ah, Nice! …part 1

Somehow I usually take the long way home or to other places…well, not somehow, I know why… because this way I can see more places and people for the same amount of money or less (I am building my trips according to low cost flights availability).

a recap… the winter break/vacation/holiday started with going from Zurich to Milano, stayed there for one day, then Brescia for 3 days, also visiting Sirmione. Took a plane to Bucharest, then a night train to Chisinau… stayed at home for two weeks, spent most of the time with my family and the very close friends… going back to Zurich was again via Bucharest…

(later, will post more pictures with Bucharest)

…and when I was planning the trip, I thought – why not returning through a place I haven’t visited yet? I was considering South of Spain or Nice, France. Nice won…left Malaga and the surroundings for a warmer period.

Also, 2-3 months ago I was talking with a friend (from Moldova, but now living in Brussels) about the possibility to visit a place together. I told her about my plan with Nice, it was good for her too and we ended having a warm, sunny, beautiful, relaxed weekend :)

I got to Nice on Thursday (12.01) late evening… when getting out of the airport, first thought was – how cool, palm trees, mid winter, in Europe… but from the plane, when landing, I saw mountain peaks with snow.

My friend was coming for only 2 nights, but I came one before… I didn’t book anything for my first night, just got the address of a cheap hotel. On the way to the city/hotel, I missed my stop… in fact I didn’t even bother asking the bus driver what would be the best stop in order to get to “this” address. I was looking through the window, taken away by the palm trees and the nicely illuminated “bourgeois” hotels that are situated just by the coast.

On the bus, a guy asked me about another address…it happened that his hotel was on the same street as mine. So we missed the stop together… but then quickly found our way back.
The 2* hotel, which has also dorms, is located in the very center, on a small nice street with expensive shops :) The 6 bed dorm was full…and they gave me a bed in a 4 bed dorm where there was no one, except me :) 15 euros – a good deal.

just around the corner

When arriving to a new place I like getting out almost immediately, unless it is very late.
Therefore, took a shower and went out exploring and looking for a place to eat… the old town was the recommendation of the lady at the reception. Well, nice, but obviously very touristic, I think not many locals dine there… an annoying thing – the restaurants having people that try to drag you inside their place etc. Since I was alone, I didn’t want a crowded place and the Opera’s bistro seemed suitable for me, somehow bohemiano-aristocratic :) not loud and with good wifi connection.

and Opera across the street

Had a Nicoise salad without suspecting that it is a local speciality, although the name was obvious :) I liked that in Nice (or in France, generally) bread comes with the food… in Moldova you would have to pay separately for the bread.

afterwards had a good sleep…

and later will write about the next day(s)…. :)

part 2

part 3

eze

monaco

day 3

everything Côte d’Azur