Living the Good Life on the Riviera - Temporarily!

I have been captivated with the French Riviera since I first saw it in 1979.  However, my love of the tropical climates goes back long before that.  My parents took me to Disneyland in 1958 when I was 10.  The first time I saw palm trees I thought they were amazing and I couldn't believe people actually had oranges growing in their yards - remember, I was only 10!  My good fortune continued when, at 16, I got to vacation in Hawaii for two weeks with a high school friend, staying with my aunt and uncle who were living there.  The warm, gentle breezes, the colour of the water, the beaches, and the laidback lifestyle made quite an impact on me.  Over the next few decades, I returned often to both California and Hawaii.  Then, at 31, I went to Europe and it captured my interest and has been my focus ever since.

Everything about the Cote d'Azur has what I fell in love with as an impressionable teenager - warm, azure-coloured waters, mild temperatures, beautiful beaches, those palm trees, gentle breezes, and spectacular scenery.  Then, you get to add in French food and wines.  What's not to love!  

For the last few days, I have been here on my own in a one bedroom apartment I have rented for a week.  It is in a good location just off the Promenade des Anglais in the Carre d'Or neighbourhood.  Luckily, I have also been able to spend time with some friends who live here.  doing some non-touristy things.  

A couple of days ago, my friend and I went to La Reserve for lunch.  This restaurant is over 100 years old and rather posh if you believe Wikipedia (and expensive).  It offers waterside dining, and nearby, serene Coco Beach marks the start of a rugged trail around Cap de Nice.   I think I was the only tourist there.  The food was wonderful, especially the fig tart garnished with a pistachio almond cream and a "boule" of ice cream.  The views were wonderful and included "schools" of young sailors leaving the nearby yacht club for lessons.  It was a perfect way to spend two hours.  

There was also an interesting looking restaurant nearby called Le Plongeoir that I might try to visit on another trip.  The nearby Coco Beach is a favourite with locals.

We also drove up to fortress on Mont Boron and enjoyed the views of the coastline looking toward Villefranche sur Mer and Cap Ferrat.  The fort dates from the 16th century.  

The following day, my friend along with her daughter took me to Cap 3000, a shopping centre near the airport.  This is quite the shopping centre filled mostly with many high end shops such as Michael Kors but also with some other standard mall shops like Zara and Sephora.  There is also a Galleries Lafayettes there.  In a nice kitchen shop, I found some kitchen utensils I'd been looking for; then, I treated myself to some new sunglasses - that was, admittedly, an impulse buy!  We had lunch at one of the restaurants there called Joseph, sitting on the terrace watching the planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport.

Then, yesterday, my friends took me up - and I do mean up - to the Grande Corniche, the upper road that runs along the coast.  There are also the Moyenne Corniche and the Basse Corniche.  The views from there were amazing, even with the haze.  On a clear day from the Parc de la Grande Corniche at the very top you can apparently see Corsica.  Not that day, however.

Looking toward Cap Ferrat and the Rade de Villefranche sur Mer

One of the "sentiers" (walks) in the park 

Looking down on Eze Village (just to the left of the railing)

Another view of Eze Village on the way down from the Grande Corniche

The rest of my time here has been spent doing "normal" things - shopping for groceries, doing laundry, paying bills, etc.  However, somehow they all seem less tedious when you are doing them here.  It is simply magical!