During our visit to Nice we think it would be fun to do a walking tour. Our English guide, Christian, is wonderful & makes the tour enjoyable with his easy nature & interesting information about Nice.

Some fascinating facts about Nice:

Would you believe Nice’s first tourists started coming here 400,000 years ago. They were transient cave dwellers & came once a year to hunt woolly mammoths!
Nice’s rock-filled beaches are naturally occurring: the smooth stones come from the mouth of the Var  & Paillon rivers, where the river stones have been washing down to line the shores of Nice for eons.
How did the city get its name ?? ….During the Greek Empire in 500BC, the hill above the Old Town was named Nike, after the Greek goddess of victory, making Nice the original Nike-Town! During the Italian period it was called Nizza, and since becoming French just 150 years ago, it is called Nice. The people of Nice are Nicoise, like the famous salad & have their own dialect called Nissart.

We meet our guide at Place Massena, in front of the controversial giant statue of Apollo. In the 70’s the statue was banned & removed for being overly well- endowed…..but he’s back now with a slightly  smaller…appendage!!

Can you pic something unusual with this building below?….

Yes, you’re correct, the windows have been painted on ! They did this to avoid the window tax….if you had windows you were considered wealthy & taxed more!

The famous chocolate lolly Shop ! It is now 5th generation with owner Thierry Auer.

Down by the seafront are the wonderful markets !

We meander along the small, interesting streets of the old town.

It’s been a hot & very humid day….time to taste test the ice creams! Marks unique, beer flavoured one was cold & delicious…..definitely with a beer flavour too! My ginger flavoured one was yummo!

It’s a close call for this rubbish truck down the narrow laneways for sure! Breath in !

Thought this painting was so creative & then noticed they incorporated the Tour de France into it!

The paid beach on the right & free swimming 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️ on the left!

Notice the pebbly beach, making for a tricky, slippery entry & exit for a swim! The lady on the left can hardly walk!?

We follow our guide up the hill  & this wonderful view over the beach & the famous Promenade de Anglaise! As you can see, not many people brave the slippery pebbles for a swim, even on a hot day!

Looking down on the Old Town of Nice.

A cooling waterfall at the top of the hill.

Here is the Port De Nice!

What a fantastic time in Nice & Monaco. Also, exploring the Iron Age village of Peillon, near our camp, was a highlight too.

Getting the maps out …..where to now ??