This famous playground in Southern France, where the Alps tumble precipitously into the Mediterranean, lives up to every inch of its exaggerated reputation – both good and bad. An overdeveloped strip along the coast somehow preserves access from old fishing harbors to the uncanny blue water, and the Villa clad hills still manage to offer plenty of wooded hiking trails that meandered between the ancient perched villages, giving you a sense of quiet solitude.
It would be a tough call between “love-it or hate-it” if you didn’t go in with an open acceptance that the Côte d'Azur is one of the top vacation destinations in, and of, the world. There’s a reason it’s so popular…and a price (not dollars) that has to be paid because of it.
With all of that being said, I’d HIGHLY recommend a visit to this fantastic region. Here are a few pics from our short holiday with Sue and Tom last week.
We rented an apartment in the hilltop village of Vence, halfway up the mountain above Nice.
Its narrow, winding streets kept us cool during the blazing heat of the day ...
and cozy-warm for an evening drink at an outdoor café.
There are many medevial villages perched on the mountain cliffs. That’s one hell of a drop off!
Pockets of pristine nature dot the lower hills, but dominate the mountains further up.
Of all places on the Cote d’Azur, I was most hesitant about Nice – I didn’t know what to expect other than a very large, crowded city. It was large…it was crowded…and it was fantastic! I was very surprised at the vibe in Nice – a great mix between frolicking tourists and lively local fair – similar to Amsterdam. Nice yacht!
Even the rocky beaches couldn’t detract from the draw of the Med in the heart of the city.
A little mountain in the center of the city is always a good feature...
...and once at the top, the views were incredible.
There was plenty of eye-candy for everyone…Beth and Sue enjoyed watching “Jean-Luc” (as they called him), driving the parasailing boat for the tourists...
..while I preferred ogling the girls in red shoes...
