Nice, France, Part 1

Hi everyone, hope you're having a great week so far!

Commiserations to any Hawthorn supporters out there. We enjoyed the game over a quiet Bundy and Coke or two - very refreshing at 7am!

I have some pictures from Nice for you today - so if you are up for a ramble around this infamous Mediterranean city, read on:

We arrived Saturday afternoon, just in time to see the mister cross the finish line for his week-long road bike event.

Viewed from the finish line, looking across the road:

The romantic Hotel Negresco (built 1912)

Looking up:

Scary casino jester head

Looking down:

We were experiencing the last weekend of the heatwave that simmered France in August, so a cold one of these was required:

French beer isn't my favourite (I prefer Belgian) but this was cold and wet and deeeelicious.

That evening we were all a little tired after the journey and excitement of the day. I offered to cook and so went down the street to pick up some take-away pizza to eat in our apartment.

As I waited for our order to cook I took a short stroll on the Promenade des Anglais, where I came across some sort of small parade:

And couldn't resist snapping a few more shots of the Hotel Negresco, which I think is even prettier by night.

The next day I was up with the sun and left my sleeping beauties behind to explore the streets.

This amazed me - an apartment block with doors that open from each landing of the stairwell straight out to the front of the building. Not even a screen door. As an occasional klutz and a mother of young children, the thought makes me shudder.

Nice has a big expat scene - it was the winter destination from the late 1800s and hasn't looked back since. Plenty of Englishfolk retired there (and still do, lucky sods). Many Russian well-to-do also settled in Nice during the turbulent 1910s. The Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1912 and is the largest church of this denomination located outside Russia.

1865 - when Nicholas, Russia's heir apparent, died in Nice (for whom the Cathedral is named) 

It was too early for visiting hours so I admired the beautiful mosaic work from the gates. I had every intention of returning later to see inside but unfortunately time ran away from us (a good reason to go back to Nice again, methinks).

Most of my wandering that morning was around the Medecin area, just north of the Promenade des Anglais, where the buildings have fabulously ornate façades and very classy porticoes.

In an age of 'get it built quick and cheap' these buildings are a beautiful deviation from the norm. I happily spent a few hours walking around with my chin up in the air and *ahem* photographing people's windows.

Also seen out and about:

Very early on; had to have my coffee and croissant

Super cute yellow car

Across the road from super cute yellow car. D'oh.

Would have loved to take this home and turn it into a glass-topped table

Loved this vintage sign even though there is something deeply disturbing about a coffeepot drinking its own coffee.

That day the kids had a ball on the beach and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the Promenade (followed by lazy afternoon naps). That night we ventured down to Old Nice for some Indian food (best we've had in France) and then soaked in the evening ambiance.

The streets were bustling with diners and tourists:

And the kids loved this more modern art display:

Hardcore naughty-corner alternative for very bad children

And it wouldn't be France without a beautiful merry-go-round that's over a hundred years old:

Probably enough photographs for now (sorry for anyone on dial-up) but I will be back with more soon. Nice is too wonderful to be contained in just one post!