Travel to Nice, Capital of the French Riviera

Thinking of a summer trip? Jump on the jet/train and travel to Nice! The trip from the Nice airport to the city was an easy and fuss-free one, with the bus number 23 taking just about 20 minutes to reach the city from the airport terminal. Great start!

I recall us being amazed as the bus cruised down Promenade des Anglais, with the blue azure waters of the Mediterranean sea on our right and the beautiful art deco french buildings on our left. The Promenade des Anglais is a long stretch of walkway which stretches from the airport to Old Nice, lined with cafes and bustling with the people. The views were fantastic.

Having arrived from Paris (we still love it!) after spending our first few days there walking around the city and checking out the usual Paris attractions, this mediterranean city had an entirely different feel to it, with the basking glow of the sun on the French Riviera, the sound of the waves from the sea and the cool air blowing gently on our faces (what's not to love?).

We peeled ourselves away from the beach (can't get enough! we could sit there all day) and headed to explore Vieux Nice (Old Town Nice), eastern part of Nice just across the road (Quai des Etats-Unis) from the beach. A travel to Nice wouldn't be complete without visiting and walking around this beautiful part of the town. Bright yellow houses and cute narrow streets make up this beautiful town. Some of the streets were lined with cafes and shops, while others were peacefully quiet and we strolled randomly through the streets. A popular street being the Cours Selaya, where there are markets selling fresh flowers, arts and crafts, and fresh produce.

Having lived in a bustling urban city all-around filled with skyscrapers all my life so far, this trip to Europe has been amazing. Landscapes change dramatically as you travel from cities to cities, and every corner turned is just that amazing.

YJ

Paris in a day

We had previously taken up beginner French classes during our school days and it came handy in greetings, asking for directions, ordering items off the cafe menu, etc. We were in fact quite excited at being able to converse in simple French, so we mustered up the courage whenever we could to polish up our French (we got a few amusing laughs, hopefully they appreciated our heartfelt efforts)!

We got to the Louvre, one of the world's largest and most visited museum. The museum is in fact also part of the historic Louvre Palace which was built way back in the 12th century. The Louvre is home to many artefacts and paintings, including the Mona Lisa. I'm pretty sure most of you (if not all) would have heard of the Louvre and would need no further introduction.

The audio guide was pretty interesting. It came in the form of a Nintendo 3DS which tracks your position and provides audio commentaries on the Louvre's various galleries and exhibits as you make your way around the huge museum.

Admission ticket: 10 euros

Audio guide (optional): 5 euros

The walk to the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile tested our legs as it brought us through the Tuileres Garden (big open green fields and picnic areas) and Avenue des Champs Elysees (shopping district). Distracted by the numerous shops lined up along the Champs Elysees, we eventually arrived at the famous monument in the evening. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile, which is a bigger arc than the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel located near the Louvre, is located at the Place Charles de Gualle at the west end of the Champs Elysees. It serves as a memorial for the soldiers who battled for France during the French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century and the Napolean Wars in the early 19th century.

Admission ticket: 8 euros

The view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile as the sun went down was fantastic, though it got a little chilly as the sky darkened.

While I guess Paris may have its detractors, this beautiful city (probably except the metro, but nevertheless the metro system was pretty extensive) had so far managed to capture us.

YJ

You know what we did last summer

If my pictures could talk, you wouldn't have to read.  It was this month, last year, that we took a 3 week vacay to France & Italy. These photos were taken on the first day of our trip in Paris, France.  Having lived on the equator all my life, imagine my amazement at the time as we waited for sunsets. 9.00 o'clock in the evening, & the sun was just about to go. 

I hope the pictures breathed a little in your face.  All photos were taken by YJ & I as we en route to la Tour du Eiffel in Paris.  This French city is beyond your imagination ( if you've never been there ).  Beautiful is an absolute understatement. 

On a side note, could traveling alone could be just the most enlightening adventure of a lifetime ? I could never understand why.  Although, there are the the few things my heart & soul find the most enjoyment in without yearning the company of another entity: window-shopping, having meals al fresco, people-watching.  While sometimes I imagine myself to be tripping alone, cruising solo on a ship, ticket-for-one-please attraction visits, sitting by the side of a fountain sipping soda while map-reading ( oui, studying maps is the best way of familiarizing myself with surrounding areas ), the unceasing manifestations of wish-you-were-here moments are hard to ignore.  We go everywhere, together, every time. In moments where his emotions break down, gets the better of me, I just signal SOS, get the defibrillator, breathe into a paperbag, hyperventilate a bit & settle with a kiss.  According to scientific reasons, kisses are everything. 

By the way, this travelog could very well become one of the very few things that tug at my heartstrings.

X

P.S. Hit us up with questions in the comments section or via email thefancyvoyager@gmail.com if you're curious about that pizza in the photo or the languages we speak. xx

Traveling as a couple

Hey there!

There are people who may be wary about traveling as a couple, for fear of their relationship being affected by the friction generated during their travels. I could see where they were coming from, as they will be depending entirely on each other during that time together. Frustrations and hence arguments may arise as a result of unpredictable circumstances, such as being late for train departures, being unable to find your way to certain places, or simply due to fatigue. While some may see these as possible reasons that affect their relationship negatively, I see these as challenges that make our relationship stronger as it allows you to understand him or her at a deeper level. And besides, what better way to find out the pet peeves of your partner?

Undoubtedly, X and I have had our arguments during our travels, over trivial stuff most of the time that retrospectively, could have been avoided. Through our experiences traveling as a couple, I believe that the key is to accommodate your partner as much as possible and to communicate your thoughts if required, which are also essentially the skills that you would need in your everyday life and social interactions. There really isn’t a need to insist on something if it is really trivial. If it has to be brought up, communicate (includes listening as well, not just voicing your thoughts) as rationally as possible, though it may often be difficult in the heat of the moment. Nevertheless, keeping these key factors in your mind will definitely help to make your travel experience with your partner more pleasant.

And for me, I just simply love being able to talk and laugh with her at everything while we are at various parts of the world. It is an invaluable experience that trumps all the challenges. Already looking forward to the next trip!

YJ