1 September 2011- Nice

Today we had a quiet day in Nice, waking up late and wandering down to the Promenade. We “relaxed” on the pebbly beach (I say relaxed in inverted commas because it's a bit hard to relax when some of those pebbles are digging up your bum), marvelled at the turquoise water and took a trip to the post office to send off some post cards. The day ended with a French dinner (Man from Mars: obsessed with Beef Tartare) served by a particularly obnoxious waiter. Man from Mars’ theory is that we were too smiley at the start, so he probably took us to be pushovers, and as a result, the service probably wasn’t as attentive as it could have been. If you don’t know French custom, the rule apparently is that you’re meant to act aloof and unimpressed, and this compels wait staff to serve you with courtesy and priority.

On that note, here are my top four tips for travelling in France so far:

• When in Paris (or an equally “there’s so much to do!” city), don’t overdo it- if you think you’re going to see everything in five days, think again. You won’t and you can’t. Or if you do, you’re going to get really really tired and your legs will ache and you’ll get rundown and sick like I did. Chill man, it’s a holiday. There will always be next time.
• Always greet people in French- bonjour! and attempt French when you communicate with French people. Even if you say it wrong, they appreciate it. Even if they answer back in English (which makes you feel like your efforts aren’t being appreciated), they appreciate it. It’s culturally appropriate.
• Act like a massive food critic when you’re ordering dinner at a restaurant. Treat them mean- keep them keen.
• Say merci as often as you like, even if they’re just saying something inconsequential that doesn’t warrant thanks. At least you’re trying!

[Pebbly beach:]

[Nice in the Summer:]

[Through the Flower markets:]

[Sunny skies:]

[Man from Mars:]

[Beach goers look pretty relaxed:]

[The French Riveria in the distance:]

[Gold sculpture man starts moving!]

[Dinner- In France, they always sit with their outdoor seats facing the street. It's to take advantage of the sun, and even though in this picture, not all the tables are facing the street, you get the picture. It's pretty hilarious. Sometimes you feel like you've got an audience as you walk down the street because everyone is facing you!]

[Man from Mars and his new obsession:]