Côte d'Azur

This was our first self-organised holiday with friends, and since three of us did French in school, we chose France as a post-exam reward.  Four girlfriends and I spent 6 days along the beautiful Côte d'Azur : Nice as our base, Cannes, Antibes (ish), and Monaco.  I spent <£350 for everything.  FOOD was centre of it all: crepes, socca de Nice, gelato, cake, and pastries...


Le vendredi soir

As soon as we touched-down, we checked into Campanile Hotel in Nice, and it's location and basics were perfect for us girls.  We headed straight out in classy dress, and wandered around the city looking out for non-expensive, classy French restaurant.  We stumbled upon Le Sully Brasserie.  It was Om Nom Nom.  We sat outside, and salivated over our starters, Raviolis Salmon, Gnocchi Gorgonzola, Risotto aux noix de St Jacques, Canard aux fruits rouges (Duck in Red Berries), and Moules Marineres (Mussels), and the bill came to 68 Euros for 5 people.  Nous étions très contentes.  We absorbed in the beautiful, peaceful surroundings, and later went to Giuseppe Pepimo Cantina Gelateria just opposite, as one girlfriend has a love for Gelato ice cream... we ended up having gelato everyday, as we did with crepes and cake.



Le samedi
We took the train (double-decker) to Cannes, 6 Euros for a return, where we caught the end of the Cannes Film Festival.  Plenty of men in black suits and sunglasses guarding doors, walking around.  We had a picture taken with a lovely old man and his bike, bless. We saw awesome sand work. Palm trees.

We took the boat to Île Sainte-Marguerite.  A simply peaceful, stunning island.  It is one of the largest of the Lérins Islands and most known for its Fort Royal (Fortress Prison).

Then we headed back to Cannes for more sight-seeing and eating. 

View from the Musee de la Castre - we chilled there for like a hour in its beautiful serenity.

Le dimanche

A certain friend got badly assymetrically sunburnt/tanned from Cannes.  Much hilarity.

This day was dedicated to Nice.  It began with sampling the local food of course, then wandering around the markets, city, and beach.  The beach along the entire coast of Nice is stony pebbles.  Cannes was pretty much the same.  It was only up north in Antibes was it meant to be sandy.  The beach and weather was lovely, and it was just so nice to see the locals and tourists just chill so casually.

La Tour Bellanda provided stunning panoramic views over Nice.  Ceramic mosaics with ancient Greek motifs, a waterfall, markets, and museums.

Le lundi

Beach, chillax day.  We got on a bus heading towards Antibes. Unfortunately we got off too early and the beach coast was still pebbled stones.  But it was quiet, the sky and water was blue, and we had our watermelon, therefore very happy.  I think we were three-quarters of the way between Nice and Antibes, and the area around wasn't as pretty as Nice/Cannes/Monaco... so I don't have much more to say!


Le mardi

Monaco.  We all agreed that this was the most stunning city.  Full of history, views, building/architecture, racing track, sights, and gardens. We didn't venture into the casinos but we admired the architecture from the outside!  Two girls in particular melted over the cuteness of the animals at the zoo.

"I wish I owned a boat and lived and worked here."

This was our final full day, so back at Nice, we headed out to find a good restaurant.  Unfortunately this restaurant L'Abbaye wasn't as good or cheaper than Le Sully, but there were good music buskers who played lovely Jazz.  Also, insignificant but there was a fairly cute guy who we asked to take a picture for us in Monaco, and he was sat next to us back at Nice.  We went for more gelato afterwards.

Le mercredi
Final stroll around Nice.  Last bulk buy of pastries and desserts.  Gelato at Gelateria Pinocchio and Gelateria Azzuro.

On a final note:
   It was just a peaceful, beautiful, clean, sunny place.  Such a contrast from Paris and not as expensive as stereotyped.  Architecture and culture made us smile.  Just perfect for 5 girlfriends to just relax after the storm of exams and just bask in culture. 

Aller, aller, aller - vite, vite, vite!