Nice is WAY nice

While in Nice, we went to the 'Flower Market' which is much more than flowers only. We say incredible displays of pastery, cheeses, herbs, jellies and jams, flowers, and marzipan--some of which is shown in these photos.









It was a weird thing for me to find out that the beach in Nice is not sand, but rocks, BIG roundy grey rocks. I didn't go swimming or lie on it (there just wasn't time) but I can't imagine that it is very comfortable w/out a beach chair. Plus, I can invision a few twisted ankles for folks playing in the surf.

After seeing what people in various places call beaches, Sara and I really did realize how spoiled we are on the Gulf Coast to have our white sugar sand beaches. They are so much cooler to walk on in addition to the comfort for lounging about than what we saw most places.

Greetings from the OTHER riviera. Sara and I left Montpellier yesterday by train. The station had a bazillion steep stairs for us to flounder about on w/ our small but heavy suitcases. The train was nice and passed lovely scenery along the coast. Sometimes it looked like two totally different countries out the right and left windows. Make that north and south windows. We arrived in Nice about 8 p.m. but of course it was still rather afternoon looking. I had emailed ahead to the hotel that we would be a late arrival. I knew hotels space is scarce this time of the year here. We were put in the last room, sharing a double bed on the 3rd floor--but not a problem, neither of us have had a bit of trouble sleeping on this trip. Both of us can sleep w/ lights on, noise, whatever.....but fortunately, we have had quiet rooms. None have been located next to dumpsters or elevators, serenading students or babies, etc...research before booking helped in that dept.

The hotel has no lift, so the folks at the hotel were sweet enough to help us lug our stuff up all those flights of narrow marble stairs. The owners are Italian and super sweet. The hotel is a bit 'funky' but has the best hot water we have run into so far. One night only here anyway. In about an hour , Sara is suppose to return from visiting a museum and we get a taxi for the boat. Speakingof taxis, everything in Nice is very expensive. The taxi ride from the train station to the hotel about 14 blocks away was 13 Euros. It will cost that much again to get us and our stuff to the docks, but it is too far to walk. In Montpellier, we walked to the hotel from train station and back which was great.

Nice is beautiful. Fabulous hotels, casinos etc.. (where we are NOT staying) line the bouluvard across from the sea. There are wonderful little shops w/ cool clothes. Fabulous flowers planted everywhere and sidewalk cafes. Palm trees line the streets.

We had a great supper meal of sea bass, zuchinni, ripe peppers in a custardy sauce and something else I can't remember last night at a recommended restaurant on the promanade (sp?) . We sat next to two very young fellows, one a math teacher who graduated from a college in Cambridge and one a Polish guy who is a paratrooper in the French Foreign Legion. Both were great dinner converstionalists and really cute.

This morning was the day of the flower market---it was incredible. It was way more than just flowers. It was food-a-rama. Mushrooms, cheeses, fruit w/ colors so intense it was amazing. Hats, jellies, jams, candy, breads, and tons of plants and flowers. We bought flowers for our hotel owner, she has been so sweet to us.

Au revoir from Nice, Lundy