Paradis Nice

ok, it was more "collecting a new country" than being really interested in Monaco. Strange, when you go there from Nice airport by bus it costs you 18 € one way, when you go from Nice bus terminal it costs 1 € one way. Monaco is a very clean city. I have never seen so many big and expensive cars. I saw the casino and the castle. Nice, but not spectacular.

I know I always write the same...great weather, such a nice city, good food....but I have to say that Nice was a (very) big surprise for me, I can say that it is my favourite city in Europe (ok, number 2 after Lisbon). You have the mountains, the Cote dŽAzur (when you see the water you know why the name is Cote dŽAzur), the market with fresh vegetables, fruits, honey, oil, soap, you have great restaurants ...

... upon me it feels very strange and somewhat daunting. But to my knowledge no one has ever died from teaching children so I am sure I will survive.... My Amazon book order should arrive soon to inspire me. I am really looking forward to discovering the 100 things you can do with a paper plate. Life is never going to be the same!!

More when I start travelling...

... peculator brewing, and more often than not scrambled eggs. Lunch is usually a baguette stuffed with loads of fresh salad, stinky cheese (the smellier the better!!) and Parma ham. Our dinner staples are Spaghetti Bolognaise, Pork Fajitas, Hamburgers with the LOT, Cous Cous ala Gill with chicken and of course no meal starts without the obligatory Ham cheese and olive tapas and a bottle of wine. The other stuff We need to make up our bed every evening as it is made out of ...

... while she tries things on. Dani even splashed out on some gor-ge-ous black boots, on sale mais oui, they are so pretty, she wants to name them! As she decided to be smart and send them home rather than ruining them, she gave them a quick kiss goodbye and can't wait to return to her new European wardrobe. She's totally building a little winter collection for 2010 and beyond! Very excited to go somewhere, have someone compliment her and say 'oh thanks, but I got it in France!'.

Nice, Provence, France dan-and-dee

... 4.00pm when everyone is packing up. The goods on offer are often old rather than antique, but great to browse through. We bought two 1950’s French cruise ship posters to frame when we get home.

After our usual long lunch at a café in Cours Saleya (3 course Menu de Jour €16.50, excellent) we took a bus tour all around the city sights, visiting the old Russian church of Ste Nicholas, the Regina Hotel, where Queen ...

As we left Milan and said our thank you's and goodbye's to Boris and Jadranka, we looked forward to our next major destination: BARCELONA! However, little did we know that we would get screwed over and have to figure out our own route to Barca! :(

Here is how it started, on our way to Nice from Milan, our train abruptly stopped at the city right before the French-Italian ...