All About Nice - my Blog

This summer I am renting out my studio :-)

2011-07-20T21:10:00.002Z

http://www.veryniceapartments.com/nice-france-apartment/rentals/2/http://www.veryniceapartments.com/nice-france-apartment/rentals/2/

On the third day, it rained again

2010-08-14T19:13:00.006Z

Rained every day so far. OK, it was hot and sunny the first day but it still rained for five mins in the afternoon. Today, it was torrential. No matter, we met friends in the Old Town and had a 5 hour lunch at the Caffé dell'Arté on the Cours Saleya. 'Bistro' Menu for 10 euros has 2 choices:plat du jour (Rissotto today) plus glass of wine and coffeeor fish and plain rice plus mineral water and

2010-08-11T11:11:00.002Z

Been a long time away from Nice this year, this pic is from last trip - we skied in Isola 2000

April 2010

2010-04-08T04:41:00.008Z

Nine days in NiceArrive without incident but in rain which seems to be a pattern. The next day was gorgeous and sunny, everybody out and about enjoying the Easter weekend, on the beach and a few brave souls in the sea. We are here to declutter and clean the apartment ready for the summer. It will be our 10th summer in Nice and we still need bits and pieces for the studio so we have booked a small

Extended stay in Nice...

2010-02-24T16:16:00.002Z

We have just had our usual half-term week, skiing in Méribel. Our ski things are stored in Nice and we save a lot of money by flying easyjet to Nice, hiring a car and driving the long -6-7 hours to Méribel in the high French Alps. The cost of flights to Geneva and surrounding airports plus the tranfers costs are very high, even though the long drive from Nice is a pain.Travel this year has not

Isola 2000 December 2009

2009-12-15T15:32:00.005Z

Art in the City - take the Tram Tour in Nice

2009-09-17T15:28:00.046Z

L'arte dans la ville - un musée à ciel ouvert - Art in the city - an open air museumJaume Plensa's Conversation Piece, Place MassenaAbout 15 art works were commissioned to celebrate and enhance the new tram system in Nice and most Friday evenings it is possible to take a guided tour to discover and examine some of the installations.The tour costs 10 euros - 8 for the tour and 2 for the tram

La Part des Anges - one for wine lovers and foodies

2009-08-28T16:22:00.030Z

La Part des Anges - 18th July 2009my favourite surroundingsThink of La Part des Anges first as a wine merchants, then as a wine bar serving light supper and finally as a restaurant. Very nice atmosphere here - very French but friendly and unstuffy. From outside you wouldn't realise any food was served here - there are just a few tables at the back and the restaurant is open only a couple of

Roller blading or Inline Skating - you know you want to try it

2009-08-23T17:06:00.014Z

My Website : AllaboutNice.comROLLER STATION49 quai des Etats-Unis, Nice MapTél. 04 93 62 99 05 Roller StationI will try it one day, may be in the winter when it's less of a spectator sport.My daughter and her school friend were keen to have a go one evening on the Prom. My daughter has all the equipment - rollerboots, pads and helmet but we needed to kit out her friend.Roller Station on the

La Favola Restaurant on the Cours Saleya

2009-08-22T05:07:00.015Z

La Favola Restaurant, 13, Cours Saleya, Old Nice, FranceTel: 04 93 04 45 23On the corner of the Cours and rue Louis Gassin:- Map or scroll to end of postFor more restaurants in Nice please visit my website AllaboutNice.comLa Favola is an Italian restaurant occupying the corner of the Cour Saleya and rue Louis Gassin, a couple of steps from its sister restaurant, La Voglia. Although it's new for

La Colombe d'Or, St Paul de Vence

2009-08-18T16:17:00.036Z

My website : AllaboutNice.comMy restaurant pageLa Colombe d'Or websitelunch last year at La Colombe d'OrWe have been coming to La Colombe d'Or for lunch every year, sometimes twice a year since 2003. Just within the entrance, there is a large sculpture of a thumb by César. It's been a good height marker for our daughter over the years:Five year's growth against César'sThumb at La Colombe d'Or

Parascend or Parasail in Nice

2009-08-18T11:35:00.017Z

Break up the sunbathing with an adrenalin rush...having second thoughts?My daughter has been eyeing up the parascending or parachute ascensionnel for the last year or two and I promised she could have a go this year. Luckily, a school friend came to stay for a few days which saved me the fright of going up.There are a few Sports beaches along the Prom. The nearest one to us and the Old Town is

Place Garibaldi

2009-08-16T09:44:00.015Z

Place Garibaldi looks very impressive this year. This is a huge Italianate 18th century plaza or square at the back of the old town. It divides the Port, Old Town and edge of the modern city centre. It was a mess for a couple of years when the tram was built and the associated time-consuming archaeological dig that accompanied it. You can take a small peep at some of the archeology at the tram

Wind surfing in St Laurent du Var

2009-07-26T12:35:00.029Z

Windsurfing - close to NiceThere's no windsurfing in Nice; you can sail, jet ski, canoe, parascend, even water ski but to windsurf, you need to go to St Laurent du Var.My daughter having a wind surfing lesson - the calm conditions at St Laurent are a beginner's dream. It was very easy to be up and away on the first lesson in this sheltered cove, a great confidence builder.St Laurent du Var is

a walk around the Cap de Nice - le sentier littoral

2009-07-20T13:39:00.018Z

Cap de Nice coastal walk, July 2009This circular walk takes you down to the coast line to walk along a rocky path hugging the edge of the sea around the Cap de Nice and then back up to the main road, the Basse Corniche. From there, you can walk back into Nice along the road or take a pedestrian route via interconnecting steps most of the way back. In 2009, an additional section of the coastal

Velobleu inauguration

2009-07-18T14:47:00.003Z

Place GaribaldiSaturday 18th July 2009Various speeches and maps handed out plus special editions of Nice Matin.Plenty of the Velos in evidence and at the end, they were carted and cycled off presumably to fill up the stands. The application forms are ready to download from the website. You need a French bank account and to take some ID with you. Cards are issued at the ligne d'azur office at

launch of Velobleu tomorrow...

2009-07-17T09:02:00.006Z

Friday 17th Julyphoto courtesy: Cyril Dodergny, infographie LangladeNice Matin 16th July 2009Tomorrow at 11am, the velobleu is launched in Place Garibaldi, handy for us so we'll probably go along.Link to the article in Nice Matin (in French)The website is finally launched:http://www.velobleu.org/If you go to the Ligne d'Azur office on Place Massena, next door to the Nespresso shop and opposite

Antibes - the nearest sandy beach to Nice

2009-07-10T19:01:00.010Z

www.allaboutnice.com - my websiteThursday 9th July 2009Plage de La Gravette, Antibes (with apologies for terrible photo-stitching)We wanted the feel of sand between our toes so went to Antibes for the day. Closer substitutes with almost sandy beaches include Villefranche, Plage Passable and Cocody Beach but the proper sand starts west of Nice at Antibes.Took the 200 TAM bus from Nice Gare

Soldes!!!

2009-07-08T12:00:00.011Z

Wednesday 8th July 2009Agnes B sale started today 40% off everything bar a small room with new a/w stock. Too keen and arrived 30 minutes before opening.Coffee at Les Ponchettes in the Cours Saleya, waiting for the Agnes B shop to open. 2 euros an espresso.Les Ponchettes on the Cours SaleyaWhile we were waiting it was interesting to see the local bobbies (who looked about fourteen and arrived on

Summer 2009

2009-07-08T11:08:00.009Z

Saturday 4th July Arrived in Nice late at night following a 2-hour delay in Liverpool. Lot of luggage so took a taxi. It's very warm and humid. Studio same as ever but dustier. It's a priorty to find a plumber as there are bubbling noises and fine spray coming out of the water cylinder. Great.(7.6.09 - update) We found a great plumber who speaks a little English. I have his card should anyone

Ski trip to Isola 2000 March/April 2009

2009-04-01T16:10:00.006Z

Ski Trip Monday 30th March - Thursday 2nd April 2009We have only ever done day trips to Isola 2000 from Nice but the snow has been so good this year we wanted more skiing after our Feb trip to Meribel so we decided to stay in Isola 2000 for 3 nights and take advantage of the great conditionsSunday 29th March 2009Left Liverpool in the afternoon swapping blue skies and sunshine for heavy rain and

Oil paintings of Nice by Jo Whitney

2008-09-16T10:57:00.010Z

The perfect souvenir of Nice and a great investmentA small photograph of the Blue Beach, Nice in this summer's Royal Academy magazine alerted me to the work of artist Jo Whitney. I love her oil piantings of Nice. Here is an example of her work: (with her permission) For more details, you can contact Jo through her website:http://www.jo-whitney.co.uk/index.htmlHer French work (mostly Nice) is

Nice Cycle Tours - a new way to discover Nice, August 2008

2008-08-08T13:53:00.019Z

Nice Cycle Tours - a new tour for 2008I tried this new bike tour this morning and thoroughly recommend it. You cover a vast area of Nice effortlessly, generating a pleasant breeze en route and get to places inaccessible to the Open Top Tour Bus or Tourist train. Starting off on the Prom by the sea in front of the Albert 1er Gardens In the shade of a few trees, pausing for a coffee break on

Villefranche - close to Nice, lovely beach

2008-07-24T13:44:00.043Z

Villefranche, July 2008 Villefranche is a lovely peaceful coastal village just minutes from Nice by bus or train. We like going there for the beach which is fine gravel and shelves gently into the sea, perfect for small children as well as everyone else. Unlike the beaches in Nice there is no need for padded mats or rubber swim shoes, the gravel is easy to walk on and comfortable to lie on, you

Sunday trip to Monaco - the 'Monaco Shopping Experience'

2008-07-20T19:26:00.009Z

Monaco and Monte Carlo, July 2008View from the Palace Hill over the Port and out towards Monte Carlo. You can see the storms in the hills. The large outdoor lido or swimming pool is just visible in the centre left of the picture.One of the leaflets I picked up in Nice Tourist office was promoting Sunday shopping in Monaco for the summer. "7 Sundays with a difference, from 20th July to 31st August

Gathering information in Nice

2008-07-18T11:32:00.005Z

Walked along to the Tourist Office to see what was new. The main Tourist Office is at 5, Promenade des Anglais, just past the Meridien Hotel by Albert 1er Gardens. It's set back from the road a little and there are no wondows - just a huge posters promoting various current events. Inside, it is wonderfully cool and fresh. There are plenty of leaflets on the walls - suggestions for tours,

14th July Bastille Day - a public holiday in France

2008-07-14T11:56:00.014Z

14th July 2008 - French National HolidayThe majority of shops are shut and transport is limited. The Old Town is very much open though and a few supermarkets are open for the morning only. I remember this time last year spendng the day on Opera Plage. Over the last few years, Sunday morning opening during the summer for the supermarkets is becoming more commonplace. This summer, Monoprix in Place

Back in Nice for the summer 2008

2008-07-12T13:05:00.014Z

9th July 2008 - back to Nice for the summerOne of our worst flights with easyjet out from Liverpool to Nice, a three-hour delay with very little communication. We were meant to depart at 18:30 due to arrive 22:30pm in time to take the express bus 98 but eventually arrived 01:30am and had to brook the cost of a taxi - 35 euros including the tip as all express buses stop before midnight. We did

Nice to Isola 2000 ski trip, day return by bus 750

2007-12-21T21:00:00.002Z

Also visit my ski pages on allaboutNice.comNew for 2009: A few changes this year...the fare is now just 1 euro but your bus place must be booked in advance, the day before you travel, telephone 0805 402 606, the code for France is 00 33 and usually miss off the first 0 of the number. If you intend to return the same day, buy your return ticket from the machine in Isola 2000 before 1pm; to return

trip to Monaco from Nice December 2007

2007-12-19T21:00:00.000Z

19th December 2007This is the large Christmas tree in the centre of Monaco's Christmas Village. You can see the three of us reflected in the silver bauble, the orange blob is an Hermès bag, Happy Christmas to me. We had spent the morning in Cimiez at the Matisse museum and in the afternoon we decided suddenly to nip to Monaco on the new 100 xpress bus.The 100 xpress is a new service this autumn

A new Tramway for Nice

2007-12-17T19:03:00.001Z

December 16th to 21st December 2007Our usual week in Nice before Christmas back home in the UKMy dear husband took plenty of film clips of the new tramway in Nice and posted it on youtube.com. Here are his efforts:The Tramway Line 1 is finally open after years of building works and disruption. Our studio near the Port is about 4 minutes walk from the nearest Tram stop -'Garibaldi' which is

Canyoning in Nice, La Bollène du Vesubie

2007-08-15T11:42:00.000Z

August 2007Canyoning in the La Bollène du Vesubie Valley, one hour from Nice Just the thing to jolt yourself out of beach torpor but not for the faint-hearted. This day trip out from Nice was one of our best days but not at the time, only after the nausea from the adrenalin rush subsided, about two days later. My dear husband had gone back to the UK to work so it was just the two of us left to

Le Chateau or Castle Hill, Nice

2007-08-11T15:51:00.000Z

Cocody Beach, Holiday Inn, St Laurant du Var - the daughter's favourite beach

2007-07-21T20:29:00.000Z

Saturday 21st JulyHusband flew home last night so daughter and I are at a loose end for a few days until my sister flies out for a week. Under instructions not to shop so decided a private beach would be a good compromise; a controlled expense.