Throughout our time on the
boat, we became really proficient in teamwork. To get on and off of the boat,
we had to strategically tie and release a ladder onto the dock. L became
designated ladder-grabber, as she was the tallest of us three, while J and I
would pull the ropes towards the dock. All in all, we managed to get on and off
efficiently, but the neighbors surely had some laughs at our expense.
The boat was really nice –
we each had our own “rooms”! There were also bathrooms, but since we weren't sure which one was electric, we refrained from using them (for the manual one,
you’d have to turn the pump 15 times each way and if you messed up you’d flood
the boat). Luckily, there were bathrooms and showers at the end of the port. We
had one key for the gate and one for the bathrooms, so showering and peeing
became a group activity, but we seamlessly began to settle into a routine.
Monday, we grabbed breakfast
at Le Pass’port, a brasserie along the port (punny). We loved our salmon pasta
so much that we figured we had to go back, and this time did not disappoint. We
each ordered omelets and they arrived sizzling hot, with fresh parsley on top. There
are loads of other restaurants along the strip by the port, but for a low-key
and delicious meal by the water, Le Pass’port is a guaranteed hit.
 |
| Omelette you finish... |
Our plan for the day was to
catch a train to Cannes (for some shopping) and Antibes (for some beaching). We
decided to hit Cannes first, and work our way back. It’s about a 30-minute ride
on the SNCF train, and the ticket was only about €5. Upon arriving to Cannes,
we wandered along Rue d’Antibes, and did some shopping. After spending an unreasonable
amount of time in Zara and gelato break, we made our way to the beach. Fortunately,
Cannes had plenty of sand beaches that weren’t too crowded, so we decided to
spend the day there rather than go to Antibes. We bought an umbrella at a local
shop (since it was way cheaper than renting chairs at the beach clubs), and
spent the afternoon lounging and playing ridiculous rounds of Would You Rather
featuring old men in Speedos.
That evening, we went out to
dinner with our friends followed by drinks at a bar near Place Garibaldi. At the
bar, we were approached by a Finnish biker whose bike never made it to Nice,
and insisted on 1. Showing me pictures of his South African son, and 2. Ensuring
we voted for Obama next election… never a dull moment.
 |
| Fountains by Place Massena |
 |
| La Place Massena |
 |
| Cours Saleya open air markets in Nice |
Nice was the perfect “break”
in our travels. L and I agreed that if we went to Nice before Barcelona, we
probably wouldn’t have fully appreciated the experience, like being able to
pass out on a beach in peace, or going to bed at normal hours. This was my
second trip to France, and I can confidently say that I have never had a bad
meal in this county. I tried escargot and foie gras for the first time, and ate enough Petit Ecolier cookies to feed a small country. Of the places we ate in Nice, the stand-outs were: Le Pass’port,
Le Safari, Les Cookies D’Emilie, La Vigna, and Les Brasseries Georges. Nice was
good to us, and I can’t wait to return one day.
No comments