During my trip to Paris, I took a two-day excursion to NICE (niece), a nice coastal town in the south of France. It’s a very beautiful city!. You can take the SNCF for a 5-hour ride on a bullet train to this destination. This town reminded me of many of the coastal towns in the Caribbean. From the main avenue, you can take the tramway (or walk) toward the statue of Apollo. From there you can stroll through the streets of old Nice admiring the shops and market fair until you reach the Promenade. This town is filled with a fair number of places to eat and shop like most popular towns. While there are many things you can do in Nice sometimes simple is best. Below is a list of 5 of the simplest thing you can do on a day trip to Nice.
1. Promenade des Anglais: Constructed in the 1800’s the promenade is a 7 kilometer stretch of boardwalk from the airport in Nice on the west to the Quai des États-Unis. It’s a beautiful view of the ocean overlooking the beach. Some musicians play their instruments along the promenade. You can dance with a loved one or just stroll along and enjoy the vibe and the view.
2. Calypso Club: Cities become popular for various reasons. One of those reasons is the night life and Nice has a very prevalent one. There are a number of places to dance and party. High Club is one of the more popular places in this town and it shows by their turn out. Calypso Club which has since been closed was a great spot for some Reggae. The place had a moderate crowd. They played Reggae, Dance Hall, Soca and Afro-beat all night. The atmosphere was friendly and laid back. A real cool Caribbean vibe with a basement dance floor. I’ll locate a new cool spot on my next visit.
3. Brunch at Blast (American Bar & Lounge): The stereotyped American breakfast for some Europeans consists of eggs, pancakes, loads of bacon and huge cups of coffee. That was exactly what I ordered. It was a bit refreshing to have an “American” breakfast while in France. The restaurant offers primarily American style food but also offers French and Mediterranean options. Enjoying an American breakfast with a beautiful young lady close to the ocean on a sunny day… Priceless!
4. Ascenseur du Château: At the top of the Ascenseur du Château, stands “The Castle of Nice”, an old military citadel, until the 18th century. Nowadays it is a park and garden for tourist overlooking the bay of Nice. The view of the Cote d’Azur from on top of Castle Hill is absolutely stunning. The horizon stretches out for miles on end. The deep blue water reflected the late morning sun beautifully.
5. Open Air Market: There are various open air markets in Nice. The hours vary depending on the season. During my stay I experienced open-air markets offering all kinds of goodies from organic fruit, fish, cheese, wine and handmade trinkets. You never know what you may find.
Nice is a beautiful coastal town with many beautiful gems. A day trip is certainly not enough to experience it all. This town definitely calls for another visit.
