Nice Memories

Going through the summer photos and reminiscing about our week in the south of France and Italy.

Our favourite beach in Nice, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a 20 minute-drive east of the city

Overnight trip to Italy - here in Camogli

A playground in Santa Margherita where we spent the night - this one had swings but in France we weren't able to find a single playground with swings, what is that about?!

Our accommodation in Santa Margherita, an old castle called La Vela

Play area at Nice airport

Nice in Nice

We've arrived in Nice for a well-needed break (though don't know why we opted for the 6am flight..?) and today is just about settling in and chilling (except for over an hour of shopping at Carrefour, which Isolde wasn't happy about). Before the shopping trip we had lunch in Garibaldi square, followed by nap/rest in the flat, and now we're soaking afternoon sun on the balcony. It's like a really nice Swedish summer day.


 Leisure eating style



Place Garibaldi

Evening hung-out

Last Day

Time to go home tomorrow. As always, mixed feelings, but in the end, home sweet home, or "borta bra men hemma bäst" (away is good but home is best), as we say in Sweden.

Today we took it very easy. Ventured out around noon, walked down to the port, past the war monument.












Before strolling a last time on the Promenade and through the old town we had moules (of course) at one of the restaurants in the harbour. Isolde was a bit cranky though but luckily we were seated outside where baby cries get muffled in all the other noise.




On our way home we stocked up on olive oil and tried the local specialty socca, a chickpea pancake.

And, today was Peter's birthday but in the midst of all the Christening preparations and other stuff over the last couple of weeks I forgot to buy him a gift! Despite us talking about his birthday several times! Maybe "pregnancy/nursing brain" does exist?! Lucky me he took it well!

Via Anna's iPhone

Maeght

Another two days have passed in Nice (and elsewhere of course :) Yesterday we took another car-free day. The plan was to go shopping, which we did but we didn't find anything. Nice doesn't really have any fun shops in my opinion, unless you can afford the Louis Vuitton streak or want to stock up on Provencian fabric (which I don't find that pretty) or herbs. But I don't mind just strolling the streets, looking at architecture or people. In the evening I took a bath with Isolde for the first time (we don't have a tub at home but in our new flat we will!), which we both enjoyed. After that the whole family chilled on the sofa where Isolde has occupied one corner.

Today we made a short journey to another pretty mountain village, St-Paul-de-Vence, where we also visited the modern art museum Fondation Maeght. It's considered one of the world's finest art museums but since I'm not too fond of modern art and it's a small museum, I thought it wasn't worth 14 euros. On the other hand it's a cool building and it's amazing that two art dealers collected so much to open a museum (or gallery). And it's famous artists of course; Chagall, Miró, Giacometti et al. It's a cool building as well. So it's nice to have seen it. To tick it on the check list.

For Isolde it was her first visit to an art museum. She found the milk bottle display of course (her parents did not stage the photo at all, no...).

Via Anna's iPhone

Gorges du Verdon

I was manouvred out of bed this morning (at 9:30 so a completely decent hour though) as you can see. Isolde's is supposed to sleep in the so-called snuggle nest in the middle... She did sleep in her other bed (the pram for this week) from 9pm to almost 5am so I'm not complaining though!
After all the morning chores we got on the road around 11:30 to go to Gorges du Verdon, France's Grand Canyon. On our way we saw many villages on hillsides and hilltops and looked out over the astonishing gorges (no pictures with the iPhone though) and the gorgeously blue Lac de Ste-Croix.

We had lunch at the entrance to the gorge, Castellane, and afternoon coffee at the other end, in Moustiers-Ste-Marie.
I highly recommend a visit to Gorges du Verdon if you're in the area! Such amazing landscape and views and beautiful villages built in/into the mountains. Not for the faint-hearted or those suffering from vertigo though! Via Anna's iPhone

Summer Days

We have taken advantage of the last two days of sunny and warm weather (it's not supposed to be as nice over the next few days) and spent yesterday in St Tropez and today in Nice. We slept in and took our time in the morning though, and so didn't venture out until lunch time. We took the scenic - and longer - route to St-Trop, but Isolde was either sleeping or happily looking at her toy.
She wasn't as happy at nine in the evening last night when we had to go to the supermarket (as we only bought the basics on Sunday - we had forgotten that hardly anything is open on Sundays) but after a good night's sleep she was her happy self again this morning. Today we walked along Promenade des Anglais and took the lift up to the Chateau.

Afterwards we relaxed at the rooftop café of Le Meridien (hotel) with coffee, cake and a magazine, and got a bit sunburnt, while Isolde was sleeping safely in the shade.
Via Anna's iPhone

Breakfast with a View

Via Anna's iPhone

Sunny Side Up

Chillin' in Nice.




Via Anna's iPhone

Summer Nostalgia: Our Week in Nice

It was a beautiful autumn day today with sunshine and blue skies (never mind the 10'C and heavy winds...) but I couldn't help remembering that there was a summer not so long ago. Here are some photos from our week in Nice, France.

We had rain one day

Rain close-up

After rain you can see the sea; otherwise there's too much sun haze

Sea close-up

Posing on the balcony

Peter enjoying a glass of wine (and one for me)

One of many meals on the balcony

Typical light summer dinners

Excursion to Sainte-Maxime

Sainte-Maxime


Beaulieu-sur-Mer, one of our favourite beaches in the area

Sitting under a palm tree reminded us a little bit of our time in the Maldives

Beaulieu is situated beautifully below the mountains - I like the mix of high hills and sea

Beaulieu also has a little cute marina

Boats up close

Beautiful views on the road towards Italy

Looking out over Monaco and Monte Carlo

Monaco close up

Walking through town to the harbour for dinner on our last evening

Nice harbour

Returned to the Maldives?

Today was spent at the beach in Beaulieu-sur-Mer (we went there two days ago too but after only two hours it started raining - went shopping instead!). Beaulieu, like many towns on the Côte d'Azur, are located at the foot of the mountains, which makes for dramatic scenery. But if it wasn't for the mountain, you'd think we were back in the Maldives.



Via Anna's iPhone

Dinner Nibbles with a View

Via Anna's iPhone