TUESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - NICE

Today really did turn into quite an adventure ....and lots of walking! I think we walked about 37 kilometres but Henry said it was much less than that!!!!

 

We set out this morning to catch buses to get to another "perched town" called Eze.

 

Waiting for the first bus we saw a small car run up the back of another. The two ladies got out, laughed then one spat on her fingers and rubbed the spots on the cars where they had collided, they got back in and merrily drove off. It was the first of three such "prangs" we saw...and each time the people just shrugged and went on with their driving. (Admittedly the traffic was going slowly). Thought I'd take a few shots to show the parking "rules" (Don't think they have any). Drivers are crazy...the more expensive the car the crazier the driver! Lots of push bikes, scooters and motor bikes everywhere too!

 

 

This is actually a two lane road.....yes all these are parked cars!!!!

 

I love these little cars this one parked so nicely on the crossing!

 

Not a car Luke, but these people's mum and dad bought them a Segway....hint........hint!

Next boarded bus and a successful purchase of tickets.

 

 

People here that serve the public (like bus drivers) have basic English and are very helpful. We travelled to centre of town and then had to change buses but decided instead to walk.

 

 

 

Found out this store is in Nice too Anastasia... might check it out tomorrow!

A typical street in Nice......all apartments!

The bus to Eze only goes hourly. Henry studied the timetable closely and our wait was 3/4 hour. Coming that far....waited.....and the bus sailed past full with the driver shaking his head....

 

Starving and suffering severe coffee withdrawal we struggled to the nearest and very pleasant café and ordered hamburger, tap water (not gas water) and a very longed for shot of caffeine.

French "hamburger" was a patty of nearly raw minced steak (actually really delicious)with a fried egg on top and chips. We enjoyed the cold water too and luckily drank the whole carafe (because  when the bill came they had charged us 6 Euro for it LOL!)

 

"The biggest chip.....ZAC"

We sat outside...lovely. People still smoke outside restaurants here though. in the street people are heavy smokers too, especially women!

We were close to the Port so decided to go and check it out and if we could catch a bus to Monaco.

 

 

Thinking of buying the one on the right!!!!!

The bus trip to Monaco winds around the coast for 45 minutes and a return journey was only 6 Euro for us both. The road is scary at times and there are tunnels through parts of the cliffs The bus came and although we had heard they were often crowded and you only had standing room we got a great seat. The views are spectacular, my photos not so great because there was a light sprinkle and I had to take them through the glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All along the drive there are little bays like this full of not so little boats

In Monaco we found a café open (lots of them close after lunch and open again later for tea). A very welcome sit down in air conditioning and a delicious ice cream set us up for the return trip. Helen these biscuits are your daily treat!

 

 

We only had an hour or so in Monaco and then time to return to Nice.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of parks for kids, flowers are real and this is the closest I'll get to a casino here!!

 

Realising we were waiting at the wrong stop we followed a bus to the correct stop (about 500

metres). It was really slow because of the traffic but crowded. We waited for the next bus only a few minutes... and an almost empty bus with seats on the view side took us back to the Port.

Walking back to our studio took ages and we revisited places from yesterday, a supermarket shop and then a very welcome night in!