Saturday, January 5, 2013

2013 COTE d'AZUR

A good year ahead on the French Riviera



There are many reasons to feel happy about living on the Côte d'Azur. However, sometimes I feel those of us who live here all-year round simply take it for granted. So, in the spirit of starting the year with positive thoughts, here are a few of my favourite things about Nice and the French Riviera generally.


  • Blue skies. We have around 300 days of sunshine a year
  • Sitting outside in mid-winter at a beach-side restaurant having moules and frites and drinking rosé
  • Every day seeing the Mediterranean sea from my terrace.
  • Coco beach in Nice - for afficionados only because of the rocks but the best place to sunbathe in the city
  • Driving along the Grande Corniche in an open-top car - the route of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief
  • A walk along the beaches and coastline of St Jean Cap Ferrat
  • Knowing my local boulangerie bakes the best bread in the world in a wood-fired oven every day
  • Driving to Italy for the market at San Remo and having lunch
  • A swim at Villefranche in September when the crowds and jellyfish have gone
  • Going to the Cannes Film Festival and not being a tourist
  • Catching the tram to the market at Liberation in Nice - the best market in town
  • Going to the opera/ballet/classical concert in Monaco as if it were an everyday event
  • Enjoying not going to supermarkets for shopping - every day
  • Being able to wear summer clothes for around 9 months of the year (and also never feeling over-dressed. A girl can never have enough sparkle here)
  • The warmth (and wildness) of people who live here 


I could add many more things about living here but a list has to stop sometime. 
Happy NEW YEAR from the Côte d'Azur.