Cap Ferrat is about 15 minutes from Nice, the fifth largest city in France. While not as glamourous as nearby Cannes, it is still a most attractive city with the magnificent Promenade des Anglais along the waterfront. I first went to Nice in 1976 and while expecting sandy beaches, was surprised to find just pebbles or 'galets' which are large flat grey stones. But this doesn't stop people sunbathing in the warmer weather. While I was there, it wasn't warm enough to sunbathe, but the daily 14 to 16 degree temperature was preferable to Vancouver's weather.
One of the things that most impresses me about Nice and most other French cities is the consistent low-to-midrise scale and harmonious colours. While some Facebook followers found this monotonous and boring, I did not. One thing I didn't like was the traffic and challenges finding a place to park. If you go to Nice, there's no need to rent a car. There's excellent public transit with a combination of reasonably priced trams and buses.
Here are some photos taken during my brief stay.
|
| In addition to the excellent public transit system, here's another way to get around. I often see these in many European cities, but not in North America. |
|
| Lots of large yachts can be found around the harbour in Nice and elsewhere along the Cote d'Azur |
|
| This one is for sale....for 112 million euros |
|
| The beach is pebbly, but still busy during the warmer weather. |
|
| I never tired of driving along the waterfront with the Promenade des Anglais to the right. |
|
| While the new buildings are not always that attractive, they do respect the overall scale and harmonious colour scheme found throughout the city. |
|
| One of the things that distinguishes most European cities from North American cities is the number of public spaces and pedestrian streets and plazas. |
|
It seems no city is complete without a Ferris wheel. Why? Because they are very profitable with a two-to-four-year payback, depending on the size.
|
