The French Riviera is like a vacation from your vacation. The sunshine permeates the coast, once off the train you feel a sudden overwhelming sense of peace accompanied by a gentle breeze of salty ocean air. Here the locals are jovial and welcoming, and tourists are met with wide toothed grins rather than frowns. The water is unbelievably clear and such a vibrant azure blue, it feels unreal - as if you are floating in neon blue food coloring. And to accompany the quintessential Nice sunset are stretches of uninterrupted beach as far as the eye can see. My sister and I arrived in Nice the day before Bastille Day (France's
independence day). The town was abuzz in preparation for the Bastille Day festivities. A celebratory parade march
ed down the Promenade des Anglais, paralleling the Bay of Angels, complete with a brass band, local military squads outfitted with weaponry, and locals sporting elaborate colorful costumes. The spirit of the day carried into the Cours Saleya, Nice's famous outdoor market (one of my favorite's in Europe). The Cours Saleya is organized in a U-shape, French restaurants, bistros, and cafes make up the perimeter, while daily vendors set up shop in the interior space. The market vendors offer fresh picked fruits and vegetables, delectable pastries, breads, seasoned meats, and fresh caught seafood still squirming, brought up daily by local fishermen. It is a jumble of conversation, laughter, and pedestrians, some wandering, others sipping lemon
pressé and dining on the catch of the day. The entire day was exciting because we almost felt like locals, in
dulging in the celebratory atmosphere of the community. As dusk settled in, we followed the crowd to the Promenade des Anglais, where a spectacular fire works display ensued, cheered on by boisterous French men and women. All in all, a fantastic independence day!
The French Riviera is like a vacation from your vacation. The sunshine permeates the coast, once off the train you feel a sudden overwhelming sense of peace accompanied by a gentle breeze of salty ocean air. Here the locals are jovial and welcoming, and tourists are met with wide toothed grins rather than frowns. The water is unbelievably clear and such a vibrant azure blue, it feels unreal - as if you are floating in neon blue food coloring. And to accompany the quintessential Nice sunset are stretches of uninterrupted beach as far as the eye can see. My sister and I arrived in Nice the day before Bastille Day (France's
independence day). The town was abuzz in preparation for the Bastille Day festivities. A celebratory parade march
ed down the Promenade des Anglais, paralleling the Bay of Angels, complete with a brass band, local military squads outfitted with weaponry, and locals sporting elaborate colorful costumes. The spirit of the day carried into the Cours Saleya, Nice's famous outdoor market (one of my favorite's in Europe). The Cours Saleya is organized in a U-shape, French restaurants, bistros, and cafes make up the perimeter, while daily vendors set up shop in the interior space. The market vendors offer fresh picked fruits and vegetables, delectable pastries, breads, seasoned meats, and fresh caught seafood still squirming, brought up daily by local fishermen. It is a jumble of conversation, laughter, and pedestrians, some wandering, others sipping lemon pressé and dining on the catch of the day. The entire day was exciting because we almost felt like locals, in
dulging in the celebratory atmosphere of the community. As dusk settled in, we followed the crowd to the Promenade des Anglais, where a spectacular fire works display ensued, cheered on by boisterous French men and women. All in all, a fantastic independence day!
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