It's nice in Nice

It was a chill-out day for the three of us girls after the rushing around and walking everywhere yesterday. I love Villa St Exupery, no wonder it's been voted no 1 hostel in France 2007! There is a big converted chapel that serves cheap huge and yummy dinners and brownies to die for for 2euro, 1 euro drinks including sampling the local wines and monastic beers (Tiff you would love this. They even have sangria), a great atmosphere and free internet, Wifi. The staff are so friendly, each morning they ask you what your plan is so that they can help sort you out with lots of fun things to do! The only thing is that it's at the top of a steep hill so there is some effort to returning at the end of the day unless you're very lucky and happen to get the hostel shuttle without too many people.

Vic and some garlic at the market

Sundried tomatoes

We went to the Marche aux Fleurs in Old Town and admired the fruits and flowers and bought our picnic lunch. It ended up being quite extravagant with lots of different French cheeses including soft goat cheese, parmesan and another firm cheese, local Provencal rose wine, jambon (ham) sliced for us, a baguette, an assortment of olives and local fruits: fraises (strawberries), groseilles (red currants) peches (peaches) and abricots (apricots).
Marzipan in Nice

Piggies!

My French is improving a bit, it's hilarious trying to learn with Victoria and Paula. Paula asked a local boy on the train back from Cap D'Ail how to pronounce the name of a town, Beaulieu Sur Mer and had us all laughing very hard. We nicknamed our local friend 'Monsieur Beaulieu' after that.

Strawbs

Summer berries

All sorts of fungus!

We had our picnic on the beach. Paula and Victoria are beach bunnies (Paula points out that she is Brazilian and so loves the sun). The Plage Opera is amazing, the sea is so blue there is no doubt it is the Cote D'Azur and there were views of a medieval castle.

Plage Opera

We were there for a few hours then worked our way back to the hostel for a freshen-up. We'll head out to a local restaurant much recommended by Paula's friend from home and seconded by Mr Beaulieu, for dinner tonight. Will be leaving Nice tomorrow and spending most of my time on the train and in transit at Montpellier.

Here's the obligatory bikini shot. Paula had each of us pose with the picnic

Yum, tarte aux pommes!

Really looking forward to Barcelona, especially reading the Barcelona Tourist Guide. I'lll mix up the culture-vulture sights with some local markets!