Respite in Nice



It had been a hard week. I was feeling particularly disillusioned after another difficult parent conferencing evening and was starting to wonder if I could actually do another term of this. But I was going to Nice! My flight left early Saturday afternoon so I spent the morning squeezing in some exam marking in an attempt to remove some of the pressure on my return.
On arrival in Nice I was greeted with my first ever smiling border security who promptly stamped my passport and waved me through, and it felt like a sign.

Nice, beautiful, glorious Nice. The beach stretches on and on, the buildings have perfect colour coordination while maintaining their own unique aspects. Somehow I scored the top floor room in my hotel and could see out to the hills in the fading sunlight. I spent the evening walking to the port, round Castle Hill and along the promenade. It was one of the first places in Europe I have travelled where I have felt completely safe, and it was so nice to relax my guard a little and take in the moment.
The following morning was another beautiful one, blue skies and sunshine, life continuing oblivious to the storm causing issues over most of Europe. I went for another walk along the port and through the Old Town, taking in all the sights and sounds. I had happened upon Palm Sunday and outside all the churches there were people with tables of branches and weaved flax to sell to the morning congregation.





I then walked up Castle Hill, to a stunning view, before coming down and walking back along the promenade. I spent most of the afternoon and evening walking along the beach front, stopping every few hundred metres, sitting down and taking in the ocean, listening to waves, breathing in the salt air. 

By the time I had walked all the way round the bay, I was nearly at the airport, so decided to walk the last 30 minutes in time for my night flight back to London.
Nice caught me completely off guard. I was really only booked the trip because I was craving some sunshine and beach, but it is so much more, and is an experience not to be missed. I had no previous desire to see France, but the travel bug seems to have overtaken me and Nice has pushed France right up my list of priority places. Although I think that next time I will school up on basic French phrases to avoid the awkward Mr Bean on Holiday moments!

Comments

  1. Nicola Wells2 April 2018 at 14:00

    Go back and go for a quick train out and a coastal walk along Antibes! It was our... mm... third favourite walk? Nice place for a swim too in all the little coves :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aimee5 April 2018 at 01:50

      Sounds awesome! It was a little cold for swimming when I was there but I'd love to go back and explore the surrounds a bit more.

      Delete

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