Monthly Archives: May 2013

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The Riviera Woman

And you thought I was talking about myself, right?!

paperback photoWell....sort of…..since I am A Riviera woman, and am featured in THE Riviera Woman, an online magazine, as the author of “Solitary Desire – One Woman’s Journey to France.  Watch book trailer HERE.

A big merci to Anna Fill, the e-zine presenter and promoter, who I met a few years ago at one of her events.  Anna started the magazine to “develop a platform that allowed (her) to meet inspirational women and men on the Riviera who are part of the community, giving (her) the chance to raise their profile and hear their story.  (She) also wanted to have a website that promoted art and artists of all kinds.”

The Riviera Woman magazine’s slogan is: “Talk to us because we’ll talk about you. It’s what women do.”  And Anna certainly does it very, very well – Bravo!

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Gastronomic Restaurant in Nice

Situated on Coco Beach just after the port of Nice,  “La Reserve” is a well-known “restaurant gastronomique, ” famous for its proximity next to the sea, high quality dining, and providing panoramic views.  The ambiance is formal, with a contemporary interior design, and sound effects from the waves lapping the shoreline.  The food was first-rate, service excellent (but not personable), and views spectacular.  But, I had a little reserve about La Reserve….a feeling that something was missing that I couldn’t put my finger on.  It wasn’t just the pricey menu (expected for this type of restaurant), but rather a lack of “soulfulness” – everything felt too robotic.  It was a black and white, rather than colorful, experience – figuratively speaking and difficult to explain.  Do you know what I mean?  Have you ever experienced this at a restaurant?

(The above is my personal opinion and not meant as a critique of the restaurant to sway tourists – your experience may be totally different.)

(hover mouse over photo for caption)

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Gourmet Restaurant in Monaco

I recently attend a luncheon with the Riviera Gourmet Club, held at Le Benoit Restaurant in Monaco – a posh setting for a posh meal, and all in all, a delicious afternoon among friends. The restaurant is within walking distance from the train station, going down the hill and then taking a long flight of steps up to the parking garage level. The restaurant is on the 5th floor, providing a panoramic view of the Port Hercule – well worth a visit for a luxurious lunch (or dinner)!

10 photos (excluding the mixed fruit dessert – it was so enticing, I forgot to take a photo of it!)

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Le Mois des Gourmands

gourmands-01There’s still time left for foodistas and foodies alike!

“La Fourchette” is featuring May 22-June 16 as gourmet month, with substantial reductions on select restaurants.

For current restaurants offering discounts in Nice, click HERE

Buyer Beware –  I haven’t used La Fourchette (it seems to be like Groupon which I have used)

Do you think you generally get what you pay for?

BON APPETIT!

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“Sporting Beach” in Nice

Under the warm, Mediterranean sun and overlooking the azur Mediterranean Sea, I recently enjoyed lunch at a seaside restaurant in Nice, called Sporting Beach.   I sipped a glass of Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, while taking in the luscious sea view during a ‘girlfriends lunch’ – an afternoon full of fun, laughter, and of course, the latest girly gossip.

There are many private beaches along the Promenade in Nice to experience sun, sea, & (gastronomic) savoir-faire – Bon appetit!

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Metro Signs

During a visit to the Washington D.C. area, I took the Orange Line of the Metro into the city.  It suddenly dawned on me,  how confused a non-English speaker could be, when faced with these transportation signs.  I immediately thought of the automated ticket machines in Paris, for non-French speakers, as a comparison.  We tend to take it for granted that things are easy, so I tried to put myself in someone else’s shoes – as a type of role reversal.  Have you encountered this type of situation?

metro map automation IMG_0003 entrance

bench seat

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I Scream, You Scream…

We all scream for ice cream — especially with summer and tourist season just around the corner here in Nice.

“Berthillon” is to Paris as “Fenocchio” is to Nice

Here’s the scoop!

Berthillon is a well-known tea salon, located on the Ile Saint Louis,  offering 60 flavors of ice cream/sorbet.  In the summer, there are long lines at this famous establishment.

Address:
29-31 rue Saint Louis en l’ile (Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm)
75004 Paris

Métro :  
_ ligne 7 station Pont Marie
_ ligne 1 station Saint Paul
_ lignes 9 & 10 station Cardinal Lemoine

BUS : lignes
86 / 87 / 63 / 67 / 24

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Fenocchio, located in the heart of Old Nice at Place Rosetti, is a well-known and offers around 98 flavors of ice cream/sorbet  (one of my top five sites in Nice).  Long lines are common during high tourist season.

Address (two locations in Old Nice):

2, Place Rossetti near St. Reparate Cathedral – 9:00am – Midnight (non-stop)

6, rue de la Poissonerie near Cours Saleya market – 9:00am – Midnight (non-stop except Tuesday)

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What flavor(s) would you choose?

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New News Nuggets from Nice

guide cover resized•        As of May 3, 2013, bus & tram fares are 1,50 € (instead of 1€) for a one-way ticket; however, buying a group of 10 tickets still costs 1€ each (buy at tram stops or at Lignes d’Azur shop)

•        The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 15-26 and the Monaco Grand Prix is May 25-26, 2013

•        The Nice Jazz Festival will run from July 8-12, 2013

•        “Mirazur” restaurant in Menton is #28 in the 2013 list of the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants“ (http://www.mirazur.fr/en)

•        AutoBleue stations are under construction in Villefranche and Beaulieu, with 28 stations targeted to be ready in 2013

•        The newly constructed green park (Coulée Verte) in the center of Nice will be officially named the “Promenade du Paillon”

•        A new tunnel is being constructed between Nice and Monaco, projected to be completed in two years

•        By 2020, high speed broadband will reach remote communities in the PACA region, with all of France having Internet before 2022

•        The Musée Oceanographique in Monaco will host a permanent exhibition all year long, themed “The Mediterranean Splendid – Fragile Living”

•        Nice airport has a full body scanner for checking international travelers, reportedly the only French airport with one, so only volunteers are scanned, instead of the typical walk-through metal detectors

•        Nice’s airport is in the top ten listing for the world’s most scenic airplane landings, from a survey by an air charter company

•        Virgin Megastore in Nice will be closing

•        IKEA will be opening in the Eco-Nice Saint Isidore area, targeted for 2016

•        The Palais Mediterranée was voted 18th best luxury hotel in Trip Advisor’s list of best hotels in France

•        The Palais de la Mediterranée hotel and casino in Nice will be renamed Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Mediterranée, and Hôtel Martinez in Cannes will be officially named Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez,following a new management agreement under the Hyatt family of hotels; both hotels will also be renovated

•        A new site shows where you can drop-off electronic equipment for recycling, as well as where to donate other goods (www.eco-systemes.fr )

•        Renault Twingo and the Smart Fortwo are the two top cars in France for thefts

•        France has been repeatedly voted to have the world’s best quality of life by International Living magazine, with 79 million tourists last year

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Source: Riviera Times, Connexion, Riviera Reporter

 

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Eurostar to Southern France: An Update

Following my previous post about Eurostar’s new service:

London to Aix-en-Provence trains will begin running every Saturday in May and June, stopping in Lyon and Avignon.

Prices are €99 in standard class Lyon-London and €199 in premier, rising to €109 standard and €249 premier for Aix-London.

The first train leaves St Pancras on May 4 at 7h17 and arrives 4h43 later in Lyon Part-Dieu, 5h52 later in Avignon and 6h17 later in Aix at 14h34.

However, travellers heading from France to London will face longer journey times due to customs checks needing to be made at Lille. On the London outbound services these checks are done before boarding at St-Pancras.

Trains leave Aix at 15h57, Avignon at 16h21 and Lyon at 17h38 to arrive in London at 22h39. The Aix-London journey takes seven hours 42 minutes.

ALL ABOARD!!

(Source:  Connexion)