The Family is Here!

​Mon-Wed, March 2-4, 2026 — Nice, France

It’s been awesome having the family here. Our plan for the day of all being together was simple: take a walk along the waterfront, and visit Villefranche, so Meg and I could show off our old February stomping grounds. Wow, they definitely brought the nice weather. Monday was probably the nicest day we’ve had since arriving. Spring is finally here!

Along the beach
View over the old town and the waterfront

We walked along the waterfront and visited the old town of Nice. Interestingly, this end of the promenade is called the ”Quai des États Unis” (Docks of the United States) in recognition of the US joining the First World War in 1917.

Docks of the United States
Don. Steve, and De Ann in the old town
View at the cemetery 

We hopped on a bus to the top of Villefranche, so we could walk down passed our old apartment, the school, and grab lunch at great little Italian restaurant that Meg and I have eaten at a couple of times already. 

Lunch in Villefranche 

Afterwards. I was somehow able to convince everyone that it would be fun to hike back to Nice along the coast — one of our classmates had done this one weekend. It might have worked out well that the trail was undergoing repairs so eventually, after hopping over bags of rocks and cement in various locations, we spied a worker up ahead and decided then was a good time to comply with the signs forbidding access (hey, who says we understand French anyway!)

Along the Citadel 
Villefranche-sur-Mer Harbor
Still having fun

Unfortunately, Don caught a cold in Italy, so he’s been coughing up a lung, though, with a few Advil, has still felt well enough to join in the site seeing. Joan too had been a trooper with her stomach issues. I had an unopened box of Imodium from when I first arrived so was able to donate it to the cause. 

Don napping outside of Cathedral in Monaco

On Tuesday, the plan was to head over to Monaco. I’m glad we saw it, but at the end of the day, none of us were particularly impressed with Monaco. One, the day was a little grey; two, it’s not a particularly walkable city — made even worse by the fact the city was setting up barricades and grandstands for the upcoming Formula E (all electric) road race — and three, glitz, glamor, and gambling are not really our thing. We did enjoy looking at Prince Rainier III’s impressive car collection however and also walked through the church where Grace Kelly is buried.

The late Prince Rainier III’s car collection 
Cathedral where Princess Grace Kelly is buried 
View of the Monaco Harbour
The Monte Carlo Hotel - as close as we got!

For our third day together we opted for a walking tour of Nice. Despite having been in and around Nice for a month, we haven’t learned a ton about the city. Our tour guide, Jasmin, grew up in the Hague in the Netherlands and has lived here in Nice for six years.

City tour with Justin
City taxes were based on number of windows, so these are painted on!

We learned a few interesting facts. For example, the four-mile-long promenade along the pebble strewn beach, is known as the ”Promenade des Anglais” (Walk of the English), because the effort to build it was led in 1824 by an Englishman, Rev Lewis Way.

Promenade of the English & the dome of the Hotel Negresco 

There is also the famous Hotel Negresco, built in 1912 along the waterfront and purchased by an eccentric French woman, Jeanne Augier, in the 50’s. She, apparently, filled it with expensive artwork and lots of lots of cats. The story goes that Bill Gates offered to buy it from her for any price but she refused saying she intended to leave it for her cats! For fun, we stopped at the very posh lounge and had the world’a most expensive cup of coffee.

Hotel Negresco Lounge

For the first time, we made reservations for a nice dinner out (thank you Steve and De Ann). The staff was incredibly kind and patient with us. The young man behind the counter let De Ann carmelize her own crème brûlée, and the other Italian attendant quickly stopped me when I tried to explain in French why we’re in Nice, saying I knew way more French than he did. 

A nice dinner out
De Ann carmelizing her own crème brouille 
No skipping dessert on vacation!


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