- Medieval Musings in Sarlat and Other Dordogne Villages
- A Heroine, A Pig and A Tale to Tell In Carcassonne
- A hike to remember ~ St. Remy to Les Baux, Provence, France
- Paddle Under Pont Du Gard For The Most Amazing Views
- Chamonix is waiting ~ lace up your hiking boots.
- Annecy Will Give You Reasons To Wish You Stayed Longer
- Discover the soothing sounds and breathable pace of Ile Sur La Sorgue
- Villefranche-Sur-Mer, Once A Preferred Playground Of High-Society, Still Charms
- Nice Is Nice – Either Way It’s Nice
Nice Is Nice – Either Way Its Nice
Behind Nice’s impressive cultured front are earnest artists, street markets and an endless tide of tourists
NICE, FRANCE
MAY 12
We had planned to leave earlier in the morning for our daytrip to Nice but got underway a little late from Villefranche-sur-Mer, with just enough time to grab a baguette before running to catch the bus.
Nice is nice but didn’t “Wow” us.
Using Rick Steve’s guide book for direction we started our self-guided walking tour on the Nice’s English Promenade. The English, who like to vacation away from drizzly London, built this wide promenade (which now stretches four miles along the coastline of the Bay of Angles) so they didn’t have to deal with the indelicacies of walking on the uneven, dirty and smelly sand.
Across the busy avenue which parallels the promenade is an impressive row of up-market hotels, restaurants, condominiums and even a couple of casinos … and of course McDonalds.
The chandelier in the center of the Royal Salon (which can be seen from the lobby) is 4.6 m in height and 2.6 m wide. This extravagant piece, dangling 16,800 pieces of Baccarat crystal, was ordered by the Tsar of Russia at the end of the nineteenth century. In fact, the world famous House of Baccarat made two identical copies for the Tsar. One chandelier was delivered and installed in the Kremlin, where it still hangs today. The second was never delivered because of the Revolution and it remained in France where today it is admired by guests and visitors to the Hotel Negresco.
The columns and moldings around the oval Royal Salon are accented with 24 karat gold and between columns are large portraits of France’s Royals.

We wove our way along narrow streets and peered in windows of art galleries, clothing boutiques and what seemed to us an overabundance of pastry shops and restaurants.

The rain slackened a bit and we maneuvered our way back to the bus depot for the ten minute return ride to Villefranche-sur-Mer; our hotel was a short block from the bus stop. We stopped on the way at a small vegetable and fruit grocer plus the bakery to pick up some items for a picnic dinner.
First on our to-do list upon arrival in our lodging was to open the French doors to the balcony’s view and spread a few crumbs for the dove that visited us this morning.
ACCOMMODATION
HOTEL LE PROVENCAL, Villefranche-sur-Mer–
A lovely two-star boutique hotel ideally located 10 minutes’ walk from Villefranche-sur-Mer train station or beach and only a block from the bus to/from Nice. Rooms are clean and the staff is welcoming and helpful. Their breakfasts are serve in the garden. Book early to secure a room with a view over old town to the Mediterranean … one of several reasons to choose Hotel le Provencal in Villefranche.
Address: 4 Avenue du Marechal Joffre 06230, Villefranche-sur-mer
Phone: 04 93 76 53 53
Email: On website contact page
Website: hotelleprovencal.fr