An eight hour walking tour of Barcelona helped us discover the beauty of this city including the many Gaudi influences!
Your turn: Have you been to Barcelona? Any places we HAVE to see tomorrow as we have most of the day free.
We continued our trip across South of France yesterday, leaving the cozy town of Cap Ferrat for three cities: Nice, Cap d’Antibes and Cannes.
We didn’t have a firm itinerary except for our late lunch reservations in Cap d’Antibes and our hotel reservation in Cannes. This allowed us the perfect amount of time for a morning in Nice. The capital of South of France, Nice is the 5th largest city in France and second largest French city on the Mediterranean Sea behind Marseille. Known primarily for its port and large seaside promenade, Nice’s warm weather, clean air and beaches attract more than four million tourists each year. We spent two hours exploring Nice’s waterfront and market, the perfect amount of time to get a taste of what the city offers.
The Promenade des Anglais is a large walkway along the waterfront which provides walkers, bikers and runners panoramic views of Nice and the neighboring towns. There are multiple bike rental stations, water fountains and benches where people can relax. Yesterday the promenade was packed with tourists and locals alike who were enjoying the 70 degree temperatures and crystal clear views. The water was too cold for many, but the warm stone beach attracted topless sun bathers and fisherman alike.
Just one block over from Promenade des Anglais, the pedestrian zone or Cours Saleya includes shopping, cafes, and the very popular flower market. The daily market is primarily known for the the large flower stands but also included local foods and regional goods such as olive oils, lavender, Herbs de Provence, and spices.
The area also included a number of small boutiques specializing in olive ware, olive oils and other local specialties. We couldn’t help but meander through the streets picking up kitchen essentials such as olive oil as well as a few gifts for loved ones. If we’re able to keep the gifts from our families until Christmas it will amaze us both!
Before leaving we walked a mile down the promenade towards the harbor and War Memorial where we stopped for a mid-morning snack, enjoying the strawberries, raspberries and local cheese purchased at the market. The war memorial, which stands more than 100 feet tall, was originally built to honor the more than 4,000 Nice residents who died during War World I. However since then, the monument has been updated to include those who died in World War II, Indochina and Algeria wars as well.
Given how accessible Nice is both by air travel and train, we can understand why so many flock to Nice. However, we preferred and recommend the smaller, more hidden towns of of Cap Ferrat and Cap d’Antibes.
Greetings from Spring Break 2015!
Similar to last year, Bo and I are taking advantage of the fact that we have Good Friday and Easter Monday off from work. Last year we explored Munich, Prague and Vienna with our friends Mike and Liz during the Easter holiday. This year we were craving sunshine and some quality time together. So much of our travel these past few months has been with friends that it’s rare for us to travel alone.
We decided that a road trip from Geneva to South of France then over to Barcelona would be perfect. The weather is ten or so degrees warmer than Geneva, the food is wonderful and it allows us to see Barcelona, a city which was high on our list.
The six hour drive from Geneva to Cap Ferrat took us through Switzerland, Italy, Monaco and France. We made a quick stop in Monaco to stretch our legs, explore the docks and daydream.
We made it down to our hotel in Cap Ferrat, Hotel Brise Marine, around sunset. Cap Ferrat is a small, quaint seaside town in the South of France.
Bo’s parents recommended we visit Cap Ferrat for at least one night, as it was their favorite spot when they traveled to France a few years ago. Our hotel room was simple but the views were gorgeous and it was far less expensive than the other hotels in the area.
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We experienced the true magic of Cap Ferrat this morning, just after sunrise. Per the recommendation of our friends Lauren and Ryan, we took a 4 mile run along the island, following the Cap Ferrat Path. The coastal path goes from town through lush flora and along the rocky, limestone coast until looping back into town.
The path started on pavement before transitioning to a rocky path which passed the lighthouse, multiple luxury homes, gorgeous clear water coves, and the local beach.
Once we turned the cove we had views of the nearby towns, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and the port of Villefranche. Boats were heading out for the day and fishermen were perched on the rocks, in search of the perfect catch. There were no other sounds on the path other than the crashing waves and our feet against the gravel.
If you find yourself in the South of France, make sure to spend at least an afternoon enjoying Cap Ferrat’s hiking paths and relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy breakfast overlooking the port and watch as boats come in and out of the small harbor. We can already tell that it’s very different than the energy of Nice and Cannes.
