Travel: Day Trip to Nice, France

Well, it isn't very far to Nice from our home....but it's a world away! Nice is vibrant - it is always busy with locals and tourists alike. The city is major cruise stop and with good reason: it has many shops and boutiques! It has the charm of a Provencal lifestyle when you walk (or shop) at the Cours Saleya, the central open air market, primarily known for its flower vendors and the displays are fabulous - and they don't cost a fortune!

The famous Nice Flower Market (Cours Saleya)

The back streets of Nice are full of small and unique shops - it's what makes it so wonderful to stroll and gaze upon the beautifully displayed windows and browse through outdoor racks. Plenty of places to eat as well...you won't go hungry and you won't go broke either. One place we tend to favor for lunch in Nice is Voglia (www.lavoglia.com). It is just before the flower market, very near the Opera House and dangerously close to my most favorite chocolate shop: Auer (www.maison-auer.com). It is dangerously good! We've been customers of the shop for the past 5 years and counting! Anyone who visits us is always introduced to the shop and they never leave empty-handed!

Step across the main square and come to the "newer" part of town. There is a pedestrian only avenue and always good for a nice walk - it's a mix of shops and restaurants - what else?! We've enjoyed an elegant lunch and/or dinner at Boccaccio (www.boccaccio-nice.com) - they make a terrifica paella among other dishes including fabulous pastas. Nearby is the Galeries Lafayette an upscale department store. Which leads us to the big shopping area and the Nice Etoile Mall (www.nicetoile.com) offering 4 floors of shopping, shopping and, of course, eating. Lots of international brands, high-end designers and a nice mix of affordable stores all located within the mall....bliss!....all the names we recognize and a few that are new but well worth knowing.




After all that browsing, shopping and eating, a slow stroll along the Promenade des Anglais is a perfect ending to a delightful day...the azure sea, the warm sun and a gentle breeze....ahhhh