Arriving in Nice

Our adventure in France begins.  We left Toronto on Wednesday February 15 at 5:00 p.m. and arrived a few minutes early in Frankfurt on Thursday February 16 at about 6:15 a.m.  I watched three films on the way out, including the wonderful new documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song and an oldie, Breakfast at Tiffany's.

We had a short lay-over in Frankfurt- just enough time to grab a giant pretzel.

Pretzels at the Frankfurt Airport

They still have a "Camel Smoking Lounge" at the Airport (Yikes!)


We then took a Eurowings flight (owned by Lufthansa) to Nice.  It was a short 1 hour and 20 minute flight and we arrived in Nice on time at 10:00 a.m.   Of course, we later found out that on Wednesday, Lufthansa had to cancel most of its flights due to an IT problem when a cable was cut during construction work. Phew, dodged that bullet.

View on the way to Nice

Then the real adventure started.  Thursday February 16 was another in a series of strikes taking place in France protesting President Macron's plan to raise the country's retirement age to 64 from 62 by 2030.   About 70% of the public reject his plans and there have already been a number of strikes in cities across France.  There is normally a tram that runs from the Nice airport to the old city where we are staying.  There was no service today due to the strike and we had to take a taxi.  However, the taxi could not get close to where we were staying as a number of roads were closed for the manifestation.  The driver dropped us off at a place that we determined was about a 10 minute walk from the Airbnb.   We then went to find a SIM card, as there was no place to purchase one at the Airport.  This was also a bit tricky, but we managed to get one.

Lots of people out on strike  today

More slogans

It was quite a large protect

Speaks for itself..

On our way to the Airbnb we passed a square, where there are festivities for the 150th Carnaval de Nice, which runs from February 10-26.  
Large Carnaval Figures

More figures

Fortuitously, I was consulting a map when a woman stopped to see if we needed directions.  It turned out she was originally from Utah, but had been living in Nice with her young family for the past eleven years.  She walked us to our street and gave us a few tips on markets and restaurants.   The owner of our Airbnb has a neighbour, Nicholas, who greets the renters. He gave us an intro to the apartment and area.  Nicholas is an expat Brit who has been living in Nice for over 30 years.  The apartment is well equipped and in a great location in Vieux Nice.  We are on the 5eme étage which will be good for exercise.

Bedroom

Modern bathroom

Alain in the kitchen--- new induction stove and washing machine

Our building-- our apartment is on a higher floor

Nicholas suggested  HOBO around the corner for coffee and lunch.  There were both indoor and outdoor tables.  
Outside of Hobo

Alain with our advocate toast (with egg), salad
 and coffee

We managed to sit next to the owner whom we chatted with.  He is opening another place across the way and gave us a recommendation for a good restaurant nearby that we will probably go to in the next few days.  On the other side of us were a very nice couple visiting from Quebec City.

Lots of neat stores in the area---This store had products only from France

Cathedral near our apartment

We walked around the area, checking out a number of interesting stores. Café Indien had been on our list.  We stopped for another coffee as we were both exhausted after not getting any sleep on the flights.  

Great café with excellent coffee and teas

Inside the café

We decided to get some provisions for dinner and have an early night.  We found a store with homemade Pistou soup and half a rotisserie chicken, which we got for dinner.

On Friday, we are set to take a Free Tour in the late morning.  The high today was 13C with a mix of sun and cloud.   Early spring weather, but it does cool down in the evenings.  We are enjoying the palm trees and the Mediterranean Sea.



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