Fall, 2017: Provence and a Med Cruise: Nice is Nice!

Friday, we decided that, rather than driving to Aix, we would just stay around Saint Paul as we both felt we hadn't explored it enough. So, we walked into the village and it actually only took about 30 minutes on the way there (it is mostly uphill) and 25 minutes on the return. I am still glad, however, that we didn't think about walking that road in the dark. It was harrowing enough in daylight! Along the way and there, we got some very lovely photos of Saint Paul.

And, then there is the shopping! There are lots of independent boutiques there outnumbered only by art galleries. We spent a good 2 hours checking them out and we both experienced success; Nawal more than me! Afterwards, we had lunch at a restaurant on the wall. It was an enjoyable way to laze away another couple of hours before walking home and starting the business of packing up.

My "Fermier Poulet" served on mashed potatoes

Our lunch at Le Tilleul - our bottle of Sancerre was wonderful!

Saturday morning, we drove to the Cote d'Azur airport, which is very close to Nice, dropped of the rental car, stored Nawal's luggage and went into Nice. We had the opportunity to have a nice relaxing lunch before she headed back to the airport for her late afternoon flight to Amsterdam. We lunched in the vieux ville at a restaurant I'd eaten at before called Le Tire Bouchon. Our meals (cote d'agneau) were a bit disappointing because the cutlets were very fatty but the desserts more than made up for it!

No red Corvette for us - just a little red Renault

Nawal with the Baie des Anges in the background

After leaving her, I walked along the Promenade des Anglais and it was hard not to think of the atrocity that happened here July, 2016. There isn't much evidence of it now, at least that I could see from the taxi we took in from the airport. However, there are a large number of the palm trees along the promenade around the Hotel Negresco which look newly planted as they have wooden supports all around them. I will have to check that out tomorrow. Once thing for sure, in spite of the date, it is still summer here. The weather is warm, the beach is crowded, and the beach bars are packed as well. I am pleased that Nice seems to be healing. Given all the tourists - and I heard many different languages while I was walking around - the horrors of last year are being left behind. I must find out if there is a memorial somewhere. I get to spend one more day here before moving on.