We still cannot make plans for the summer, but we can dream and revisit past travel destinations. In the last days I reflected on favorite summer trips where I would like to return, from a Promenade in the South of France, fado rhythms of the Atlantic Ocean, Italian towns, to German castles and my hometown at the shore of the Black Sea.
The importance of the journey
La vie et facile, ne t’enquit pas.
La vie et facile, ne t’enquit pas (Life is easy darling, don’t worry). I remember this was first message I read once I arrive in Nice airport, and then in front of the school dormitory where I was staying and then everywhere in the city … Oui, I added darling. There was no chéri. Sounds better, right? Became the motto in France. One year later, I learn this was the title of a very popular French book at the time, not a secret message for me.
Belle de nuit. Nice
Little braquete about my situation – I was living and working in Brussels at the time, a franchone city, but decided to study and improve my French in Nice. While there, I could not help to explore sunny French Riviera, a city between the Mediterranean and the Alps. Had classes in the morning and after I was getting lost around in the little streets of Nice, my favorite way to discover a city, or decide to go on a small day trip. Life was indeed easy with choices like that.
On my first day in Nice I remember I met Rachel from New Zealand and we explored together the old town, Place Masséna and the harbor. The lunch was from the local market Cours Saleya, filled with lavender, fruits, vegetables, fish and spices.
We climbed Colline du Château to see the view, and had dinner in Place Garibaldi. While walking on Promenades des Anglais, decided to stop in front of Negresco Hotel at the stony beach with pebbles and swam for the first time in the salty Mediterranean, while staring into the distance at the Alps.
Beach in front of Hotel Negresco,
Place Masséna – Nice
Ile d’Amour
Other day I visited Musée Chagal in neighborhood Cimiez of Nice. Picasso, Matisse, Chagal and even Vincent van Gogh, all lived in the south of France – I understand the reason they all came for inspiration to paint in this part of Europe.
Between visits I remember my mornings in the school Alpha.b on Rue d’Angleterre – On my first day we played a game and answered questions about Stromae, Marie Curie, Nadia Comaneci, Rolland Garros and Zizou. Other time we discussed about regrets and I could think of Edith Piaf. Non, je ne regrette rien. On the last days I was part of a new group and we read an article about the equality between women and men. Or like the teacher said, the inequality.
Plage des Fosses – Cap Ferrat and Antibes
Love these memories
Most memorable day trips were Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat and Eze. In this order. Followed closely by Antibes and Cannes. An afternoon following the footsteps of Princess Grace in Monaco. And one last morning at Villefranche-sur-mer.
To be continued demain.
Travel Journal 
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