Nice^2
I made a short stop in Marseilles, and was glad I wasn’t staying longer. I stayed in a Hostel International (HI) Hostel, which is wonderful for school groups, families, and the quintessential weird roommate. They are usually located in an inconvenient location and have early curfews, … it was also my only affordable option in town. I tried to redeem the stay by hiking along the coast back into town with some success. In the distance you can see the island prison immortalized by Alexander Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo. Unfortunately, the winds and waves were too rough for the ferry to run, and I hopped on a train for Nice.
Nice was really nice. I stayed at a monastery which was converted into a youth hostel. The staff was extraordinarily nice, from picking you up in a shuttle to personally helping you plan your day each morning at breakfast. This is definitely a place not to miss! Check under the ‘Where I’ve Been’ Link for contact details.
The area around Nice is absolutely beautiful, with high cliffs and protected beaches, this is the base of the French Riviera. I spent a whole day lounging on the beach in VilleFrenche, which is just east of Nice and has a scallop shaped beach with crystal clear water. With the aid of some goggles I was off for the longest swim since being abroad. It wasn’t very far, but watching the fields of sea grass and clusters of fish swim by was a welcome change. Until I got stung in the chin by a jellyfish. It was at this point that I realized how hard it is to vent your frustration with jellyfish. I could see him with my goggles on, but unlike a dog you could kick after it bites you, a jellyfish is much more intangible. You can’t hit it, you can’t yell at it with any result, but if you get too close again you probably will get stung again. The only feasible solution I could think of was a perimeter ring of sea turtles swimming around me eating any potential jellyfish.
After, warming up on the beach I decided to visit a bar that my friend Marianne suggested to me. She frequented the bar often while studying abroad in Nice, and told me to stop in and say hi to the owners and drink a pint. The bar is called O’haras, and is located near the market area in the old town. The owners are from Britain, and have been in Nice for the last 23 years. When they opened, they were the first pub, and remained the only pub until 13 years ago. The bar is small, but packed with character, and the owners are quite chatty if you get them going. The wood paneling, row of distinctly single malt whiskey, low lighting, and TVs conjures images of a seaside pub too small for the brawls of sailors, but cozy and welcoming to the traveling soul. It was a great way to end the day.
