Nice, France

Nice is nice. 

It also reminds me of Florida, with lots of palm trees, slightly trashy people, and tacky Christmas decorations.  I'm sure the rich tourists change the atmosphere during the summer, but in November, the locals really stand out. 

I only really got to explore the city for a few days because I was flying back and forth to Paris during the midweek, but at least my hotel was pretty and the weather was warmer than in most other parts of Europe.  

Here's my hotel in Nice during the day

...and lit up for the night. 

What is there to do in Nice on the weekend in November?  Not much, besides visiting the casinos, shopping, and walking through old town.  Of course I did all those things.  As an added bonus, there was also a tent set up on the boardwalk across from my hotel with a "chocolate festival" sign on the side.  Of course I had to try it, but I was disappointed when it ended up being just a chocolate marketplace with a cover charge.  

Naked statues can only mean one thing: I'm getting closer to Italy!

I wish I had more to share from my time in Nice, but it really felt uneventful.  Overall, I would probably only recommend Nice during the summer, since the majority of the activities revolve around the Mediterranean.  Still, it was good to get a couple short breaks from the tough project in Paris an ease into my vacation from the environment of the French Riviera.  

One of several strange statues around the city