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 the Picasso Museum because it was Monday, when museums are generally shut. Instead, on arriving in Antibes, I went to the old town from the train station. Everything was within walking distance.
The old town is filled with narrow streets, cafes, ice cream shops, and boutiques. Of course, Antibes has a market too. The central square was filled with people eating outside. Everything is photogenic!
It was another hot and bright day. After leaving the old town, I ambled down to the harbour. I walked around it even though there was little shade. Everything looked beautiful in the Mediterranean light.
The heat soon took its toll. I settled at Copenhagen Cafe, which was located in the covered market. It was a nice place to have a coffee and read a book, especially since the market was closing and the area became more peaceful.
There were two young women working in the cafe. They didn’t look like they were enjoying themselves. The person who served me was nonchalant. At one point, as I sat outside, the two woman sat outside too since there weren’t many customers. However, every time a customer turned up, they would look at each other and raise their eyes as one of them would get up and go inside. Customers were a chore!
A few years ago, I was in a cafe in North London with a friend. When one of the staff was clearing tables, I looked at her and asked if she was OK. She sighed. I asked how her day had gone and that it couldn’t be too easy working in Hampstead with its demanding customers. At this point, she opened up about abusive customers. It was relentless she said. She, herself, was at college and working to support her single mum. Customers got angry about the slightest thing, such as the wrong order even though it would be quickly corrected. I myself had never been given the wrong drink. So it couldn’t be that common and certainly nothing to get worked up about. At the end of our chat, she thanked us and said it was the nicest conversation she’d had all week! Unsurprisingly, the staff don’t stick around too long at that cafe.
After leaving the Copenhagen Cafe, I went back to Antibes train station. Very soon, I was back in my Nice apartment.