Jun 14, 2006 05:37 PM
4563 Views
(Updated Jun 14, 2006 06:08 PM)
I started off to the southern French city of France, called Nice, aftera stop oever at Milan in Italy for 8 hours to board into another flightfor Nice. Milan to Nice is only 45 minutes by air.
Nice is a peaceful, full of traffic discipline and a city of cars.I stayed for a frothnight in Residence Orien - extremely quiet hotelsurrounded by bushes and little away from the hustle and bustle of themain roads. I liked the way the car drivers in Nice respect thepedestrians, while crossing on the streets. The kind of discipline theyexhibit is awesome. Even at midnight, they do not cross the signalunless it is green. I walked all along the beach from one corner-situtated at the port in the old city to the ariport where the beachseems to end. The beach road is extra broad to provide space forwalkers and sketeers too. Knowing Nice by cruiser with the commentarygiven by the Franch Navy person in French and English is wonderful.Thecruiser took us along the borders of Nice, with the total touristpassengers nearly 100. It was a tour of one hour. We can enjoy a lot inNice for long time in the day as it becomes dark after 9.00 in theevening. Nice is a big city in France and since it borders Italy, ithas some Italian style restaruants, etc. People speak only French inNice. As a matter of fact, because of the lovely climate, the peacefulenvironment, absolutely pollution free and the smooth transporation inNice, peoplecome to retire there. City bus service is excellent. Thereare three doors to the buses and they opens only at the bus stop, witha button pressed by the driver. There is no conductor selling thetickets. Rather we have to punch the cards in the swipping machine keptin the bus. The cards are given by the drivers themselves against just1.30euroes. Go anywhere to anywhere, the charge is only 1.30 euroes.The bus frequency is very high in Nice.
As you go down to theold city of Nice, many small but beautiful restaurants are seen withthe people sitting outside and eating. There is only one gamblingCasino in Nice. There are many supermarkets in Nice, like EiD, Spar,etc. One of them is Casino. After every couple of miles, they aresituated. In the old city, one can get to see the biggest mall inNice,the Carrefour. Carrefour is one of the biggest mallls in theworld.
I had gone to Nice in the month of May 2006 and theclimate is excellent in this period. The temperature dips down tomaximum 10 degree celsius in winter. Hence, it is not too hot and toocold through out the year.
Above all, I found the people to beextremely cooperative though they cannot speak English. There are manyhostorical villages nearby Nice,which are accessible by bus in 1-2hours, including the entertainement town like the Disney Land, or theEssel World of Mumbai. There isfwonderful village called Eze which ishistorical nearby Nice up on the hill. Another beautiful city (rather,a country) called Monaco. I was lucky enough to see the motor bikeraces in Monte Carlo, which is a part of Monaco.Also, I could see theguards-changing-ceremony in Monaco which is taken place everyday at12.30 pm. People throng to see it.
The experience is Nice is simply rich, remarkable and fabulous.
Iwould recommend this trip to couples - both young and old ones, and tothe students. Next time, I would plan out where to eat, esp, the vegfood, to stay atleast one night in Monaco, the cheap restaurants, wheredo I get the Indian groceries and food (since I am an Indian), and be alittle aware and awakened while walking on the beach in Nice, sincethey are sporadic pick-pockets, esp, young girls. One day I travelledfrom Nice to Paris by TGV, the superfast train with a spped of 280 kmsper hour. The expeirence at the time of landing of the flight whilecoming from Milan is simply excellent, as it gives a feeling as if weare landing in the midst of the sea. The airport of Nice is situatedjust near the sea.
The food is rather expensive in Nice. Bank hiliday is on Thuraday, but on Saturdays market is closed.
