapes I witnessed are too sublime to capture with words. I was in a state of euphoria seeing the natural beauty of The Alps. To futher one's visual attempt to picture my ride back, it is the same road, landscapes and towns that is on the Tour de France when the participants are climbing The Alps. Interestingly enough, that part is not only the most aesthistetically pleasing section, it is also considered the most grueling part of the event.
At 2 a.m. I finally arrived back in my apartment here in Paris. Exhausted, I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed with relief as I finally achieved my goal of getting a healthy tan from the greatest weekend getaway one could possibly have in the middle of a national strike.
Until next time...
bisous,
Meg
