Excerpts from the Malta to Nice tour

(7/6/05)  After breakfast Paul and I took a walk up to the Hotel de Ville (city hall) located in the old Citadel, which also houses several museums and has more beautiful views of the bay.   Then we met the Hannans and shared a cab to spend the day in Nice – a large, spread-out city of 400,000.  We started with a walking tour of La Vielle Ville (old town), enjoying the large, impressive market in the Cours Saleya, and lunch at a café in Place Rossetti near the Cathedrale Ste Reparate (unfortunately not open).  The tall old buildings and winding alleyways had a lot of character (as well as tourist shops selling the predictable variety of provencal goods), and we noted a strong Italian influence in the food and accents of the locals.

After lunch, during the hottest time of the day, we took a “hop on – hop off” bus tour (17 Euros) that began on the seaside at Promenade Etats Unis (eastern portion), and continued around the busy port, then on to Mont Boron, Crosieres, Place Garibaldi, the Acropolis, Cimiez (and the Matisse Museum – where Herm and Laverne got off), The Musee Chagall, Massena (shopping area), to the western end of the Promenade.  Paul and I got off here and enjoyed a brisk walk with a refreshing breeze along the famous Promenade des Anglais (constructed by the British and later paved and widened) overlooking the beautiful Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels).  Several miles later we grabbed a cab and returned to Villefranche to relax and pack – joined later by the exhausted Hannans, who had chosen to take the train after a long walk from the bus stop!  Instead of having just a light supper, as planned, we ended up returning to L’Oursin Bleu for another fabulous meal to end our three day vacation addition. 

(7/7/05) We had to get up at 5:00 AM, met the taxi at 6:00, and had an easy drive to the airport.   Our 8:30 British Air flight to Heathrow was uneventful, but on our arrival at the London airport at 9:30 (we had gained an hour), we learned of the terrible bombings in London that had occurred just one hour prior!   Needless to say, during our 3-hour layover we kept checking one of the few TVs in the terminal to get updated on the horrible news, and felt deeply for those who had loved ones involved.  Thankfully, our flight departed on time, and we arrived safely back at BWI at 4:30.