Saturday 9th July
2016
The scenic Côte d'Azur is a famed summer holiday destination
for many Brits, and a popular getaway for the rich and famous.
Due to time and cost constraints our visit to the glitzy Mediterranean
coast was a short one, and we were booked to fly out of London on Saturday
morning. Unluckily for us, trains out to Gatwick Airport only run hourly early
in the morning and so in order to make our 6am flight we had to wake up at
2:30am and be at Clapham Junction station for a 3:09am train.
The Nice Airport occupies a superb coastal position,
although you probably wouldn’t want to have a fear of flying given that just beyond
each end of the runways is the ocean. Departing the airport we boarded a bus into
the city centre, travelling on Promenade des Anglais along the coastline.
The weather was very warm and humid. We checked into our first
floor accommodation, complete with rustic wooden shutters on the windows, and
given the distinct lack of air conditioning made our way down to the beach.
Amongst our research prior to arriving we’d read a
recommendation that forking out for a private beach is worthwhile in order to
have a sun lounge, rather than having to try and sunbathe on the hot stones. The
concept of private beaches where you “pay to lay” seems common in Europe and so
we paid the €16 per person entry charge at Opéra Plage, a combination
beach, restaurant and bar. You can see a 360° view of the facilities here.
We relaxed and basked in the warmth, and even went for a dip
in the amazing blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Back on the shore, and the comforting
warmth and lack of sleep hit us and we ended up falling asleep on the sun
lounges.
We returned to the flat to get ready for dinner, keen to
visit either Bistrot d'Antoine or La Tapenade that had come recommended by
Roslyn’s colleague Josh. Following dinner, we set off for the bus to Monaco, a
tiny country on the Côte d'Azur coastline that is independent of France.
The main commercial district, Monte Carlo, is a vibrant and glamorous
seaside hub lined with super yachts in the harbour and super cars on the street
(in addition, the Formula 1 cars race here annually). These people of super
wealth flock to the grand Casino de Monte-Carlo. The rest of us mere mortals look
on in awe.
The surroundings of the casino are comprised of lush gardens
and a selection of bars and cafes. Oddly for a place targeted so heavily
towards tourists, the trains and buses out of Monaco back to Nice cease running
much beyond 10pm. Then again, maybe they assume that those who have visited
will have arrived either on their private yacht or driven a Maserati/Bentley/Ferrari/Lamborghini.
The next morning, we rose and set off to climb the stairs to
Nice’s highest point, Colline du Château (Castle Hill). From up here, you have
an amazing view across most of the city and can really take in the sight of
that amazing blue ocean. There is a waterfall at the top, which provided us
with a refreshing mist.
We descended the hill and strolled along the beachside
promenade, and then headed north through the central square of Place Masséna. Continuing
up Avenue Jean Médecin, Roslyn purchased a denim jacket (not necessary for use
while in Nice) and we picked up our obligatory local souvenir.
The humidity in the air meant that we were sweating
profusely, despite having not actually exerted much physical energy. Still in
possession of our now expired Opéra Plage beach entry tickets from the day
before, we decided to head back and try our luck at getting in again. Success!
Overall, we really enjoyed our weekend in the sun. Nice and the French Riviera is a wonderful combination of all the best parts of a European beach destination, with elegant French flair.
If ever you thought security to get into an airport was
tough, we discovered that once you’re through it’s even harder to get back out.
Nice Airport has a rather odd layout and all the cafes and restaurants are
located outside the security area. We didn’t realise this until after we’d
already passed through, and so soon discovered that there was nowhere for us to
get dinner before our late flight. After asking a few different people, we were
allowed back out through a special exit to have dinner, and then have to go
back through security all over again.
Highlights:
- Scenic drive in along Promenade des Anglais
- Opéra Plage private beach
- Fell asleep on sun lounges
- La Tapenade for dinner
- Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Casino de Monte-Carlo
- Lush gardens of the Casino complex
- Ate ice cream and tried to spot anyone famous
- Super yachts and super cars
- Climbed stairs to Colline du Château (Castle Hill)
- Place Masséna
- Shopping on Avenue Jean Médecin
- Snuck back into the beach
- At the airport, passed through security then had to ask
for special permission to be let back out
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