For over a century the striking Hotel Negresco has been the favourite holiday destination for celebrities, royalty, millionaires, and politicians. This magnificent belle-époque building, instantly recognizable by its pink domed roof, stands proudly on the promenade des Anglais in Nice. The hotel celebrated its centennial in 2013. Five centuries of …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Did you know that the city of Nice, France almost had a 49 foot (15 meter) tall statue of the Virgin Mary standing atop the Colline du Chateau (Castle Hill)? In the 1980s, the idea of the “Virgin on the hill” came to the …

Like theTour Eiffel of Paris or the Big Ben of London, La chaise bleue has long been considered the symbol of Nice. The iconic chairs, as blue as the rippling Bay of Angels they overlook, are wedged in rows of 20 along the famous Promenade des Anglais. While in winter …

The funny thing about life and travel is that we are often more curious about a new environment than our status-quo location. According to Margo Lestz, “Life in a foreign country is never dull and each day is a new learning experience.” She launched her blog The Curious Rambler in 2012 …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: ….in both senses of the word. ‘Un Monde Flottant’ just opened in Nice focuses on the work of Jacques Henri Lartigue who was born in 1894 into a high-society French family. Given a camera as a child, he photographed everything and everyone around him, from …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: The cover of our local newspaper tells the story of Paradise Lost: The artist Mesia puts it even more touchingly: Such a bleu-blanc-rouge waves outside Bellevue, too. The flag is an ever-present sentry at the tip of a quay jutting into the Mediterranean bay. …Continue reading …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Dear Readers, Today’s post is a letter to let you all know that I am fine and to thank you for your concern, and your thoughts and prayers. Jeff was away, and I went to the July 14 fireworks display with some friends. About …

Traveling by train from Uzes to Nice for a weekend at the beach is a piece of cake. The low cost train fare makes the trip a “must.” Now that I’m planning to travel a lot by train in Europe, I’m glad to have the “senior” rail pass …Continue reading here for …

Bilingual guide Chiara Orlandi grew up in the heart of Italy, in Umbertide, a place that she still holds dear in her heart even after several years away in the United Kingdom and Edinburgh, Scotland. Orlandi studied event management at Edinburgh’s Napier University, her second Masters (her previous degrees are …

Contributor blog post by Allison @Best of Nice: If you like vintage glamour, second-hand chic, discount designer duds and unique fashion finds, put on your shopping shoes and head to Old Nice.  Here is a circuit over just a couple of blocks where bargain hunters will find their bonheur in boutiques ranging from vintage to retro thrift …