Best of Nice - Cote d'Azur 2011

Hello my blogmates!

Last week, the second week of my easter break I went on a short vacation with a friend of mine. We visited our common friend Katrin, who is studying at the moment in Nice, France. I will tell you how the trip went, why where etc etc. So I never thought that my parents would let me go out of town with two austrian friends. Everybody knows that I have strict parents and I really wanted to go to Nice. (1) because I have a friend who lives there and can tour me around. I hate reading maps. So I ordered my ticket, and after it was bought I told my mother that I'll visit Katrin in Nice in April. (I didn't tell my father first because I know he doesn't know where Nice is and he would ask me a lot of questions. Like the 100 trilliongazillion asked question "Who is Katrin?") So she said nothing. She only said, if I can afford everything, I can go and I know my limitations and she trusts me. (scary haha)

So Samantha and I went to Nice, the flight was smooth. Samantha is not scared of flying but she's not comfortable in flying aswell. Something in between. And she told me before that she'll need to squeeze my hand if the plane starts shaking so I gave her a small spongebob stuff toy she can squeeze, pinch etc. =D Obviously we both are still alive and survived the really short flight. I am used to travel for at least 5 hours, compared to a flight of max 1h 30 mins. that was nothing.

I don't want to tell every detail. I honestly enjoyed their language and glad that Katrin and Samantha were so patient in teaching me some french. And infairness to me, I'm a fast learner!

On our arrival day, we unpacked our stuff, and then went to the old city of Nice. Southern France is a bit hilly, so we were actually climbing the whole time. I dipped my feet on the sea, so refreshing. Too bad we didn't go swimming. After that we went to a higher point where we were able to see more of Nice from the bird-view. Ate Ice-Cream and strolled around. Really laid back haha. Btw, Katrins room is so cute small. haha.

On our second day we got up early, because we had a long day ahead. We went to Menton by bus, which is the borderland, another 10 minutes drive and you are in Ventimiglia, Italy. Luckily the sun was shining so while the two had their morning coffee, I had my Bananasplit by the beach. Willowed my pants, put up my feet and chilled. Life is so good. Sadly, we had to move on, we had to see more of the city. Menton is known as the Land of Lemons. =D Every store we went to smelled very citrus-like. So after Menton, Samantha and Katrin had their Snack and I was still full from my banana split. And then we went to Monaco. WHO EVER THOUGHT that I'll find myself in Monaco? I didn't show my excitement, but deep inside I was sooo excited. Monaco is not part of France, so it was a two in one. And it was the Land of the Rich people. Fancy cars, fancy bags and Yachts everywhere I look. We even went on a boat to reach the old city of Monaco. Beautiful. Even the Casinos, the toilets, everything. Haha. I didn't play in the Casinos though, I don't have luck in that. 

Our next stop was supposed to be Eze Village.  But we searched for our bus almost 2 hours and waited for our bus another 2 hours, and figured it was the last trip back to Nice. We were so desperate already, we sang some songs, danced and annoyed some people. We were even asked if we were from Russia, Connect the dots. So we went home instead, a good 55 minutes drive. 

I think we spent half of our whole stay in waiting for our busses, weirdly enough they the drivers have their own route and arrival/departure time. haha. 

On our third day, we woke up earlier than on tuesday and our first stop was St. Paul de Vence. Also an old city in the Provence. Every time we went to visit an old city, I thought the place was made for tourist attraction, but surprisingly it was not. It is so old, that it looks so isolated from the modern world. There were some shops and restaurants but also people who live there. There were even signs saying "Pas de Publics" Closed for public. Meaning tourists thought that you can enter, knock or whatever. A door was open so I looked inside and the owner suddenly came our way and I knew that he lived inside. Ooops. haha. If only I know more french words so I can ask the people if we can enter their sweet small narrow home. If I were rich enough, I'll have a small house in an old city. Must be cool.  We were so early in that place that everything was closed. Even the tourist center. haha. 

Our next stop was CANNES. Yes, I was excited about Cannes, because months before Samantha and I talked about our trip and I told her that I so want to go to Cannes. Katrin and her were there already, so I was the only one who was excited about it. haha. I really liked it, the fact that they had public wifi and a sand beach was a plus. Cheap things, nice monuments, the sandy beach - even though the weather wasn't so nice, we did our best to make it unforgettable. We even walked barefeet in Cannes, eventhough I had my aquashoes with me. I am the OCest person, my two friends know ,I think - but I  am best in adaptation. After putting on our socks again, I cleaned my feet with my hand sanitizers first. I do not want to know what was lying on the floor before I stepped on it. HAHAHAHA.

Next Stop was Antibes - Beautiful old city, crappy weather and one little accident. :)) Had my third ice cream! deux boules avec je ne sais pais. hahaha. Btw, Katrin and I took a lot of jump-shots. haha. We knew that Samantha got annoyed with our picture taking because we won't be able to see everything. ;-) And I think I have seen more cementeries in this 5 day trip than in my last 20 years of living. 

We took the train back home to Nice, and saved ourselves from a 4 hour trip back to Nice, by Bus.

On our last day, we went to Eze Village. I was a bit scared that we won't be able to see Eze Village at all, because the bus we were supposed to take, didn't arrive for the past 45 minutes. A different, 112 instead of 82 passed by and we took that bus. Really weird transpos. And Eze Village is soo cute and I am glad we were patient enough to wait for the bus. It was worth the wait. Beautiful. And then we went back to Nice, and did some souvenir shopping. =D So fun! I bought a hello kitty - coins purse, a robot keychain and a bag for my mom - everthing NICE RELATED. N O T. HAHA. I wanted to buy a "I <3 NICE" shirt, but I didn't find any. too bad. In the evening, after our shopping tour, we got ready for a fancy dinner. Samanthas mom, treated us. My two friends are vegetarian and I am a so called carnetaria. So we had to find something, that serves both. I'm so veggie-overdose already, that I couldn't stand eating another bunch of bushes. haha. We found a really cool restaurant, the food was delicious and it was so called the ending to our once in a bluemoon trip. After dinner, at around 12 am, we walked by the promenade, next to the Yachts in our fancy dresses and after reaching a place of taxi boots, we went home by taxi. Packed our stuff, and got some sleep for 3 hours. 

Next morning, we got our last things packed, went to the airport, had our last coffee/tarta de fromboise in Nice and checked in. AND then I saw a bag store. Bags I was actually looking for. Longchamps. I never loved Duty Free ever but now I'm glad there are duty frees. I assume they sell the bags tax free. haha. I got two longchamps, one for my mother, and one for me. Red and Green. My mother loves it, I love it too! 

This was kinda my trip and it was a nice experience travelling with two of my good friends. Last time we were together in a place outside Austria was in 2005, trip to Dublin with the whole class. We weren't that tight, but tigher than with our other mates. We all changed, but the friendship remained. This should last for a longer timespan. I hope I can travel another place with a different bunch of friends some time soon. This should be part of my bucket list. Travel with family and friends. 

Life is good! <3

Now some pictures

see how narrow the streets were?

Jumpshot infront of the monte carlo casino

the menton-beach

I wonder if I'll have my own yacht someday

fancyyyy

menton and my bananasplit -panorama

eze village, underneath us was a fancy hotel with fancy cars

CANNES <3

goofing around

the group

a hill we climbed

the old city

Brian, brians everywhere. dingdong