4 Cities of the French Riviera

France

October 11th - October 13th, 2013

The French Riviera was by far one of my Favorite trips that I went on while I was abroad. Plus, I actually won it so going there was completely free. Something about that fact that it literally has every type of atmosphere you could ever want all situated in one area is so great! Want somewhat urban life near the beach? Nice. Want a medieval town on the top of a mountain? Éze. This list goes on and on. 

Nice - Nice is definitely in my top five favorite cities in the world. It is the perfect size and right on the ocean. The city is filled with locals and tourist alike that all share the same laid back personalities. There is no Parisan attitude there. The people share a relaxed moral that is overall inviting. It's safe to say that the people of Nice are nice! 

The shopping of Nice is truly one of a kind. I highly recommend checking out the main markets for food and other goods. I bought a oil painting from a painter near the markets and I gave it to my mom for Christmas and she is obsessed with it. 

The nightlife is Nice isn't very intense but still a really good time. My friends and I ended up at the King's Pub. It's a really cool looking bar with live music and somewhat cheap drinks. The atmosphere is definitely one that is more relaxed. If you are looking for less of the bar feel, I recommend going to Wayne's bar next door to dance the night away on tables. Both sound great to me. 

The food I had in Nice was some of the best food that I had while I was abroad. I'm blanking on the name of the restaurant we went to but it was to die for. The coolest part of the whole place was that only one man ran the whole thing. He did everything from serving to cooking. I was so impressed. The prices were really good too. I think I spent around 20€ for a three course meal and a drink. 

The most memorable thing I did while in Nice was scuba diving. For some reason you don't need a license to do it there. The guide does most of the work but you still can say you did it and it is still really cool! You even get free wine on the boat. :) It was pretty cheap too! It was about 50€ and the trip was about 3 hours long. 

Èze - Èze is truly magical place. It is a small medieval town located near the highest points of the French Riviera. The city dates back to 2000 BC and it is considered a huge tourist area because of the panoramic views at the highest point of the city, which is a garden. It is very easy to get lost on the looping pathways throughout the small town. The architecture of the town is truly remarkable. 

We weren't in Èze for that long, but we had time to sit at a little cafè and enjoy a crêpe and good conversation. 

Another thing we did near Èze was visit the Fragonard Perfumerie. We learned about the manufacturing of thier perfumes and how unique they are. They explained that their perfumes are only sold in a few places in France. This means that when you come back to the states, no one has the same perfume as you! The perfumes are a little expensive but you can buy sets to make it cheaper and it is so worth it. I bought one and I love it! 

Monaco - So Monaco isn't so much of a city, but actually it's own country! If you are craving to experience the lifestyles of the rich and the famous, Monaco is for you!

Monaco is a sight to see. The yachts and luxury vehicles are everywhere. One of the most popular destinations in Monaco is Monte Carlo Casino. It's free to enter and it is extremely extravagant from the inside out. 

We spent around a half of a day in the area with not much of a plan. We had dinner along the water and just enjoyed everything Monaco had to offer. We only spent a few minutes in the casino becuase it was so beautiful outside. The rest of the time just walking around taking in all of the beauty and luxury of such a wonderful place. 

Antibes - Antibes is another favorite of mine. It's a town full of character surrounded by water. The first thing we did when we arrived was visit the market area to look at stands and find something interesting to eat. The different types of cheeses at the market were endless, it was very hard to choose. I bought some Brie with truffles in it and a baguette and headed to the beach to enjoy my lunch and the lovely weather. 

After lunch, my roommate and I went to go check out an absinthe bar near the market. Absinthe is known as a type of alcohol that is supposed to make you hallucinate. We didn't try any but I bought a few bottles to give as gifts. After that we headed to the Picasso Museum. I am not big into art but since Picasso is a very famous artist, I was curious to see the exhibits. We ended the day with just walking around and hanging out on the beach, an overall relaxing day. 

My experience in the French Riviera is one that I am going to remember forever. The whole area is stunning and a must see if you are ever on that part of the globe. Like I said, there is a place for everyone there and it has the potential to be liked by anyone. I went on this trip the weekend before midterms and let's just say no studying was done.