Today was very hot and had to be treated like a rainy day. I had to find something to do indoors. I chose to go to the Musée des Confluences. Two trams were required. The long-ish journey was immediately worth it when I saw the museum building. It reminded me of LUMA Arles. Musee des … Continue reading / view photos North Korea and zombies at the Musée des Confluences
Lyon — arrival and walkabout
I left the Nice apartment at 7.30am for Nice-Ville station. I had to get a train back to Marseille before getting another train to Lyon. On the Marseille train, a couple behind me showed their tickets to the two inspectors. It looked like the older one was training the younger. After checking the tickets, the … Continue reading / view photos Lyon — arrival and walkabout
Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
It’s been getting hotter and hotter. Today, my last in Nice, I had to find and book accommodation for my remaining time in France. That, as usual, took longer than expected. In the afternoon, I went to Nice’s central library, Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra. Before I could use the WiFi, I had to get a library … Continue reading / view photos Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
Day trip to Antibes
My final day trip in South France was 30 minutes from Nice: Antibes. Trains were fairly frequent so I didn’t have to rush for a specific train. Antibes is a pretty coastal town on the French Riviera. It has the largest marina in Europe, home to many white superyachts. I was unable to go to … Continue reading / view photos Day trip to Antibes
Train of Wonders to Tende
Having encountered overcrowded trains and buses for the past two days, I’d learnt my lesson. I aimed for an early train and arrived at the departing station with plenty of time to spare. My target was the Train des Merveilles from Nice to Tende. I’d heard about the scenic two-hour train journey and wanted to … Continue reading / view photos Train of Wonders to Tende
Èze village
Today was a strange day, which I should have predicted after yesterday’s crowded public transport. My plan was to visit Èze village. Google Maps said I needed to take two buses. On the first bus, it was touch and go whether I’d get to the second bus stop in time. Initially, I had a cushion … Continue reading / view photos Èze village
Monaco by bus
One of the things I definitely wanted to see was Monte-Carlo in Monaco. It was similar to when I was one of the few people who was enthusiastic about going to Las Vegas. Both cultural phenomena fascinated me even though I had no idea about gambling. My original plan was to stay in Monaco. When … Continue reading / view photos Monaco by bus
Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer coastal walk
I started the morning by going to the daily morning market in central Nice. On my way, I was pleasantly surprised to see a statue of Albert Camus. Camus had a strong connection with the Mediterranean generally rather than Nice itself. The statue, a gift from Brazilian Edgar Duvivier, was installed earlier this year. From … Continue reading / view photos Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer coastal walk
It’s nice to be in Nice
It’s obligatory to make up a pun when in Nice! Originality optional. All good things come to an end. Having already extended my stay in Marseille, I was moving on. I’m sure I’ll return one day. Nice was my next destination. The TGV train took about 2½ hours. It was a scenic journey. The train … Continue reading / view photos It’s nice to be in Nice
Le Corbusier’s Radiant City
My most memorable encounter with Le Corbusier’s architecture was in Chandigarh, a city he designed in India. So, I was fascinated to read about La Cité Radieuse in Marseille, a pioneering mid-20th-century residential building also designed by Le Corbusier. After World War II, there was a severe housing shortage in France. Le Corbusier’s responded to … Continue reading / view photos Le Corbusier’s Radiant City