Playground of the rich and famous
Celebrities, VIPs and the upper class folk favour this coastal region of France for its luxurious surroundings and trappings. But, our reader says, travelling here on a budget is still possible.
MY VACATION in the French Riviera was the most memorable of all my holidays probably because it was my first self-guided tour. The French Riviera (Cote d’Azur, in French) is the southern coastline of France that stretches from Marseille in the west to Menton in the east, and includes the state of Monaco. The more well-known French Riviera towns are Cannes, Nice, Saint-Tropez, Eze and Monte Carlo.
The relatively mild winter and warm, sunny summer and the stunning coastline have made the region a magnet for aristocrats and celebrities since the 18th century. Singer Elton John, movie star Brad Pitt, legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, Roman Abramovich (owner of Chelsea FC), Alex Ferguson (ex-manager of Manchester United), Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) and the Saudi Arabian royal family are on the very long list of well-known people who own luxurious mansions and villas on the French Riviera.
Although the region is the playground of the rich and famous, it is still possible to enjoy a holiday there without breaking the bank. We went in January last year when hotel room rates were low. A Junior Suite for three adults (inclusive of daily buffet breakfast) in a small three-star boutique hotel right in
70 the city centre of Nice, cost us (RM348) per night. The hotel, located on a side street off Avenue Jean Medicin, the main pedestrian shopping street, is only about 500m from the Nice Central Train Station (Gare de Nice).
Nice Old Town (Vieille Ville) and Promenade des Anglais, the promenade where 84 people were killed in the terrorist truck attack on Bastille Day last year, is only 10 minutes away on foot. Food is also quite affordable. Dinner in an inexpensive
12 restaurant cost us to 15 10
(RM60-RM75), and less than (RM50) in Asian (Chinese and Indian) restaurants.
Making Nice our base, we travtive area of Monaco, we got off the bus outside the Monte Carlo Tourist Information Centre. About 100m away was the famous Monte Carlo casino-cum-opera complex which was featured in the James Bond movies Never Say Never Again and Golden Eye. Further along was Port Hercules where the yachts of the rich and famous were moored.
y l d l b , om Nice. Most a fun time exploring the narrow cobblestone alleys lined with tiny houses and souvenir shops. The best place to enjoy the stunning view of the Mediterranean coastline is from the Exotic Garden (Jardin
5/RM25 d’Eze, entrance fee), a garden with an array of cacti and exotic plants and sculptures.
Later in the afternoon, we took the TER (Transport Express Regional) train from Nice Central
6/ station to Cannes (25 minutes,
( RM30). Taking Bus No.200 1)is much cheaper but may take hours because the bus makes multiple stops along the congested route.
From the Cannes train station, we walked down to the waterfront to view more luxury yachts, and strolled along Promenade de la Croisette to the venue of the annual Cannes Film Festival (Palais des Festivals). Not much to see in Cannes, so we decided to walk up Le Suquet, the old quarters of Cannes with winding cobbled lanes lined with restaurants, overlooking the Bay of Cannes and the city.
On our last day in Nice, we went on foot to the 100-year-old Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St Nicholas, built by Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II for the Russian aristocrats and industrialists living in the French Riviera. Then we walked to the flower market in Old Town. After that, we took the elevator (Ascenseurs du Chateau) located beside Hotel Suisse up to Castle Hill Park (Parc de la Colline du Chateau), the site of a citadel which had been demolished. From the lookout points, we enjoyed stunning views of Angel’s Bay (Baie des Anges) and Promenade des Anglais.
During our short stay in Nice, I was deeply touched by the kindness of the local people. For instance, when we were looking for the bus bay of Bus 99 (that goes from Nice Airport to the Central Railway Station), a gentleman – who noticed we seemed lost – approached us and pointed us in the right direction. And when we were waiting at the wrong bus stop to take the bus to the airport, a bus driver stopped his bus and walked across the road to tell us the exact location of the