nice is nice
When I was going through security in Amsterdam, the official asked me where I was going before stamping my passport. I told him Nice. His response with a flawless English accent was “nice!”
Nice is a nice city.
At one end of Vieux Nice is the Parc de la Colline du Château. One can either walk up the steps to the top or take an elevator. From the top one will have a beautiful panoramic view of the Promenade des Anglais and la Vieille Ville. It is a popular destination for that reason.
Sometimes I like to go elsewhere for a view. Two places are favorites: La Terrasse du Plaza and Le Méridien Nice. At La Terrasse du Plaza one goes to the 6th and last floor of the Boscolo Hotel Plaza. The restaurant there is good. For Le Meridien Nice I go to the 9th floor terrace and sometimes to the 1st floor. (That would be second floor in the US.) Be prepared to pay dearly for drinks.
During one recent trip to Nice, I went to the terrace of Le Meridien Nice. I had wanted to see from above the Carnaval de Nice parade as it wound onto La promenade des Anglais and past Le Meridien Nice. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)
By chance right below me a sniper and his spotter had placed themselves. Everywhere security was tight.
On Monday at the Cours Saleya in Vieux Nice, a fun secondhand market takes place from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. On other days one will find the Marché aux Fleurs. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)
A trip to Nice would not be a success without a meal. I will typically eat in Vieux Nice. Within a small confined area, between the tram tracks and the Mediterranean Sea, Old Nice has many many wonderful restaurants. As one critic wrote: « À Nice, où les restaurants fleurissent comme les coquelicots dans un champ de blé, on aime bien se mettre à table. » (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)
This particular day I chose Peixes for lunch. It is pronounced “pesh,” Portuguese for “fish”. The Michelin guide has noted it.
For the entrée I ordered 6 huitres fine de claire nature N° 3 and for the main dish the ceviche de St Jacques, fruit de la passion, purée d’avocat. Of course, I drank a glass of nice, crisp white wine.
un Voyageur 