Côte d'Azur

Driving along the Côte d’Azur was a once in a lifetime experience. Also known as the French Riviera, the Côte d’Azur is France's stunning south east coastline that runs along the Mediterranean Sea. Comprised of cities such as Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, and Nice, the French Riviera leads into Monaco, home to Monte Carlo, and ends in the small town of Sanremo in Italy.

On our first full day in Nice we drove along the Côte, initially stopping cliffside in Monaco to capture the beautiful landscape of the contrasting architecture and ocean. We ate lunch in Sanremo, Italy, and bought fresh Italian olive oil and pasta. On our way back to Nice, we drove through the notorious casino playground of Monte Carlo to enjoy an opulent sundae from Café de Paris.

We ended our day in the small French town of Èze, not far from Nice. Èze is a medieval village situated at the top of a rocky hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It is composed of ancient narrow streets, plateaus offering panoramic views of the landscape, and hidden shops and hotels nested within the stone walls of the commune. Probably my favourite spot on our trip around the coast, Èze is definitely a sight to see in France. 

Nice, France

We took the train to Nice, passing through Marseille, Toulons, Cannes, and Antibes. Sitting across from us was a French calamari fisherman who, through extremely broken English, offered us shots of homemade schnapps to pass the time. 

Nice is a city for relaxing. Although we spent one day driving around the French Riviera, most of our time in Nice was spent lounging by the pool and going to the Cours Saleya Flower Market. My favourite part of the city was the Promenade du Paillon, an urban park beside the colourful Place Masséna. I loved the water features, the diverse planting scheme (so many palm trees and cacti!), and the way it seamlessly fit into the surrounding architecture. It was a pleasant surprise to see some unique landscape architecture in such an infamously touristy city.