TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Place Massena is biggest square in Nice and a lot of people use this as a reference and meeting point, as well as for public events such as concerts, political gatherings and celebrations. The square is surrounded by mediterranean inspired terracotta coloured buildings. There are 2 things I like about Place Massena: 1) The sitting figures on poles that changes in colour 2) The fountain with the horses And just on the corner is the Zone Pietonne (pedestrian zone) where many shops, cafes and restaurants are located. It can get very busy here quickly. From the square it’s just a 2 to 3 minute walk to the Vieille Ville (old town), just right across actually, and the Promenade des Anglais, the coast. Here is Place Massena by day: The tram line passes through the square. And Place Massena by night: Those sitting figures on poles are cool. Moi here at the fountain, one of my very few souvenir pictures of Nice. More night pictures of Nice: This is at the Zone Pietonne (pedestrian zone) where ...

What better way to spend the weekend by staying up late Friday night and waking up late in the morning, then going to the local market to sightsee and have a late breakfast of plain crepes with sugar and coffee on a market terrace. This is a nicely presented spices vendor. I noticed that in this market merchandising matters. The Cours Saleya market is a nice experience in Nice. It is situated parallel to the Quai des Etats-Unis. I love the traditional atmosphere in the market square. A very busy spot I cannot argue and one that visitors should not miss. If compared to the markets in Spain and Italy, the Cours Saleya is smaller, less diverse and far from being chaotic. The market is located in the old town and is flanked on the side lines by numerous touristy cafes and restaurants that are mostly catering to seafood lovers like moi. Nicois cuisine is definitely a must try when in Nice. Aside from flowers, fresh fruits, and vegetable produce being sold, they have a variety of gou...

Now, my personal opinion of the French Riviera would be that the east side going to Italy offers the most scenic views in the region. Driving from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer is simply breathtaking! Definitely one of my unforgettable experiences there. The winding highway was something I had to get used to though, and I was so glad they offer parking spots along the cliffs for people to stop and admire the beautiful quayside views. I have read before about Villefrance-sur-Mer as one of the few remaining traditional fishing villages in the French Riviera, and most importantly, as being a low-key quarter. The writer of the article was right. When I was there visiting I was one of the very few tourists exploring the meandering alleys. Villefranche-sur-Mer is for me a breath of fresh air; a pretty little town that is away from the ostentatious scene where the true character of a French fishing village is conserved. It is uniquely perched on a hill on a picturesque bay in the Riviera coast...

The city of Nice, the capital of the French Riviera (Cote d’Azur region) is big and is strategically located along the coastline of La Baie des Anges. Hotels from a simple 3 stars to distinguished 5 stars line up the Promenade des Anglais, the famous boulevard of the city facing the pristine Baie des Anges. This stretch is filled with rows of palm trees, and in the evening the tall foliages glitter with lights setting the right mood for the holiday season’s festivities. Speaking of palm trees, and back tracking to the day I arrived in Nice, I was with 2 colleagues in a cab en-route from the airport to the hotel. As we sped through the highway, my colleague who was sitting in front of the car and talking to the cab driver in French – he just happens to speak 4 languages by the way, was complimenting the balmy weather and the green palm trees decorating the city. We felt like we were whisked into a new and different world... a warm paradise. Such a big contrast to cold and gloomy Holl...