I took a brief trip to Southern France for – wait for it – a job interview. Yep, that’s right. This full-time traveller/wanderer is actually considering the possibility of of setting down roots again. Crazy I know! Right outside of Nice is European’s tech industrial & research mecca Sophia Antipolis. I work in tech so spent 24 Hours in Sophia Antipolis for my interview, before spending two days exploring and getting to know Nice (and then having a slightly harrowing, evening adventure at the Cannes Film Festival).
Day 1
Antibes
I got on the bus to Nice in Sophia Antipolis which meant transferring at Antibes. Instead of directly transferring, I decided to to a little walk to see the town. But just a quick one, because I was toting my luggage around with me. It had everything I wanted in a seaside, European town. It made me even more excited to get on the train to Nice and drop off my bags so I could start exploring in earnest.
Arriving in Nice
I arrived at the Gare de Nice-ville train station which was already breathtakingly gorgeous and did the short walk to my hostel (Hôtel Ozz by Happyculture) and dropped off my baggage. Even the shuttered window was idealistic. From there I walked down through Place Messena and down to Promenade des Anglais.
Promenade des Anglais
I strolled along the Promenade des Anglais (thanks Brits!) and then dipped my toes in the Mediterranean. I spent a while relaxing on the admittedly quite uncomfortable large pebbled beach of the Riviera.
Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
Then I ascended the Castle Hill where I assumed my new residence would be making me Princess of Nice. Sadly, the castle has been long since destroyed, but I did find some amazing views of the ocean, Nice, and the Port of Nice. Oh and also some rosé, because I’d worked up quite a thirst climbing all those steps. So I sipped my wine and ate my olives and small snacks while listening to an accordian play old tunes and soaked it all in. At the next vista I spontaneously started crying because it was all just. that. beautiful.
Enjoying the Architecture
I pulled myself together from the sudden and embarrassing localized rainfall on my face and went back down along the streets of the port and Vieux Nice (the old town) soaking in the gorgeous old European architecture.
After all this walking, I’d built up a thirst again, so I found a lovely sidewalk cafe and took a seat. I spent the whole night/evening there enjoying an aperol spritz and the energy of the Europeans around me – how they effortlessly weaved through conversations in a multitude of languages – a true melting pot of culture, all tinged with the relaxed security of being surrounded everyday by thousands of years of history and knowing that everything always works out over time in it’s own way. I yearn to join them in their European-ness.
Day 2
The next morning, I grabbed a real estate magazine and a coffee at a cafe to try to really imagine what living here could actually mean. Again, casually spending over an hour sipping on one tiny cup of coffee felt like the most natural thing in the world to me. After my leisurely morning, I decided to join the free Walking Tour I had seen advertised in my hostel.
Walking Tour
To my delight, our tour guide, Catherine, was an American woman who had moved to Nice in September. I tried to get as much low down from her about being an American expat in the region without being obnoxious.
Flower Market
We started by exploring Nice’s landmark flower market (they also sell fruits & vegetables)
From there we retraced many of the steps I took yesterday, but this time I got to appreciate the history behind the buildings. For example, the architect of the opera house was Stephen Sauvestre who you may recognize from such landmarks as The Eiffel Tower and The Statue of Liberty. So when you look closely, the light fixtures are the head of Lady Liberty herself. Oh and that yellow house at the end of the flower market? Henri Matisse lived and painted there. She also took us to try gelato and Socca – a regional specialty flatbread of fried chickpeas.
Enjoying Nicoise Life
The tour ended and I walked back to Place Messena where I found the pigeons here are pink?! As if I needed more of a sign that this is the place for me. I found yet another sidewalk cafe to enjoy a Salade Nicoise (because when in Rome…errr Nice) then found another sidewalk cafe to enjoy my afternoon coffee. Then I decided I might as well see what this little film festival in a neighboring town was and wound up having quite a little adventure at The Cannes Film Festival.
Despite all that, this was a successful trip to France which completely won over my heart and cemented my resolve to set down my backpack and establish a permanent residence here. And as little orphan Annie sings “I think I’m gonna like it here!”
A Bientot, France!
“See you soon” and not “Au revoir” because I will be back – and when I do – it will be to stay! Here are a few shots of my voyage back home via Lisbon, Portugal which I can’t wait to properly visit someday!