Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Another Sea Day

I am awaiting a big screen showing of the new James Bond film as Riviera heads westward towards St Barts.

Thursday, 18 November 2021
Adventures in Nice and Surroundings 

I awake to a glorious morning of bright sunshine in a beautiful Mediterranean blue sky and pleasantly warm temperatures.

There will be no rest today as the Riviera drops anchor in the harbor at Villefranche-Sur-Nice, one of the most beautiful ports in the Mediterranean—and the very deepest. It was used by the US military during WWII, but now handles large cruise ships and yachts that are too large for the small port at Nice itself.

Passengers are tendered to shore on local boats—much more comfortable than the ship’s tenders—where waiting buses are a short walk away. My tour uses a full-size bus but the tour group is small, about 12 people. The guide, Richard, welcomes us as the first cruise tourists In almost two years. From this small seaside village we drive 20 minutes west to the hills surrounding Nice for a panoramic view before driving the Middle Corniche to Eze, our first stop. This is the stretch of roadway where Princess Grace suffered her fatal accident.  But today the views are the main attraction.

Eze is a tiny medieval village situated atop a mountain outcrop.  No cars are allowed and it is long series of stone inclines and steps that lead ever upward (and then downward, of course). The scene is lovely, but I choose to stop about halfway. The stone steps and pathway are steep and slippery and I just don’t take chances any more. I relax at mid level, while the rest of the group ascends to the top to see—mostly shops for tourists. But the views are lovely and the details of the stone architecture quite interesting.

After descending to the bus we are off to Nice again.  We drive through various sections of the city that I had not seen when I previously visited many years ago. We drive through the center of the city with many cultural institutions and museums and then up a series of hills to what is known as the “English Area,” because of many large homes previously used by Queen Victoria and her Prince of Wales, and all her hangers-on. In fact, Nice is the most Anglicized city in France. It was also popular—and still is—for wealthy Russian emigres, Royal and otherwise.

While this part of the city is English, the whole of Nice is actually more Italian than French. Street names in the ale Town, where we visit next, are in French and Italian. The city was once under Italian rule and it wasn’t until Napoleon banned the Italian language in the early 19th century that the people of Nice were forced to speak French. Hey, I actually learned something new.

When we reach “Old Town,” we have a short walking tour and then about one hour of free time.  For me, that’s just enough time for lunch. 

The Best Butt in Nice

Specialty Candy Shop-Exterior and Interior

The bus delivers us back to the port in good time and I take a short walk along the sea in this charming small town. Let’s hope the pleasures of today are a good omen for the rest of the cruise.