Great town with lots happening. But you may want to pity Nice because it is overshadowed by megawatt Riviera neighbors like aristocratic Monaco, red carpet Cannes and the Champagne-soaked st.-Tropez. This is the fifth largest city in France. The population of this sprawling town is about one million. The seaside and the dramatic deep blue waters of the Cote d’Azur are obviously big draws. Also a draw must be the Art Deco architecture. There is also an atmospheric old quarter with an evolving restaurant scene.
View of the city and the beach that goes on for miles.View of Villefranche-sur-Mer. On the other side is Beaulieu-sur-Mer. This village hosted the location for the filming of certain scenes from several James Bond films, as well as, the Michael Caine/Steve Martin film “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”The rocky beach in Nice. If you want to be comfortable lying on this surface better bring an air mattress.
The open market.This guy was from Bulgaria and I’m almost sure he has ties to the Russian mafia as well. This place is best known for their oysters. The name of it is the Cafe de Turin. Highly recommend it. He and I drank vodka and consumed oysters for several hours. His lovely escort was difficult to understand as she spoke only Lithuanian.
Eze is located just above the French Riviera at an elevation of 2,300 feet (or 700 meters). Its location is almost equidistant (about 12KM) between Nice and Monaco. It is a fortified mid-evil village with a population of 3,000 people. It is perched like an eagles nest on a narrow rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. From the point of taxi drop off it is 345 uphill paces and steps to reach my hotel. The place is worth every grueling step. This was a great place to stay while exploring the coastal towns and villages that comprise the French Riviera.
The hotel is built as part of a 12th century castle. Eze is a pretty village but if you are looking for something off the beaten path this is definitely NOT it. This village is contrasted by the residential Eze-sur-Mer, a seaside “town” between Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Cap d’Ail. Eze-sur-Mer has beaches, water sports, cafes, restaurants and hotels.
View of Eze from the Grand Corniche.View of Eze from the road. The Chateau Eze is at the top.View of the sea from my hotel balcony.Part of the pathway to the hotel. Definitely not for anyone with mobility issues.The entrance to the Chateau Eze.The only other hotel in this quaint village.One of many art studios which abound here.Another image from my balcony.Botanicals and succulents are omnipresent in the fabulous climate. These are the Jardin-Exotique gardens in the foreground.Typical street scene in Eze. It is at first easy to get lost in the maze of narrow winding streets.
Monaco is a sovereign city-state. It is located on the French Riviera and has only 38,000 citizens. It is bordered by France on 3 sides and the remaining side is on the Mediterranean Sea. This place should be on your list of places to see, but once is probably enough. It is truly a spectacle to see, much like Las Vegas in the United States. The display of wealth and the conspicuous consumption is at the same time both amazing and appalling. It seems that at least every 4 out of 5 cars cost more than an average home in any first world country. Monaco has no personal income or wealth taxes. Generally, there are no property taxes either. This might explain in part why so many wealthy people (including Steve Wynn) call this place home. So it comes as no surprise that with all this money sloshing around, Monaco has built up a healthy financial sector, which accounts for roughly 17% of its economy. The entire country of Monaco occupies only 3 quarters of 1 square mile. It is defended by France.
Average rich guys out for a drive in their Bentley.The scene just in front of the Monte Carlo Casino. I was sitting on the curb taking pictures when the local law enforcement asked me to stand as sitting just doesn’t work there. I guess I looked like a vagrant. And I suppose that the folks in their Bentleys should not have to suffer that sight.Cafe de Paris, great brasserie adjacent to the casino. Great spot for people watching, auto watching, and a glass of your favorite whatever.Not the Seinfeld “Comedians in Cars getting Coffee,” just coffee in cars.This unknown tourist was kind enough to lend her fabulous smile to this image just outside this well known establishment.Just another Ferrari on the streets. This had crazy gold leaf accents all over it. Seems a sacrilege to bastardize a Ferrari like this, but I guess the thought is that the gold accent really differentiates it from the thousands of other Ferraris out there.These two were really enjoying their gelato until law enforcement asked them to NOT sit on the grass. I could have warned them after the scolding I experienced after sitting on the curb.Check out Roger Federer who was here for the week playing tennis. He really needs to work on his left arm. It doesn’t look like it even belongs to him. Maria Sharapova has more muscle than this.Changing of the guard. Talk about a low stress job. This is all these guys have to do. Monaco is its own country, however France defends it, if and when necessary. So all these guys have to do is look well pressed and never smile. They belong to the same union as the guys that guard the Vatican.A street near the cathedral. Spotless as is the rest of this tiny country.Parking just outside the casino. Great place for viewing some exotic and expensive machinery.As if I didn’t see enough ridiculously expensive vehicles on the street, I went to the supercar show in town for the weekend. Absolutely crazy.Just look at this composition. The 1965 427 AC Shelby Cobra and the lovely calla lilies. This car was perfect both inside and out. Only 150 were produced that year. These can range in value from $750K to $1.5MM.New Jaguar 2 seater with 800HP. Absolutely stunning.This was outside the autoshow. Right outta James Bond. It is called the “Kormaran.” Just Google it. Truly amazing watercraft. It morphs into six configurations with the push of a button. The goal of its designer was to combine the experience of driving a cabriolet-style super sports car with the precise construction techniques used in the aviation industry. At top speed this $1.5MM base model Kormaran will run at 50MPH. All engines (including its hydrofoil engine) may be upgraded to 900HP. As with any high end watercraft, a myriad of other upgrades are available. These could drive the price to well above $3MM. Happy boating.Cockpit of the Kormaran. When you jump into the driver’s seat you instantly feel your own package getting bigger. Even women experience this phenomenon. Also has seating for two passengers.
Malaga’s history spans nearly 3,000 years, thus making it one of the world’s oldest cities. It traces its history back to the Phoenicians. The Moors ruled Malaga for nearly eight centuries. These invaders from North Africa rendered the city both rich and beaufiful. The Moors left their deep imprint on Malaga.
Malaga leads somewhat of a double life. As the capital of the Costa del Sol, it reflects the festive Spanishness of one of Europe’s prime resort regions. Only the sunny Mediterranean climate and the obligatory siesta link the businesslike and fiesta faces of the city.
Closer to Malaga, trips along the coast survey the appeal of the Costa del Sol resorts – as refined as Marbella (more of a jet set enclave), or as the more bohemian Torremolinos, where the sun coast becomes the fun coast. If I am lucky enough to visit Spain for and extended period of time, this is the area I would call my temporary home. However, because of my schedule time will not permit on this trip.
View from the Fortress walls.Loved the Roman touch of the Roman theater within the city.This building is some 300 years old. Amazing what a good power-washing can do.Pedestrian streets abound in this area of town.Street entertainer as a matador. I think the best part of this act is his pants. I’d almost be prepared to step into the ring with a live bull if I could sport those pants.These guys were really electric and energized. The pooch was a nice touch too. When I contributed to their fund I ask that they be sure to take care of the dog too.Love the idea of maintaining the hell out of the door, but letting these rest of the property go to shit.This Elton John tribute performer was very good and believable. Right down to his classically bad British teeth.At a fabulous tapas restaurant this dude is preparing one of the Spain’s specialties. Wait for it, wait for it, okay see the image below.Spain’s obsession with pigs is evidenced in many restaurants. Not sure I wanted to see this before I ate it, but it was too late. However, after partaking in this treat I had to watch him carve. It truly was a thing of beauty to behold. The loving way he shaved it was just like the way Paul Sorvino shaves the garlic clove when he was in prison in the movie “Goodfellas.”
