Weekend in Nice
Over the May Bank Holiday weekend four friends and I walked from Nice to Cap Ferrat.
The original plan was to fly early on friday for a lunchtime arrival & spend the afternoon sunbathing before cocktails on the roof terrace and heading out for a meal. The reality was that we boarded our Easyjet flight, they shut the doors at 11am then told us we had a take off slot at 5pm! After some passenger discord we took off about 2.30.
We stayed at Le Meridien, Promenade des Anglais, for three nights. Plus points are it's location which couldn't be better, the roof top pool and cocktail bar. Less positive were our rooms especially Sam and mine as we couldn't even read the lighting was so dark. Having asked at reception if anything could be done we were told nothing could be done unless we paid for a better room which wasn't particularly helpful.
Roof top terrace at Le Meridien.
Saturday was an altogether better day with breakfast at a pretty cafe on Cours Saleya. Cours Saleya is the focal point of Vielle Ville (old town) which transforms itself throughout the day. Cafe's surround a market selling flowers, fruit & vegetables, fish, gifts, handmade soaps and antiques depending on the day. At night the stalls make way for restuarant tables which fill the square.
Cours Saleya
After breakfast we joined a food tour (www.nicefoodtours.com) with a company called A Taste Of Nice. We met the very patient Megan on the seafront at Opera Plage where she gave us a traditional Nicoise snack made of Swiss chard, pine nuts, pastry and icing sugar. It's a snack I can happily live without! Fortunately the next stop was to Maison Auer, the oldest candied fruit and chocolate shop in Nice. Much more to my taste.
Maison Auer
Over three and a half hours we sampled wines, olive oil, goats cheese, candied fruit & pissaladier. Lunch was included in the 65 euro cost where the palest pink rose wine was drunk in earnest and we giggled our way through the final stop on the tour - a delicious gelato.
During the afternoon we took a tram to Messina for a few hours sobering shopping.
Sunday was the real reason we had come to Nice. Our plan was to take a taxi to Cap Ferrat and walk the perimetre of this walkers paradise. I'm not sure why or how the plan changed but after much faffing about decideding what we should wear (the weather couldn't make it's mind up so consequently nor could we) we decided to set off from the Promenade des Anglais on foot and see how far we got.
It is a beautiful coastline with the sparkling aqua sea to your left the entire way although at certain points it's frustrating you can't actually walk down by the water due to the stunning properties built on the hillside with their private jetties protruding into the water.
Cap Ferrat
Just as we were beginning to wilt in the sun and gasp for water ( we hadn't brought any water with us - duh) we rounded the headland to see beautiful little Villefranche-sur-mer with it's cafe's lining the waters edge and small band playing to the diners as they tucked into moules frites. Lunch in this delightful little fishing village was the highlight of the weekend for me.
Villefranche-sur-mer.
After our lazy lunch three decided to take a taxi back to our hotel whilst Sam and I wanted to carry on to Cap Ferrat. Cap Ferrrat is beautiful, glamourous and yet unspoilt. It's craggy coastline is dotted with stunning houses looking out into the cobbalt sea. The most amazing is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild sitting high up on the hillside.
Cap Ferrat Peninsular.
Having walked for nearly seven hours we hopped onto the bus which drives between Monaco and Nice for the bargain price of one euor fifty.
With five pairs of tired feet and a sprinkling of sunburn we walked to Cours Salaya for dinner on our last night in Nice. Heaven!