French Riviera Highlights



  1. Bullet Taking a small detour to Russia and learning about the rich history of Russian immigrants in Nice while at the lovely St. Nicolas church and Marc Chagall museum.

  2. Bullet Getting a first-hand look at the bleachers being erected along the city streets of Monte Carlo in preparation for the Monaco Grand Prix, which was to take place in less than two weeks.

  3. Bullet Hiking to Villa Rothschild, along the seaside promenade of Villefranche, up the hills of St. Jean Cap Ferrat, and past the towering walls of luxury villas.  The many gardens within the villa were a real treat for the senses.  What a way to soak in la bonne vie of the French Riviera!

 
 

Villefranche-sur-Mer—literally “town without taxes on the sea” is the crown jewel on an already priceless collection of scenic landscapes from this trip.  But before we reach our maritime retreat, our bus passes through sunny, glamorous Nice, with its millionaire yachts, private jets, and—“What?  Did I really see that?”—crowded topless beaches.  The curious folks in our group certainly didn’t mind the slow traffic crawling through town.  In a serendipitous coincidence, we are here in Nice just a day before the Cannes Film Festival begins; unfortunately, our anticipation of star sightings does not get relieved.  But no matter, a day trip to cosmopolitan Monaco enables us to visit the Casino de Monte Carlo made famous by James Bond, and to pay our respects to Princess Grace at the Cathedrale de Monaco, her final resting place.

 

La Bonne Vie: Living the Good Life in the French Riviera

Villefranche coastline

St. Nicolas church

Monte Carlo

Villa Rothschild