Nice (NEE-ce) is nice!

Nice and the French Riviera
April 12-15, 2007
Celebrating my last few days of Spring Break
in one of the most beautiful areas of the world.

So picturesque! The water was four different shades of blue...

Promenade de Anglais! The streets were lined with palm trees...

I don't speak a word of French, needless to say I got lost a few times.

No sand, just soft pebbles on this beach

The beautiful flower market

More gorgeous fleurs!

My favorite "sushi" flowers

Walking down the beach front...

The famous hotel Negresco...
I stayed down the street at the cheaper St. Gothard (not photo worthy), it smelled.

It wasn't the best weather but it was still lovely

Once the sun decided to show up, everyone headed for the beach.

All of Nice and the Mediterranean

Somehow this bird flew through my picture at just the right time,
and he looks to be carrying an olive branch, weird.

I always like to find where the Swiss hang out

I took a trip of the whole riviera... first stop: Fragonard perfume factory

It was pretty cool, but very touristy

Monaco's Cathedral... where royalty get married

Princess Caroline in Monaco, hehe.

The castle of the Royal Family of Monaco

Monaco's Pretty Port

Me and the port

More of Monaco

More of me and Monaco

Getting to Monte Carlo, we took the route of the Grand Prix...
Monte Carlo had the nicest car collection this girl's ever seen!

At the Casino in Monte Carlo.. no royal sightings today

Unbelievable flowers here too!

Awkward picture captured by my new Bulgarian friend

Thirty seconds before this picture was taken, I had fell in front of the fountain...
this is me trying to recover from the tumble,
still smiling because when you are in the Riviera you can't help it!

St. Paul ou Vence (?)... stopped for lunch

Then headed to Cannes, where Chanel No.5 got its name at this very store

On the Red Carpet in Cannes, home to the International Film Festival

It wasn't Hollywood but there were some stars... Julie Andrews!

Lastly we ended up in Antibes... at Billionaires Port.
These were the hugest luxury boats I have ever seen, Bill Gates parks his in this bay. wow.

This was my favorite.... A girl can dream!!!

Overall I had a great time here in the South of France. Attempting to speak French was a lost cause and ultimately I felt like I was walking through Chinatown, it was so foreign. I attempted to speak a blend of English-Italian sounding language, which only made the situation worse. At times the tour felt like an International Gilligan's Island... our tour guide was Russian, i was the only American, but there were Brazilians, Bulgarians, and more Russians. It was quite the adventure and a great way to see the Riviera. The only disappointment was not going to the town of "Grasse" but I definitely plan on visiting this area again, likely with a romantic companion haha. For my remaining six weeks, I will be enjoying all that Italy has to offer... with one last important visitor to come!!!! Be ready for Rita and Caroline's Italian Adventure to follow. Ciao for now!!!!

Mom, Dad and The Pope...

My Easter Break in the Capital of Christendom
Mom and Dad make their way to Rome
(earlier than expected) for a whirlwind trip full of fun!!!
April 4 - 12, 2007
Watch out Italians, here come the Swiss...

Our tour of the Vatican, in St. Peters Square

In the Vatican Museums, Michaelangelo's original tapestry

Nice Busts!

Rafael's School of Athens, my personal highlight

Illegal, secret picture of the roof of the Sistine Chapel

Inside the Colosseum

Up on Palantine Hill

Look, I can see the Vatican from here!

Lovely Roman Gardens

Some ruins including the Forum and the Colosseum

More awesome views of Rome

Me and Mom in the old Roman Palace Gardens...

Dad (with his man purse or "murse") and Raul (our little Indian tour guide)

Afternoon cocktail at the historic Cafe Greco

Me and Dad, so excited for the three hours of Via Cruxis at the Colosseum

Via Cruxis, the live Stations of the Cross, with the Pope

The burning cross in the shadows of the
Roman Forum and Colosseum by candle light

Climbing to the top of the Dome of St. Peters, 520+ steps

Me at the top of the Dome and my house
somewhere in the near distance

St. Peters Square from all the way up there....

We climbed all the way up to those top columns

As close as I can get to the throne of St Peter

Inside St Peter's

The Pieta, another famous Michaelangelo

So excited about the hot Swiss Guard!

The beautiful Easter flowers

Giving the guided tours of St Peters, a nice little hobby

So glad to have Mom and Dad!

Easter, super crowded, Swiss Guard parade before the Pope

Benedetto!!!

We had really good seats for Easter!

The Pope on his very special balcony

The little lake at Villa Borghese

Me and my turtle friends

Mom and our personal boat rower for the spin around the lake

Chillaxin' in the sun

St. Peters and the River Tevere

Me and the Castel Sant' Angelo

Me and the Vatican...

The Longest Salami I've ever seen... it was delicious

A view of St Peters at dusk from the river

The Spanish Steps in full bloom!

At the Trevi Fountain... tossing our coins into the fountain

Dad was so excited to get on his Vespa!

The best way to see all of Rome... riding on the back of a Vespa

After an afternoon of scootin' around Rome,
we headed for one more cocktail at Cafe Greco

On our way to our last dinner, Dad found his mini car