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!!!!