The bus to Nice did not leave until 8:30 so we were able to have a relaxed breakfast on the ship. After about a four hour drive we got our 1st view of Nice - a beautiful sight. A long curved bay filled with azure water with a long promenade along it. We checked into our hotel and went to their rooftop restaurant to get some lunch. We looked at the menu and it said that a burger was 29 Euros so we quickly left. Our 1st stop was a sad and disturbing one. The memorial for the July 14 attack is right across the street from the hotel. Flowers and notes were everywhere.

We found a sidewalk cafe in the old town that was busy and the menu looked good. We sat at a table next to a 20 something guy who was drinking a beer. To our surprise he asked if we minded if he lit up a cigarette. This was the start of a pleasant hour long conversation. Oliver is from Switzerland and comes to Nice often. We talked on a variety of subjects- he asking about the States and we asking about Switzerland and he was able to give us good suggestions of places to go in Nice. It's meeting people like that from other countries that adds so much to travelling. We had a very filling lunch at a reasonable price (fortunately Oliver helped me eat my pizza) and then went for a walk along the Promenade where the beach stretches along its length. It is very rocky (like river rock) with no sand. The people must be tough - they were lying right on the rocks with no padding. By the way, yes there were a few topless women but the vast majority wore tops. It started to get very hot so we headed back to the hotel for a dip in their rooftop pool. We had great views since it overlooks the beach.

After resting up we headed out for the evening. We were still stuffed and did not want a big meal. Walking around for over an hour did not change that. We stopped at market, picked up some cheese and wine and then found chairs on the Promenade facing the ocean. It was about 10:00 PM and Nice was really getting active. A full moon was reflected on the bay, fireworks were going off in the distance (from somewhere between Nice and Cannes) while we were sipping wine and munching on cheese.