Nice is so Nice!

Hi all! I am sitting in an airport in a random Polish town (the name begins with K and then is followed by a bunch of consanents- that’s all I know!) about to head back to Luxembourg after 17 straight days of traveling! Wow. I have never traveled in a row this much in my life, and it was a great experience! I am really glad I divided my days up into three very different trips, it really worked out perfectly and I feel like each one was unique and for the perfect amount of time for its purpose. Paris (as you know from my blog) was a great time for sightseeing and catching up with my parents! My next leg was a girly weekend in the South of France that was really relaxing and a nice break between too jammed pack trips. My last leg was my study tour, I visited Prague, Auschwitz, and Krakow with my history class “The Rise and Fall of Hitler.” I cant even begin to tell you how much I learned; this class was one of the main reasons I chose the program I am in, and I can report that I am so happy with my decision. Ah as excellent as all of this was, I have so much blogging and picture posting to do, please be patient with me! I am determined to blog about Nice and the study tour tonight and tomorrow and I figure there is no time better than the present to begin. So although I am bursting with stuff to say about my study tour, first things first, I will begin with my adventures in Nice!

Overall, Nice is very, very nice (just a note for those non-French speakers, Nice is pronounced niece- like my sisters cute little daughter Gabby). I know I say this about everything (my Mom informed me of this habit), but Nice is one of my favorite places in Europe. It is a beach town/city, the fifth biggest city in France actually, in the South, and its location on the Riveria makes it have a very Italian feel. The beaches, which are stone, not sand, are gorgeous, the water is an amazing tealish/blue color that I love and the actually town just has a very relaxed, cultured feel to it. It is obviously beachy, but it is just a tad more classy, European feeling than my other favorite beach town, OC, Maryland of course. As I mentioned, this trip was relaxing. Nice’s main draw is its beach and old town, so unlike a lot of other cities with tons of history and museums, there was not the pressure to sightsee nonstop. We could just take in the atmosphere, enjoy each others company, and veg. Because of this, I decided it would be boring to recount what we did day by day. We really did a lot of the same stuff each day because we enjoyed it so much! So here are some trip highlights/my favorite things…

• Jillian Scott! I went with my sisters roommate/bridesmaid/bff, Jill, who hails from the great town of Eugene, Oregon. Jill and my sis Jackie have been friends for about 2 years, when craigslist magically united these two souls who have led eerily parallel lives on different coasts. Like Jackie, Jill is the middle child in a family of 3 sisters who are spaced exactly like the Schmidt girls. Also, Jill dates a slim boy who enjoys running and jokes, just like Jackie’s dear Tom. But, while Jay studied abroad in college, Jill is in Europe now, she is in her last semester in public health grad school at GWU and she got a fellowship to intern in Geneva, Switzerland for the World Health Organization so she has been abroad in a nearby neutral country like my own. Anyway, we met up for the long weekend in Nice, and got along great! Hanging out with Jill is kind of like hanging out with Jay really, except we aren’t blood related. Its funny because although we have met several times, we really didn’t know each other that well before Nice, but we really were quite compatible travel partners. We had the same eating, sleeping, drinking habits and were both looking for a relaxing, carefree weekend! Jill is super interesting and I am so glad I got to know her better in lovely Nice. We talked and laughed a ton, I felt so comfortable with her! Also, her spontaneity and laid back vibe rubbed off on me, and I had the chance to just be totally myself without a care. Jill is awesome and made my trip so great woo!!

• Hotel Meyerbeer: Living in Sketchy Luxury. Jill and I stayed in a hotel/hostel type deal that we booked on hostelworld.com after days of emailing back and forth different suggestions that all seemed to be booked. After a week at the swanky Hilton in Paris, I will admit it wasn’t exactly “luxury” but it was fine, just had a few quirks. We shared a double bed (that was all that was available), but really it was comfy. The room was semi spacious and the best part of the place was its location, it was about 2 minutes from the beach, 5 minutes from old town, and 1 minute from the main tourist drag, all walking! The two oddities that really gave the place character were the shower and the elevator. When we arrived Friday morning after very early flights and a walk from the bus stop where we got quite lost (we were too chatty and just completely missed our street, when we asked for directions the man we asked had no idea what street we were asking for, my French accent is that horrible haha) we made it and tried to head up the reception on the first floor. We jammed all of our stuff in a teeny, tiny old fashioned lift, and almost were trapped. Then, suddenly like a rocketship in Cape Canaveral, we were off and although we pushed floor 1, we showed no signs of stopping and kept going until we suddenly slammed to a halt at the fourth floor. A lady who resided in the same building as our hotel (their were apartments above) was waiting, and looked quite disgusted at the mess (i.e. the two frazzled American girls) that was in her lift. We got out as quick as we could with all our bags (reminder- I was carrying all my stuff for 17 days of travel) and made the struggle down three steps of stairs. Needless to say, we took the stairs the rest of the trip. Another funny story comes from our shower, which lacked a sufficient curtain and tended the turn out bathroom floor into a flood zone resembling Florida coast in hurricane season. The first time I stepped out to dry off, I stepped into about an inch of water! After a few attempts, we realized the trick to keeping water in (trying to seal the curtain to the wall), but it made for many laughs trying to steal sketchy towels from the lobby to mop up the flood zone. Despite these mishaps, our hotel was fine and provided a comic backdrop for our adventures.

• Sharing a bottle of wine on the beach during sunset: we did this two times and it really does not need much explanation! It was as wonderful as it sounds!

• Culinary Delights: Ok, so I realize that I talk about food a lot on this blog and I am beginning to worry I sound a tad like like a gluttonous fatso. But the truth is, I LOVE food and I think eating is a really important part of traveling! Anyway, since Nice is very Italian, its cuisine is reminiscent of that boot shaped country, and I loved it! Jill and I seriously had the best pizza of our lives at this place called “La Pizza” on Friday night. What the restaurant lacked in title creativity, it sure made up for in taste. The pizza was made in a brick oven, and covered with incredible sauce and cheese. I got the 4 cheese pizza, and it was not kidding, in addition to the regular pizza cheese there were hunks of what I think was goat, blue, brie, and perhaps gouda mixed in. So excellent. La Pizza was so good that on Easter Sunday, after breakfast kept us full and we didn’t eat lunch and then randomly were starved around 4pm, we headed back to La Pizza to indulge again! It was divine once more. Also, I may have had the best gelato of my life once again in Nice. There was a place in the old town square called Fennochio that was literally written up in every single guidebook or website Jill and I read about the town! It has 92 gelato flavors including some pretty odd flavors like beer and tomatoe basil! Jill and I stuck to more sweet flavors, and they were seriously delectable. We went to Fennochs (as we nicknamed it) probably too many times in 4 days than I care to admit and tried a bunch :Speculous-(inspired by this really cool Belgian spread kind of like PB that is very popular in Luxembourg), Cannelle (cinnamon), Confiture du Lait (vanialla cream swirled with something like butterscotch) and Mocha were favorites. Jill and I became such regulars that on our last night there when we decided we just had to have Fennochs one last time (I think the somewhat excessive amount of wine we had drunk contributed to this decision), two of the workers recognized us and said “man you girls really like ice cream!” They even gave us samples, because we were that cool. Coming from a place that is infamous in guidebooks for a strict no sample policy, this was pretty sweet (pun intended). So overall, food was great in Nice. Other memorable eats include some good sandwiches from street vendors, an egg and toast American breakfast on Easter that made us feel at home, yummy coffee, and a great pasta dinner our last night!

• Strolls through old town Nice, which is so cute. The buildings are all gorgeous, sun soaked colors (think deep yellows, oranges, pinks) and they are surrounded by narrow cobblestone streets and alleys. The old town has a daily flower, food, and spice market that is wonderful and so pretty, we strolled through several days and just took in the smells and sights.

• Shopping! Nice is a beach town, so of course they have the shops that often accompany sun bathing and tourists. There was an eclectic mix of high end boutiques, chains, and cheaper beach wear stores for clothing, as well as tons of cute soap, spice, and tacky souvenir shops. Jill and I both found cute pairs of shoes in Nice, as well as sunglasses, and sundresses! Successful shopping for sure! But don’t worry, I had to be careful to not buy too much since I had to cart it around Europe and meet the strict luggage regulations of the various budget airlines I flew!

• Sleeping in some days! No elaboration needed…we were both tired girls, and catching up on rest and sometimes just lounging was just what the doctor ordered!

• Biking on Blue Velos! We weren’t complete bums and did actually do more than eat and sleep in Nice! Two of the days we rented these bikes that are all around the city. Anyone with a phone and credit card can rent them for a really cheap price, and you can return them to any station, there is seriously a stand almost every block! We had a blast biking around town and exploring on them! The Old Town of Nice ends at this sort of very high cliff/park area that protrudes out into the ocean. On our bikes, we went around this region to the other side of the city, where we found a whole new area with a huge port (where yachts and cruise ships were parked), restaurants, and little beaches/cliffs that would be great for sunbathing/cliff diving. One day, we explored the cliff area and took great pictures down in this little cave that was right on the water. It is hard to explain, but check out the pics when I post them! We really wanted to cliff dive, and even went back another day in our bathing suits ready to jump, but in the end it was just a tad too cold. The weather was in the low 60s, but it was quite windy and the water freezing. Jill is very brave and adventurous, so when she said we would likely die of hypothermia if we jumped in, I knew she was right. We were still able to sunbathe a little on the cliffs though and enjoy the gorgeous blue sea and sky! It was all thanks to our bikes that we were able to find this spot though! They were a great idea and I highly recommend biking in a city as a really unique way to get a feel for it!

• Easter. It was kind of strange to be away from our families on this holiday, and I think there were parts of the day when we both felt a little bit homesick. But in the end, we still managed to make it a great day! We had gone out the night before, so we slept in and had an American style breakfast of eggs and toast that was super comforting at a little café. Then we strolled throughout the old and new town and did some shopping/browsing for several hours. Then we biked a bit, but since it was getting a little rainy, this plan did not last too long. We were pondering what to do next when we were struck by an enormous craving for La Pizza, so we went there and had a great Easter Linner of pizza! In a food coma after that, we headed back to our hotel and watched a movie we rented on Itunes. It was so nice to just relax and watch a chick flick in bed on a rainy day, that is something I had not done in Europe at all and I totally missed! We even let ourselves nap a bit after the movie, then got up and went out to the beach right as it cleared up and we could watch the sunset. We then went to a bar in Old Town and found the area to be quite crowded, I guess the French like the celebrate Easter with a few drinks! When we went back to the hotel later, we were able to call and skype our families and bfs, and this felt great! A nontraditional, but quite nice Easter that I won’t soon forget!

• The weather- Friday and Monday were absolutely great, in the 60s and perfect blue skies. Although Saturday and Sunday were a little cooler and had a few rain showers, it didn’t prevent us from doing anything and was still a great deal warmer than what we both have been used to! I even got a little color on my face! It was too early for bathing suits (although we tried) and swimming, but it was lots of sunshine and I loved that after too many months of clouds, snow, and rain in Lux.

• Hiking to the top of Le Chateau/the cliff thing that separates the two sides of Nice. I am doing a really bad job of explaining this piece of land, but it is essentially a big, raised park, that you can walk up to the very top of through various stairwells and hills. It is very green and has a gorgeous waterfall, Roman ruins, and great views of Nice from the top! We did this the first day right after we arrived and it was such a nice welcome to the city! Beautiful, beautiful views, some of the best I have seen in Europe!

• Adventures in Monaco: Ok so I obviously left the best story for last, for those devoted fans who really read all the way through my blog! Nice is about a 30 minute train ride from the principality of Monaco (I think the world’s smallest country), so Jill and I knew we had to go and visit its famed casino, the Monte Carlo, one night. Saturday, we got all dolled up in our best dresses and heels, had some pre-adventure drinks, and then boarded the train to head to the land of luxury. When we arrived, the sun was beginning to set and we wandered around until we found the main harbor and casino! It was so, so pretty, the yachts in the harbor were incredible and although the outside of the casino was a bit smaller/less Vegasy than I expected (basically no flashing lights), it is gorgeous and just exudes class and wealth (really the whole country gives you the feeling of major money). We headed into the famed casino and were immediately checked for security, apparently no cameras are even allowed, so I had to hand mine over to be checked. Jill, ever the cunning one, kept hers in her bag secretly. Then we had to buy our tickets, which we knew were a little steep, but you don’t go to Monaco without going to the Monte Carlo, so we decided to just do it! This is when the trouble began. I had only brought a little clutch with me with some cash, a credit card, and my International Student Identity Card which I use to enter all museums, sites, etc across Europe and have never had a problem with. Unfortunately, this card was not good enough for the MC, and the ticket lady informed me I needed a passport or drivers license just to get in! Ahh I thought, I had them both, but back in the Hotel in Nice! We had come all the way on the train, and both knew it wouldn’t be possible to go back and forth again that night. But Jill, again always calm and collected, stayed cool and very politely said to the lady, “Ok I have my drivers license, but my friend left her passport in the hotel, can I buy my ticket now and then we will go get her passport, we are staying right next door?” They lady said sure, and Jill got her ticket, which was printed with her name on it and made only after the lady entered her info into the computer. We walked out, and immediately begin hatching a plan. I was scared, but knew what Jill had in mind. Essentially, we became James Bond, and pulled off a heist at one of the world’s biggest casinos. I’m sure you can see where this is going, but Jill had her passport on her too, so I used hers! Don’t worry, we were extremely stealth and considered all the risks involved. Jill had to talk me into the scheme, I was quite nervous and panicky, but she assured me it was fine- she is a bad ass. I kept imagining calling my Dad on a collect call from the Monaco Prison, but I just tried to keep those thoughts to myself. We even went in the very fancy hotel next door, rode up to the 5^th floor and pretended to go in a room to truly pull off our plan. We had an alibi, that we were rich sisters whose Dad was in oil and had dragged us here on business, we were staying at the hotel we went in right across from the casino. If the lady suspected anything, we planned to grab Jills passport and pretend we had just taken the wrong one by mistake! After we pretended to go pick up “my” passport, we went back in and I shakily handed over Jills. Jill played it cool (I just was awkward again) and even made a witty comment to the lady about the architecture to divert her attention. In the end, after a brief second when she called over a security man and we both almost died, I got my ticket no problem!! It turned out she was calling over the man for something else. We both had tickets that said Jillian Scott, but I guess the lady was just dumb or didn’t care enough to call us out! We were gleeful and headed into the casino! Sadly, we found out upon entrance that the workers were on strike, and the bar was closed, so we couldn’t even get a drink to calm our nerves! We did have quite a fun time though, and watched a lot of high rollers play at the big stakes tables and even bet a little ourselves in the less expensive slot machines. The people watching were fabulous and we entertained ourselves a great deal making up funny stories about the ritzy clientele. Finally, thirst caught up to us, and we headed to another bar for a drink. I had a Monaco Grand Prix (named after the famous car race) at the casino next door, and then we found a fun, Havana type bar with a lot of young people, to enjoy our last Monocan cocktail. We went back to the MC one last time to take it all in, the building was incredible, the closest I have seen to it is the interior of Versailles to be honest, and to sneak one picture of the interior that turned out blurry but is ok! We made it back to Nice on the last train at midnight and after some late night Turkish Kabobs (don’t ask) we hit the sack successful criminals! It was such a fun night!!

Whew, I thought this method of highlights would make for a shorter blog, but clearly I was wrong. What a fun, fun weekend Nice was! Love you Jill and thanks for going with me! Maybe we should move Jackie’s bachelorette party to the Monte Carlo?! We know how to get in!

Haha, look for a massive study tour blog soon! History buffs, get excited!

Care