Driving along the coast - Monaco and Nice, France
- Julia Metelitsa
- Apr 1, 2022
- 4 min read
We drove along the coast and hopped into a new country for a bit - the Principality of Monaco and then headed back into France, ending in Nice.
Monaco is grand - the streets are covered with prestigious cars, while the water is filled with yachts. The principality is very clean and well maintained, with flowers on every corner.
Beausoleil - we stayed just on the border of France and Monaco in the French town of Beausoleil, meaning “beautiful/lovely sun" and walked across the street to explore Monaco. The streets of Beausoleil are covered in sun tiles, and certainly make you smile. The last photo shows France (the pharmacy) on the right and Monaco on the left.
Le Palais des Princes de Monaco - home to the royal family of Grimaldi for over 700 years. The grounds are set in the old town, overlooking the city and sea. The old town adjacent to the palace includes many narrow streets and tunnel passageways.
Casino de Monte-Carlo - overlooking the water stands the famous casino. The building interior is stunning; while the entrance is covered in marble, the casino rooms are decorated with incredible paintings and lavish chandeliers. The casino rooms can’t be photographed so you’ll have to take my word for it and enjoy the entrance. This was the first time I went to a casino, and I must say I’m pretty proud of my 15 euro win at the slot machines.
Port - while the water is lined with yachts the surrounding port is lined with restaurants, hotels, and shops.
F1 set up - Monaco is also home to the annual F1 Grand Prix. We got a chance to walk around parts of the track as the city is busy setting up for the event, which is set for May 2022.
Along the way to Nice we stopped into the French town of Eze. First we explored Eze sur Mer (Eze along the sea) and then headed up to the Eze Village. The village is pedestrian only, with many arches, narrow alleys and lots of charm. The village is a wonderful hidden gem in the south of France that shouldn’t be missed if driving along the coast.
A few more kilometres and we ended up in Nice. My first impression of the city was that it needs a "face lift", but after exploring it for a few days, I noticed some streets are getting a "makeover". The waterfront, old town and Massena square are vibrant. I left with a better impression by the end, than when I arrived. Some of my favourite parts below -
Place Masséna + Fontaine du Soleil- located in the centre of Nice, the Massena square is surrounded by red and yellow/white trim buildings. The path towards the square is lined with 7 sculptures, each 12 metres high and lit up at night in alternating colours. In the south of the square sits the Fontaine du Soleil, with the Greek god Apollo.
Promenade des Anglais - this stretch along the coast from Old Nice to the airport features Hotel Negresco, Villa Masséna Musée, and many other hotels, restaurants and landmarks. A few blocks from the coast sits Musée des Beaux-Arts, a vibrant orange building. The rocky beach along the coast also has many waterfront bars.
LAC Chocolatier - we found a gourmet chocolate shop with many picture perfect desserts. They were super decadent and delicious!
Le Panier - this French restaurant fuses together Indian spices such as vadouvan into their unique dishes. Filled with many flavours and textures, we truly enjoyed each dish.
*Pressed shrimp amuse bouche with vadouvan sauce
*Foie gras with soba noodles,
*Asparagus + shellfish with wild garlic
*Duck with green vegetables, taro + green curry
*White market fish with coral lentils, beet root, horseradish + kimchi beets
*Rice pudding with ginger + hibiscus
Musée National Marc Chagall - opened in the early 1970's this modern museum features work by Marc Chagall. The museum includes his various collections - stained glass, sculptures, and biblical works on canvas and brass.
Flower market - every Tuesday florists and farmers are found selling beautiful bouquets of flowers and various local fruits and vegetables. Their stands stretch along “Cours Saleya (street)” in the old town.
Zielinska Fournil - while exploring the old town we spotted this bakery's pink sign. They specialize in artisanal breads and pastries, while incorporating their Polish roots. They also sell a variety of packaged products, pasta, sauces, spreads and more. I’d go back to Nice just to enjoy their caramelized onion bun and cinnamon brioche. I also must note that through the month of March they donated part of their profits to Ukrainian humanitarian aid organizations.
Panorama at Castle Hill + Panorama de la Baie des Anges - both of these lookouts are steps away from the old town. They overlook the Mediterranean sea and all of Nice. There’s also a park at the top, which is certainly a great spot for a picnic.
#StandWithUkraine - although we didn't find a protest to attend, the support was seen and felt in each city. Whether through collecting monetary donations or hanging flags, businesses and individuals are standing with Ukraine. We also made sure to purposely wave our Ukrainian flags high when walking through the primarily Russian neighbourhood in Nice. Слава Україні! Героям Слава!
This brings the France chapter of my trip to a close. My mama (mother) is heading back to Toronto and I'm off to exploring northern Europe. Thankful to have spent the last two weeks together.
Merci France et Monaco!
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