IntrepidFromDC

We started by heading east and our first wow moment was after climbing the switchbacks on the way to Eze and Monaco and pulling over to take photos looking back at Nice.

We didn't get to see everything on our itinerary because of the Cannes film festival and the road closures in Monaco due to the Grand Prix preparations. We did get to drive the minivan on the Grand Prix circuit. It was a lot of driving and French cussing with visits to beautiful places in between. Most places we got a chance to get out and walk around for 45 minutes or an hour. Here goes...

I just got back from an 11 hour excursion. The traffic and road closures in Cannes kept us from getting close, as the annual film festival is going on right now. I'll post a few pics, more when I get back from dinner. These are Nice from a distance, a few from the east (elevated view) and a few from the west (level view).

LOL took me a couple looks to agree it's reminiscent of the chitty chitty bang bang car, now I can't see it any other way. I'll see if it's still there on Tuesday.

Tomorrow I have a 10.5 hour excursion to St.Paul de Vence, Eze, Monaco and a couple other nearby towns of the "Cote du Azur" and it's non-stop go-go-go. So I won't be posting pics til I get back to the hotel after dinner and bar, which will be about 25 hours from now. I have to admit I didn't do research on Nice like I did on the places I've been to before it, but the upside is I'm thrilled with the surprise of how much I love it day 1 of 3.

Vietnamese was open. I already had Vietnamese food twice this trip, but it should help with the craving so I can get back to rich French food. In Lyon they say "In Paris they cook with butter. In south France they cook with oil. We use both." It has been so true so far.

Turns out Nice has a Chinatown and my hotel is in the middle of it. The Chinese place and all the Chinese places were closed when I came back out of the hotel.

Nice is nice!

The walk from Nice train station to the hotel was one block. I passed a Chinese restaurant and suddenly got a craving for Chinese food. Off I go.

The train ride from Marseille to Nice was interesting. First thing out of Marseille mountains started popping up. Then mountains to the left, scattered palm trees to the right. Finally as we started to hug The Mediterranean we could see Cannes. The police were following a conductor in a hurry, I'm guessing to boot someone without a ticket.

Changed trains in Marseille, grabbed a yummy baguette with jambon and fromage, now waiting for the second leg to Nice. Coming in to Marseille I either saw a Costa ship or Venezia. Went under a tunnel before getting a pic.

😆 OMG I'm an idiot! Now you're gonna have me googling his chest and the FBI will take notice!

Saint Greg, when is your next cruise? It would be awesome if you started a LIVE right when I get back!

Those little pickles were really great. I thought they were cornichons but I was corrected.

Last pics of Arles, makes me a bit sad because I'll leave a bit of my heart here. I wish my daughter had been with me the whole trip, but especially Lyon and Arles. On to Nice tomorrow morning.

Found a place open late and the server didn't really want to bring the ketchup. It was gooood. Fries were good too, not crispy but not oily either. Potatoey flavor and skin on like I like'm. And the limoncello spritz was good. Finished with a cappuccino instead of dessert and it was great.

And then there's this thing I've only seen a few of, two-seater. Less than 4' high. I think the wheels are about 9".

And so it came to pass.

First the young maitre d tried to tell me they don't accept reservations from The Fork (a reservation service used by most of the restaurants I booked at). I told him The Fork reservation was a link I used on their website and he got huffy mumbled something in French and called the manager. The manager said "I'm sorry Messr, we haven't used The Fork for 20 days. I showed him the confirmation, showing the reservation was confirmed May 4. He apologized and said "we are full" so off I go.

I'm off to find an alternative if the bars don't suck me in from my quest.

So tonight ended up being a crap shoot for dinner because the restaurant wouldn't accept my confirmed reservation...

I have no idea how much chest hair seals have. But I googled seal and see a bunch of back hair. Did he have really long whiskers?