Nice is one of the most popular resorts Mediterranean coast of France, and concurrently is also the "capital". Cultural Center south of France, the fifth largest city in this country, the second largest in the number of museums, a port city, also has its own international Airport- Nice has it all.
Nice France, city of Nice
Nice is the largest resort on the Cote d'Azur, the administrative center of the Alpes-Maritimes department. Just 30 kilometers from Nice is Italy. From Nice 960 kilometers, to Marseille - 230 kilometers. The city itself is located on the coast beautiful bay called the Bay of Angels.
Get to Nice
Getting to Nice is easy. Nice has its own international airport Nice Cote d'Azur, which is the third in terms of passenger traffic in France. It receives direct flights from Russia, the flight time is about 4.5 hours. You can also get to Nice by changing trains in Paris. Express buses, local buses, trains and, of course, taxis run from the airport to the city. Nice is one of the largest transport hubs in France, so it is connected to all major cities and suburbs, and Monaco. 
A bit of history
The history of Nice begins in the 4th century BC, it was founded by the Greeks and at that time it bore the name Nicaea. This settlement was one of the most important transportation hubs on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. In the Middle Ages, Nice was repeatedly devastated and wars, the kings of France tried to capture it more than once. But she always came out of the attacks with dignity. Between 1792 and 1814, Nice was captured by Napoleon. In the 16th century, two plague epidemics occurred here. After the Napoleonic Wars, Nice received a calling as one of the best resorts this region.
Weather in Nice
As you might guess, the climate in Nice is Mediterranean. But, despite this, there is quite a bit of rainfall, they mostly occur from September to May. Summers in Nice are quite hot, sunny and dry, although there is occasional rainfall, but this happens quite rarely. Summer comes to Nice late, even in April it is quite rainy and cloudy here, the full dominance of warm weather can be observed only in May, but autumn is quite warm, and even in November the temperature here is about +20 degrees. 
Shops in Nice
Shopping in Nice is associated with its flower market. Here, on Mondays, instead of flowers, seafood, vegetables and fruits, antiques are exhibited. Right on the pavement, you can find quite interesting things, while paying ridiculous money for them. It is worth visiting the Alziari olive oil shop, which is known throughout France. 
Nice Hotels
The choice of hotels in Nice is simply huge; here you can find apartments for every taste and budget. Here you have options for budget holiday and the most luxurious hotels with aristocratic interiors and service. Beautiful views from the windows and a good location will make your stay in Nice unforgettable. And, of course, the famous Negresco hotel in Nice, built in the neoclassical style, located on the Promenade des Anglais. It is not only a symbol of Nice, but also of the Laser Coast as a whole, included in the list of architectural objects of historical significance in France. 
Attractions in Nice
Rosetti Square is considered the center of Nice, it is here that Cathedral Saint Reparat, 17th century. To the south are Saleya Boulevard and Places Pierre-Gaultier and Charles-Felix. You should definitely take a walk along the Promenade des Anglais, here are the most best hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops. Visit the Old Nice district, where you will find wonderful architecture, as well as a variety of cafes and shops. Be sure to try the ice cream in the old town. 
For Russian tourists interesting sights are located here. In the middle of the 19th century, Nice became one of the most popular place recreation among the Russian aristocracy. In 1912, the construction of the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, one of the most beautiful outside of Russia, was completed here. By 1932, there were more than 5,300 Russians in Nice, thanks to which the Villefranche bay area began to be called Russian Nice. Also located here: Russian cemetery Kokad, which used to be called Nikolaevsky, where about 3,000 Russian citizens are buried, the Church of St. Nicholas and the Wonderworker and the Martyr Empress Alexandra, as well as a monument to Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, located in the garden of St. Nicholas Cathedral.
"If there were no such name as "Cote d'Azur", then it would have to be urgently invented." This quote is from Stephane Liéjard's guide book published in 1887. There is no doubt that the Mediterranean, the sun, the beaches, the pebbles and… the blue benches along the Promenade de Anglais existed before the creation of the world and before the valley, like a box for precious stones, enclosed between hills overgrown with olives and pines, that extraordinary light was born, which is well conveyed in the paintings of Renoir and Matisse, which was embodied in the most harmonious sounds of the music of Berlioz, Paganini or Gabriel Fauré.
Nice- one of the main pearls of the Cote d'Azur. The unofficial capital of the French Riviera and the administrative center of the Alpes-Maritimes department. Nice is located in the historical province of Provence on the coast mediterranean sea in the Bay of Angels.
Nature has generously endowed this region - it is not for nothing that people from all over the world go to Nice who want to relax on one of the most prestigious resorts Mediterranean. Residents of Nice believe that their city has only one drawback - the sun always shines here. Even in winter on the Cote d'Azur you can sunbathe under the gentle sun. A visit to the city cannot be complete without a walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais, nor without visiting numerous museums, among which are the Terra Amata Museum, the Massena Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of Nice, the Musée fine arts, housed in the mansion of Princess Kochubey, Naval Museum, Primitive Art. A. Yakovlevsky, Museum of New and Contemporary Art, etc.
Despite the modernization, Nice has retained its medieval heritage in the old part of the city, the historic city center is good for both ordinary buildings and monuments, among which stand out the oldest parish church of St. Martin and Augustine, the Baroque Cathedral of St. Reparata.
Here you can see the red-tiled roofs of houses close to each other, narrow winding streets with many shops and small restaurants. It is hard to imagine Nice without the famous flower, fruit and vegetable market Cours Saleya, which is open every morning. The market is separated from the sea by a strip of low buildings. Once they served as a warehouse for the catch of fishermen, and now fish restaurants are widely located here. Along the other side of the market lined up in a row of cafes in beautiful old buildings.
Numerous beaches in Nice are covered with pebbles, and most of them are free, warm and clean. Only starting from Cape d'Antibes do they become sandy.
One of the main attractions of Nice is the Promenade des Anglais - a wide boulevard overlooking the bay and stretching for 6 km along the pebble beaches. Overgrown with "islands" of palm trees and flowers, the embankment has been known since Victorian times as a favorite place for leisurely walks. Rows of luxurious cafes, villas and hotels face the beach. On the east side, the Promenade des Anglais merges into the Quai des Etats-Unis, where some of the the best restaurants Nice, specializing in a special bouillabaisse fish soup.
Since the eighteenth century, fishing warehouses have been preserved in Nice, inside which are now cozy and unpretentious in a good way, without any Michelin stars, fish restaurants. Here you can try traditional Nice dishes: Pan Bagnat tuna sandwich, de Poisson fish soup, Nicoise tuna salad, Tourtes aux Blettes sweet savoy cabbage pie.
One of the main events in Nice is the annual carnival. Every year, during February, the hearts of the inhabitants of Nice and 1 million visitors beat to the rhythm of the Carnival... and this is no coincidence. The Nice Carnival has been able to gain a worldwide reputation for its high quality and originality.
Nice to this day is known as the pearl of the Cote d'Azur. On average, there are 300 sunny days a year. Combination rich history and culture, favorable climate, diverse nature, developed transport infrastructure and a high level of tourist service still makes this city one of the most popular resorts in the world. Once in the Bay of Angels, you understand that you want to stay here forever.
Takes 50 minutes including taxiing on the runway. Baggage appears on the conveyor belt at the same time as passengers enter the arrivals hall. That is, everything happens very quickly. The plane from Lyon took off at 18-50, and at 20-20 we were already at the hotel.
From Moscow to Nice you can fly by Aeroflot, the flight duration is 4 hours.
Other airlines fly to Nice with transfers. In season, a charter to Genoa Airport rises and a group transfer to Nice is organized.
You can also get to Nice by train.
There are hotels nearby. Near the hotel there is the main shopping street with expensive shops and boutiques, McDonald's cafe, AVIS, EUROPCAR, HERTZ car rental offices, which also offer parking here.
In general, what do you expect from Nice? I didn't expect anything, I just wanted to see. And Nice made a very vivid impression on me. Nice is a beauty… Bright, friendly, very cozy city. According to legend, the ancient Greeks founded a settlement here in the 7th century BC. e. and named it Nikea, in honor of the winged Goddess of Victory Nike.
Nice is a city with a rich history.
For lovers of architecture, there is an opportunity to see the monuments of antiquity, gothic castles, monasteries and temples of the late Middle Ages, palaces of the 16th-19th centuries, theater buildings, the Senate, Orthodox churches and, of course, the Old city. Today the old town is the main attraction. It is hard to believe that in the 16th and 17th centuries it was a new, young city, which later became an excellent example of the Renaissance and Classicism.
Until now, there are small houses in the narrow streets of the old city, red tiled roofs, palm trees on the Promenade des Anglais, the amazing turquoise color of the water in the sea, happy, cheerful tanned people.
Nice has a lot of entertainment facilities: 2 casinos, 6 nightclubs, 5 entertainment centers with bowling and billiards, there are golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding, sport complexes with indoor pools, even ski stations at a distance of 60-80 km.
O! These romantic landscapes Blue Mountains, the sea in a haze on the horizon, the air is saturated with lavender, violet ice cream and rose jam are sold on the streets of small medieval towns ... In the city of Grasse they show a perfume factory, and then there is an opportunity to walk around this old city, remember the famous Perfumer ...
Narrow streets of Grasse
The medieval village of Saint Paul Vence fascinated not only us.
In the 20s of the 20th century, this place, perhaps due to the picturesque landscapes and panoramas, was chosen by artists from Paris: Signac, Bonnard, Utrillo, Modigliani and others.
They stayed at the Golden Dove Hotel (La Colombe D'Or), often paying for food and shelter with their work. The owner of the hotel, Paul Rouault, definitely did not lose money: now the hotel is the owner of an impressive collection of works by such world-famous artists as Utrillo, Vlaminck, Dufy, Bonnard, Soutine, Picasso, Modigliani, Cocteau and Chagall. These paintings are quietly hung throughout the hotel, including in the rooms, and are already an integral part of the unique artistic atmosphere of the Golden Dove. So the hotel and the village itself turned into a cult corner for fans of fine arts.
Restaurant and Hotel Golden Dove
In the 50s, the charm of the artistic world of Saint-Paul-de-Vence attracted famous film actors, writers and intellectuals. So Brigitte Bardot, Greta Garbo, Sophia Loren, Burt Lancaster, Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir began to visit the Golden Dove. Here, Yves Montand and Simone Signoret met and celebrated their wedding, who bought a legendary hotel and restaurant a few years later. Marc Chagall and the author of Lady Chatterley's Lover David Herbert Lawrence spent their last years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
In romantic Antibes, we admired the yachts and cars of our famous compatriots topping the Forbes list, walked along the medieval streets, then looked at the wonderful youth resort of Juan Les Pins with its sandy beaches and pines.
The final chord was a walk along the Croisette and a photo on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival Palace. The tour was conducted by a very nice girl Milena.
Cannes, the beach and the Croisette
There are several parks in Nice, a large number art museums where you can get acquainted with the works of the most famous masters: Chagall, Matisse, Rodin, the richest collection of primitivists. After Paris, Nice is the second city in France in terms of the number of museums and art galleries. All museums in Nice are free (except the National Assembly Museum of Marc Chagall, the Incredible Museum of Anomalies and Oddities and MUSEAAV). A large number of cafes, restaurants and restaurants, seafood and pizza, pasta and ice cream, Chinese and Australian cuisine, sushi and desserts… What is there!
Nice has a wonderful place in the old town, not far from Opera House: a huge area filled with tables of different cafes, pizzerias, restaurants, pastry shops. Everything is very tasty and prices for every budget. If you order lobster, oysters, then, of course, your bill may turn out to be very large, but if you want to choose a dish with a low cost, then there are also a lot of such options. In any cafe and restaurant there is a so-called dish of the day, a set menu and other special offers. For example, if you buy a set lunch, the cost per person will be 15-18 euros, this will include a wonderful salad, a steak with a side dish and a dessert. If you take each of these dishes separately, then the bill will be about 35-40 euros per person. And, of course, everything is very tasty and prepared from fresh ingredients. Even if you set yourself the goal of finding a restaurant or cafe in Nice where the food is bad, I think that you will not succeed ... Everything is delicious everywhere!
In general, Nice is a very democratic city. Both respectable people with a high level of well-being and people with an average income will like it here, and economical tours are also quite possible. Paid beaches alternate with municipal free ones, the cost per public transport minimum: from Cannes to Menton you can travel by bus for 1 euro. We took advantage of this. In the afternoon, after the beach and walking around Nice, we decided to see Monaco and Monte Carlo. The road runs along the coast. If you manage to take a good place near the window, then you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Cote d'Azur. You will see rocky shores and small cozy bays, turquoise sea, yachts, small houses hiding in shady gardens, and real palaces…
Someone lives here… There is a house on the shore, a path descends to a beautiful small beach hidden among the rocks, a fast boat swings on the water… Not life, but a fairy tale… The road from Nice to Monaco takes 1 hour and 15 minutes…
Expensive car on the street of Monaco
And so you go out, in front of you lies the "Golden Eldorado" ... Well, it's in a song about pearls and mother-of-pearl fish ... Here it's called Monte Carlo. In the parking lot of Bugatti, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lombarghini. There is a hotel next to the Monte Carlo Casino. Prices in cafes and restaurants, which are located on the square next to the Monte Carlo casino, are astronomical: a cup of coffee is 10 euros, but if you walk 200 meters along the park and go up the street a little higher, then you will see many restaurants, cafes and pubs with quite reasonable prices, the same as in Moscow, in Nice or in Italy on the Ligurian coast: coffee 2-5 euros, beer 5-10 euros, pizza 10-15 euros.
View of the Promenade des Anglais, Nice
Nice paid beach
Cote d'Azur
Maybe you think that the Cote d'Azur is not for you? It is very expensive? Or boring?
No, it's not boring, it's very bright, interesting, fresh... Youth companies, respectable businessmen, romantic couples, families with small children, and pensioners - everyone can find here entertainment to their taste and at an affordable price. Prices are different, for every taste and budget we will offer a hotel, an interesting and varied excursion program and excellent French service.
No matter how good Nice is, but it's time to say goodbye to it, we fly on ...
1. Nice was founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC and was called Nicaea in honor of Nike, the goddess of victory. Many monuments of ancient architecture have survived to this day on the Cote d'Azur.
2. In 1543, the washerwoman Catherine Seguran entered the history of Nice. During the siege of the city by pirates and the troops of Francis I, she, armed with a washing roller, killed an enemy soldier and took away his banner, after which, lifting her skirts, she showed her ass to the enemies. A street and one of the largest lyceums in Nice are named after Catherine Seguyuran.
3. In Nice, on the Promenade des Anglais, by a tragic accident, the famous dancer Isadora Duncan, the wife of Sergei Yesenin, died. She was strangled by a gas scarf wrapped around the axle of a car. A few minutes before her death, she told the assembled fans: "Goodbye friends, I'm going to glory."
4. In Nice, there is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which is being cleaned by the most beautiful cathedral Orthodox Church outside of Russia. Unfortunately, it is surrounded by a high fence and you can enter there only at certain hours. Entrance to any Catholic church in Nice is free at any time. Doors are always open. Almost everywhere you can look at the frescoes, admire the interior decoration, take pictures.
5. Nice - Côte d'Azur Airport is one of the ten airports with the most breathtaking view during takeoff and landing. The airport is located within the city, so lovers walking tours, not burdened with heavy suitcases, can safely walk to their hotel along one of the most beautiful and famous embankments in the world - the Promenade des Anglais.
6. Nice is a very calm and democratic city. Contrary to popular belief, millionaires don't walk the streets in Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior or drive around in Ferraris. Demonstrating wealth and status is considered indecent here.
7. You can admire all the attributes of a luxurious life during the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Formula 1 races, as well as at the height of the tourist season in the hottest summer months. But this has nothing to do with the inhabitants of Nice. In August, residents of the city usually go on vacation. Many popular places are closing local residents cafes and shops.
8. Russian millionaires spend their lives here behind high fences in villas and tinted car windows, and mostly only in the summer. You can easily crush a French millionaire's foot on the bus at any time of the year without knowing that it was a millionaire.
9. Russian tourists are always visible from afar: the girls do their best to hobble in high heels in expensive and uncomfortable shoes along the streets paved with paving stones or tiles. Men wear deliberately expensive shoes and watches. Or, on the contrary, they are too casually dressed, look extremely unsportsmanlike and appear in public places in swimming trunks and beach shoes. Most Russian tourists can be recognized by the expression of doom and tired disgust on their faces. They do not seem to rest, but do a grueling job called "rest on the Cote d'Azur."
10. Traffic jams in Nice are only in July and August. They are made by tourists. The rest of the year traffic is completely free. A ten-minute delay on the road causes panic and indignation among the French.
11. In France, you can drink alcohol while driving. Permissible rate is 0.5 ppm. This is a couple of beers, or two large glasses of wine, or one strong cocktail. If you rent a car, then you will carefully hang a list of alcoholic beverages on your rearview mirror that you can drink without fear of penalties. Usually road checks happen only during the summer tourist season. The rest of the time you will not notice the traffic police on the Cote d'Azur. The French have absolutely no sacred horror before the traffic police, however, as well as accidents.
12. Provence is historically the first region of France where they began to produce wine. Even 600 years before our era, the Greeks, who founded their cities on the coast, were engaged in viticulture and winemaking.
13. A bottle of decent wine in France costs about €3–5. Not uncommon wine for €1.50-2.50. This does not mean that the wine is bad. A rare Frenchman will buy a bottle of wine for more than €10–15. Only on special occasions. All French people prefer to drink young wines. There is no particular difference in the quality of wine for €3 and for €15. Exclusively a matter of taste.
14. In Nice, many people drink alcoholic drinks in the morning. Elderly ladies discussing the news over a glass of wine at 9 am, men reading the morning paper while drinking a cool draft beer or a glass of pastis - this is a common sight in Nice. No one sees in this something defiant or reprehensible. This is the norm. Strong drinks are not popular here. The stores have a large selection of vodka. The French sometimes buy it for parties to drink in a cocktail with ice and tonic. In the summer, mojito cocktails are very popular in coastal cafes. Often watermelon, melon, strawberries and other fresh fruits are added to it. You can order a non-alcoholic mojito.
15. A bottle of real French champagne can cost €15–20 in a supermarket. It's just that it won't be a world-famous brand like "Veuve Clicquot" or "Louis Roderer", but small family houses from Champagne, of those who do not want to spend money on advertising. For beverage production only.
Sparkling wines produced in France, but not in the province of Champagne, usually cost €3–7. They are also very tasty.
16. Nowhere in France are rose wines produced in such volumes as in Provence. They are common throughout the Cote d'Azur and are drunk in the heat, like water, often with ice. Rosé wine goes well with local cuisine, especially with fish and seafood.
17. Among the wines of Provence, several appellations with a fairly high rating should be noted: AOC Bandol, AOC Bellet, AOC Cassis. These wines are not inferior in quality to the most famous wines of France and will please any connoisseur of fine wines.
18. Nobody in Nice drinks tea. Everyone usually drinks coffee. If you see someone drinking tea, especially in the summer, they are most likely tourists from England.
19. French women never do anything special to hide their age or appear younger than their age. Every French woman believes that she is beautiful at any age. And it is true.
20. A French man may divorce his young wife in order to marry an older woman. He is looking for a companion and like-minded person, and not decorative design.
21. Bright Russian girls, repainted in blondes, in tight blouses, short skirts, daytime makeup and high heels, the French call "pupe rus" - which means "matryoshka".
22. No inhabitant of the Côte d'Azur will wear high-heeled shoes unless she is invited to a wedding or other celebration. And in this case, the heel will be average and as comfortable as possible. No one will expose themselves to discomfort in order to impress anyone or please a man.
23. Despite the huge number of world-famous couturiers and the status of one of the most luxury resorts world, the inhabitants of Nice prefer sports shoes in everyday life, (sneakers or sneakers) from clothes - the simplest T-shirts and jeans that can be bought in stores for €15–20. The collections of such clothes are very diverse and change almost every month, so you can safely buy the most fashionable things, wear them several times and immediately send them to the dustbin when a new collection appears. That's how everyone usually does it.
Fashionable and inexpensive clothing stores occupy entire streets in Nice, and the French are happy to walk around, looking at the windows and trying on the things they like. Often there are sales in stores where you can buy two items for the price of one, or with a 50-70% discount. Every French woman from childhood knows perfectly well what suits her and what does not. If she wants to emphasize the dignity of her figure or the color of her eyes - do not hesitate, you will notice it. You will notice the woman, not her clothes.
24. In the shops of Nice, where they sell the most expensive and prestigious clothes, there are always several Russian saleswomen. As a rule, they are very arrogant in front of their fellow citizens and try not to show that they are also Russian, although that is precisely what they work there for.
25. In Nice in winter, there are quite cold days when the wind blows and drizzles with unpleasant rain. The French will never put on a warm jacket, let alone a fur coat. They will cringe and wrap themselves in a long scarf up to their ears. In pharmacies, you can buy special sprays made from a mixture of eucalyptus and lavender essential oils, designed specifically to spray on a scarf. This is considered protection from the common cold.
26. Russian tourists can often be confused with tourists from Milan. They also dress too flashy. But the Italians are cheerful, and ours are always dissatisfied with something.
27. The waiter who cleaned your table or cleaned your dirty plates after you may well be the owner of the restaurant where you dine. In France, no one is ashamed of any work, often children on vacation or close relatives help their parents in a restaurant.
28. You should not sort out your relationship, swear or discuss people at neighboring tables, believing that no one here understands your Russian. Nice is a very Russian city. There is a good chance that you are heard and understood perfectly, even if everyone around you speaks French.
29. Thin as a reed, the Frenchwoman calmly copes alone with a whole pizza or a huge portion of spaghetti. After that, she will usually order a cake for dessert.
30. If you didn’t order dessert in a restaurant, after eating a voluminous hot dish, you will most likely be looked at with regret and sympathy. All French people have a sweet tooth, and the choice of desserts here can thrill any gourmet. Nobody denies themselves pleasure. After dessert, the French enjoy a small cup of coffee for a long time.
31. In Nice, it is customary to have lunch from 12:00 to 15:00. At this time, almost all institutions are closed for lunch, except for large shops and souvenir shops for tourists. If you had a meeting with a Frenchman at half past eleven, then instead of “goodbye”, they will most likely say “bon appetit”. At 13:00 there may not be a free table. There is a high probability that after 14:00 you will no longer be seated at a table, as the kitchen closes.
This applies, of course, only to the most fashionable places among the French. Naturally, with a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, no one will go hungry. The kitchen is great everywhere. But if you didn’t get somewhere, I advise you to remember this place. Surely you will like it so much that you will return there later more than once.
32. The French have dinner in the evening from 19:00 to 22:00. For those who get hungry at "off-hours" or for tourists there is always a cafe with continuous service. There, as elsewhere, you can eat very, very tasty, but self-respecting institutions, with a reputation and regular customers from all over the world, work only at lunch and dinner. This rule is. The French strictly follow it, which is probably why they always have a good appetite and a slender figure.
33. In France, it is not customary to tip too much. The receipt always states that the service is included in the price of the meal, so this is optional. Usually, for a dinner for two people, the French leave coins in the amount of €2–3 (approximately at the rate of €1 per €25 check). In the most luxurious restaurant, you can leave a €10–20 note, provided that you were very, very satisfied with everything. If you "throw" larger bills, this means, according to the Frenchman, that you do not know the value of money and, most likely, some kind of scammer. However, they will take a tip with gratitude, and your reputation is your personal concern.
34. You should never take a table covered with a tablecloth or napkin if you are not going to eat. If your plans include just a glass of wine or a glass of mineral water, always look for an uncovered table. If you didn’t find such a table, then you ended up in a restaurant, not a bar.
35. The French paradox is not fiction, it exists! You will hardly meet overweight people here. More likely to meet too thin.
36. All shops and many restaurants are closed on Sunday. On Monday, everything that worked on Sunday is closed.
37. The famous Provencal Marche de Fleur market in Nice, where peasants sell their fruits, flowers and vegetables daily, as well as mountain honey, fresh fish, olives, homemade cheeses, pâtés and sausages, closes at 12 noon. The brightest and most diverse market on Saturday and Sunday.
On Mondays, antique dealers and junk dealers display their merchandise on the Marche des Fleurs. Many connoisseurs of antiques come specially from other cities and countries to find rare old handicrafts, unique dishes, furniture and silverware on the market.
38. All French people are very friendly and polite. They always hold each other's door, men for women, women for men - it doesn't matter who is who. They address each other with a friendly smile. If, for example, someone dropped something or stumbled, half a street always rushes to the rescue. They genuinely ask if everything is in order, do you need any help? They will always help to collect scattered things or offer to go to the nearest cafe, seated on a chair to attach food if you hit. The entire staff of the cafe will also carefully fuss around the victim.
39. Nice clean and spacious public toilets. At the entrance you need to leave a coin of 50 centimes on a silver platter and say hello. Men's and women's booths may be located side by side or may not have gender distinctions at all. When you leave the toilet, the toilet attendant will thank you very much and wish you a good day. None of the French is embarrassed. They scatter in response in mutual gratitude. On Sunday, a public toilet located in a busy part of the city may well be closed for the weekend. This is not a problem, as the French use the toilets in cafes and bars. First, of course, you need to order a cup of coffee or a glass of mineral water.
40. If two passers-by who stare at the shop windows accidentally collide on the sidewalk, then the reaction will, as a rule, be merry laughter and many mutual jokes about the curiosity that has occurred.
41. Often strangers will say some kind words to you, for example, praise your hair or wink cheerfully, noticing that the weather is fine today. Not necessarily in this way a man flirts with a woman. A woman can say a compliment to a woman, a man can say nice words to a man. They are simply not afraid to “splash” a sea of positive emotions.
42. In France, it is customary to say hello wherever you go. In the elevator, with the neighbors on the floor, with the taxi driver, with the hotel maids, and of course with the waiters.
When you get on the bus, you need to say hello to the driver. Leaving the bus, it is customary to say “thank you” and “goodbye” to the driver. It is also advisable to say goodbye to the remaining passengers and wish everyone a pleasant journey. The exception is routes between Nice and Monaco or Nice and Cannes. There, as a rule, there are many tourists who do not know the rules of etiquette. But the French are always visible, because they do not make any exceptions for the courtesy. And tourists - they are wild, what can you take from them! They came and left.
43. Monaco is pronounced with the accent on the last syllable, just like any word in French.
44. If you say the word “Monaco” to the waiter in a bar or cafe, they will bring you draft beer, generously diluted with sweet grenadine syrup. This is a very popular drink in Nice.
45. Monaco is a 15-minute drive from Nice. Most of what all tourists think of Monaco is French city Beausoleil (translated as "beautiful sun"). The city is constantly suing the authorities of Monaco for the fact that they are building more and more skyscrapers that obscure the inhabitants of Beausoleil sunlight, but so far to no avail.
46. If you are a fan of driving luxury cars, buying expensive jewelry from the most famous designers, picking up bright outfits lavishly decorated with rhinestones in your wardrobe, the cost of which can be several thousand euros, then you are in Monaco. This is not the case in Nice.
47. An ordinary person with an average income can afford lunch at any of the most luxurious restaurants on the Cote d'Azur. There is always a special seasonal menu or chef's dish of the day, which is quite a reasonable price.
48. The famous Monte Carlo Casino is a very pleasant and democratic place where you can drink champagne, place bets or just watch the game. Casino croupiers can pronounce the numbers and the phrase "bets are made" in Russian. When entering the casino, you may be asked to present your passport.
49. Most French people have a tender weakness for small dogs. In the market, in the supermarket, in cafes and restaurants, the dog always accompanies its owner. Most dogs in Nice walk without a leash, not trying to run away somewhere, they also know very well that you can’t run across the street at a red light, they behave calmly in a restaurant, dozing under the table, they never bark or pay attention to other dogs.
Many people in Nice take their dogs to work every day. You can always find a dog looking curiously at the clients of a barbershop, or sitting comfortably in the window of a small private fashion store. Many dogs are accustomed to ride with the owner in a basket attached somehow to the trunk of a motorcycle. The French Bulldog and Jack Russell breeds are very popular. Many have two or three dogs.
50. In Nice, you can taste hundreds of ice cream varieties, including such unusual ones as: violet, rose, cactus, chewing gum, avocado, poppy flower, chocolate with hot chili, as well as quite exotic ones - flavored with beer, tomato and black olives .
51. Nice has a huge number of bakeries. In addition to the French favorite baguette, you will be offered a large selection of different types of bread made from different types of flour. Also a lot of sweet pastries and confectionery. Often the bread is baked in a wood-fired oven. In every bakery you can find completely different types of bread. There is no yesterday's bread in France.
52. Most bakeries are equipped with special machines for receiving money. He accepts bills and gives change. Thus the seller of bread has no contact with coins and always remains with clean hands.
53. Nice is located on the border with Italy, so French and Provencal cuisine merges with Italian here. Many cafes, restaurants and shops are opened by Italian families who moved to live in France. You don't have to travel to Italy to taste authentic Italian cuisine. Nice has everything that Italians are proud of.
54. Hearing Italian in Nice is a common thing. Many French here speak Italian. V Italian cities located on the border with France, all Italians speak French.
55. In Nice, you can't hail a taxi by voting with your hand from the pavement. There are special stands for taxis. If there is no car in the parking lot, then you need to call the number indicated on the sign. At the height of the tourist season, a taxi can arrive in an hour.
56. Many taxi drivers like to spend time in cafes, basking in the sun, drinking coffee, leafing through the newspaper and chatting with colleagues while you languish in the parking lot waiting for your car. They sincerely believe that you can’t earn all the money, and there is only one life, and you should enjoy it.
57. In recent years, Nice has received a huge number of immigrants from Muslim countries and former French colonies. They populate areas on the outskirts of the city. Many do not want to work and live on welfare. Every year there are more and more of them. Some work by begging. Five years ago, there was nothing like this in Nice. The French are very tolerant of them.
58. In Nice, people have a very poor idea of what rudeness is. Unceremonious immigrants take full advantage of this. They actively shove everyone with their elbows, climb into the bus or the supermarket cashier, not wanting to let anyone go ahead. The Frenchman in this case apologizes embarrassedly and steps aside. Illegals and homeless people who spend the night on the streets are not at all afraid of the police, because the police are very polite and attentive. They ask them to leave the place of spending the night, they snarl and bicker, then reluctantly leave, but after another hour they return to their favorite place again. Sometimes you can see a picture of how the French are trying to carefully raise a drunken homeless person who has collapsed in the middle of the sidewalk.
59. V tourist trips, in transport and at fun gatherings in cafes, you will often meet the French with newborn babies. They do not believe that the appearance of a child should somehow change or limit their life.
60. The people in Nice are very cheerful. The usual picture is workers singing songs, repairing the sidewalk, waiters in a cafe, sellers in the market. Even people in such traditionally serious professions as police officers, border guards, customs officers and bank employees are constantly playing pranks and jokes with each other. They can frolic and laugh like children in the middle of the "work process". Any resident of Nice always answers them with a smile, laughter and a return joke.
61. In expressing mournful feelings, on the contrary, the French are very restrained. At the funeral, no one sobs loudly, everyone quietly talks with the usual friendly and calm faces.
62. The tourist word “souvenir”, which is familiar to us, is often written on the gravestone of the deceased. It means "memory".
63. The French tend to speak English well. They were taught at school much better than us. Hearing an accent or feeling embarrassed on your part, they immediately switch to fluent English. An exception can only be a Frenchman from the hinterland.
64. The British are very reserved. No one will show it openly, but since the British are often stiff and dismissive, the French can respond in the same way.
65. A normal chicken in France costs about €3. Often in supermarkets there are offers of three chickens for the price of two or the second one is free. For €3-4 you can buy hot grilled chicken. But since France is a country of gourmets, here you can also buy chicken for your pleasure for €12 and even €25.
Such a chicken was grown in special conditions in the fresh air, walked all his life somewhere in beautiful mountains or valleys. She ate only organic, healthy products for chicken health and was surrounded by the gentle care and attention of the farmer. Naturally, the taste of such a bird is incomparably higher. No one saves on delicious products here. The same can be said about meat.
66. Such primordially, in our opinion, Russian products as jelly, herring, bacon, pancakes, Olivier salad - all these are common dishes of French or Italian cuisine, they just have different names. They are sold everywhere in supermarkets and small shops similar to our "culinary" The real "Doctor's" sausage, kvass and "Baltika" beer can be bought in Russian stores.
67. The French grow sturgeons and make their own caviar. It costs less than Russian and is in no way inferior to it.
68. The French have their own Easter, Forgiveness Sunday, Maslenitsa and Victory Day. Often they are sincerely surprised that we also have such holidays in Russia.
69. Holidays dedicated to the memorable dates of the Patriotic and First World Wars happen in Nice almost every month. An orchestra is playing, veterans are marching in awards, laying flowers at the monuments of the dead, the mayor of the city delivers a solemn speech. Veterans and their memory are greatly honored here. Near monuments and in city parks, festive tables are often set for veterans.
70. The French on the Cote d'Azur love and know how to arrange all kinds of holidays and large-scale events. In addition to the well-known Cannes Film Festival and Formula 1 races in Monaco, the Côte d'Azur hosts the Violets Festival, the Rose Festival and the Jasmine Festival. Tons of fresh flowers are used in the design of the streets and festive processions.
Also held annually is the Bread Festival, the Truffle Festival, the holidays of the patron saints of the city, the international festival of fireworks and fireworks, the International Jazz Festival, the Gastronomy Salon, the Chocolate Salon, the Italian Food Fair and much more. Throughout the year, concerts of the most famous world performers and prestigious sports competitions are held.
71. In July and August, you can watch fireworks and fireworks almost every day. In addition to the international fireworks festival, many tourists organize private parties in their villas and hotels. They celebrate their weddings and birthdays here. Celebrations usually end with colorful fireworks.
72. From mid-February to early March, the annual Carnival takes place in Nice, which is not inferior in its beauty to the famous carnival in Rio.
73. A ticket to the famous Nice Opera costs €10–20 and is freely sold at the Opera box office. No one specially dresses up for performances, does not wear high-heeled shoes and family jewels. People come to enjoy art, not to demonstrate themselves.
74. The mayor of Nice walks freely around the city and shakes hands with people he knows.
75. Nice organizes special open days when you can visit the prefectural palace, the old castle, which is a closed military air defense facility, and other places that are usually closed to tourists. In the event that these places are monuments of architecture and history, it is free for everyone.
76. In terms of the number of museums, Nice is second only to Paris.
77. Residents of Nice are very caring and attentive to the elderly. Old people, in turn, are always invigorated, never "put pressure on pity." They may be offended by an attempt to give them a seat in transport. It's not very common here.
Any elderly Frenchman before last days tries to lead a full life: dine in restaurants, drink wine, go to the market and take walks along the embankment. A French grandmother well over 70 can meticulously choose a lace bikini in a store.
78. In January and February, it can rain for several days in a row without stopping. At the same time, in good weather during these months you can see a lot of people sunbathing on the beaches. Some swim in the sea.
79. The beaches in Nice are pebbly. If you prefer sand, then it is better to stop your choice of place to stay in the cities of the Côte d'Azur neighboring Nice.
80. Near Nice there is a technopolis "Sofia - Antinopolis". It is called the French Silicon Valley. This is a full-fledged city with modern residential areas, hotels, lyceums, educational centers and several higher educational institutions. It employs more than 30 thousand people, revenue from innovations in the field of electronics, pharmacology and biotechnology - more than €5 billion, which exceeds the revenue from tourism on the Cote d'Azur.
81. In 1901, our famous cruiser Aurora visited Nice, or rather, the bay of Villefranche, located near Nice. At that time, Nice was a favorite place winter holiday for the royal family and the most senior officials of the Russian Empire.
82. Villefranche Bay is one of the ten most beautiful bays in the world. Now there are stops cruise ships from all over the world.
83. At 80 km from Nice are the famous Alpine ski resorts Isola 2000, Valberg and many others, offering high-quality slopes and services to ski fans.
84. All the French are great sports fans and passionate fans. All residents of Nice enthusiastically jog along the embankments and actively attend various sports sections. Many citizens are happy to take part in marathon races, even without being special athletes. You don't have to run the whole distance. It is important to plunge into the atmosphere of general revival and feel like a participant in a sports festival.
85. Nice people love to celebrate Christmas. Already two months before the holiday, the city is decorated with beautiful illuminations. Cafes and bars offer mulled wine and a special festive menu. An ice rink opens in the city center open sky and a Christmas market with delicacies, sweets and handicrafts.
Traditional Christmas treats in Nice are game, oysters and goose liver. All butcher shops are overflowing with wild boar meat, venison, and various wild birds. The restaurants serve game dishes. Pastry shops bake a variety of cakes and sweets decorated with a Christmas theme. On Christmas Eve in Nice, you can see long queues for oysters. On ordinary days, the inhabitants of the city do not pay much attention to them.
Alexander Taranov23.09.2015
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1. Nice was founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC and was called Nicaea in honor of Nike, the goddess of victory. Many monuments of ancient architecture have survived to this day on the Cote d'Azur.
2. In 1543, the washerwoman Catherine Seguran entered the history of Nice. During the siege of the city by pirates and the troops of Francis I, she, armed with a washing roller, killed an enemy soldier and took away his banner, after which, lifting her skirts, she showed her ass to the enemies. A street and one of the largest lyceums in Nice are named after Catherine Seguyuran.
3. In Nice, on the Promenade des Anglais, by a tragic accident, the famous dancer Isadora Duncan, the wife of Sergei Yesenin, died. She was strangled by a gas scarf wrapped around the axle of a car. A few minutes before her death, she told the assembled fans: "Goodbye friends, I'm going to glory."
4. Nice is home to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the most beautiful cathedral of the Orthodox Church outside of Russia. Unfortunately, it is surrounded by a high fence and you can enter there only at certain hours. Entrance to any Catholic church in Nice is free at any time. Doors are always open. Almost everywhere you can look at the frescoes, admire the interior decoration, take pictures.
5. Nice - Côte d'Azur Airport is one of the ten airports with the most breathtaking view during takeoff and landing. The airport is located within the city, so lovers of walking, not burdened with heavy suitcases, can safely walk to their hotel along one of the most beautiful and famous embankments in the world - the Promenade des Anglais.
6. Nice is a very calm and democratic city. Contrary to popular belief, millionaires don't walk the streets in Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior or drive around in Ferraris. Demonstrating wealth and status is considered indecent here.
7. You can admire all the attributes of a luxurious life during the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Formula 1 races, as well as at the height of the tourist season in the hottest summer months. But this has nothing to do with the inhabitants of Nice. In August, residents of the city usually go on vacation. Many cafes and shops popular among local residents are closed.
8. Russian millionaires spend their lives here behind high fences in villas and tinted car windows, and mostly only in the summer. You can easily crush a French millionaire's foot on the bus at any time of the year without knowing that it was a millionaire.
9. Russian tourists are always visible from afar: the girls do their best to hobble in high heels in expensive and uncomfortable shoes along the streets paved with paving stones or tiles. Men wear deliberately expensive shoes and watches. Or, on the contrary, they are too casually dressed, look extremely unsportsmanlike and appear in public places in swimming trunks and beach shoes. Most Russian tourists can be recognized by the expression of doom and tired disgust on their faces. They do not seem to rest, but do a grueling job called "rest on the Cote d'Azur."
10. Traffic jams in Nice are only in July and August. They are made by tourists. The rest of the year traffic is completely free. A ten-minute delay on the road causes panic and indignation among the French.
11. In France, you can drink alcohol while driving. Permissible rate is 0.5 ppm. This is a couple of beers, or two large glasses of wine, or one strong cocktail. If you rent a car, then you will carefully hang a list of alcoholic beverages on your rearview mirror that you can drink without fear of penalties. Usually road checks happen only during the summer tourist season. The rest of the time you will not notice the traffic police on the Cote d'Azur. The French have absolutely no sacred horror before the traffic police, however, as well as accidents.
12. Provence is historically the first region of France where they began to produce wine. Even 600 years before our era, the Greeks, who founded their cities on the coast, were engaged in viticulture and winemaking.
13. A bottle of decent wine in France costs about €3–5. Not uncommon wine for €1.50-2.50. This does not mean that the wine is bad. A rare Frenchman will buy a bottle of wine for more than €10–15. Only on special occasions. All French people prefer to drink young wines. There is no particular difference in the quality of wine for €3 and for €15. Exclusively a matter of taste.
14. In Nice, many people drink alcoholic drinks in the morning. Elderly ladies discussing the news over a glass of wine at 9 am, men reading the morning paper while drinking a cool draft beer or a glass of pastis - this is a common sight in Nice. No one sees in this something defiant or reprehensible. This is the norm. Strong drinks are not popular here. The stores have a large selection of vodka. The French sometimes buy it for parties to drink in a cocktail with ice and tonic. In the summer, mojito cocktails are very popular in coastal cafes. Often watermelon, melon, strawberries and other fresh fruits are added to it. You can order a non-alcoholic mojito.
15. A bottle of real French champagne can cost €15–20 in a supermarket. It's just that it won't be a world-famous brand like "Veuve Clicquot" or "Louis Roderer", but small family houses from Champagne, of those who do not want to spend money on advertising. For beverage production only.
Sparkling wines produced in France, but not in the province of Champagne, usually cost €3–7. They are also very tasty.
16. Nowhere in France are rose wines produced in such volumes as in Provence. They are common throughout the Cote d'Azur and are drunk in the heat, like water, often with ice. Rosé wine goes well with local cuisine, especially with fish and seafood.
17. Among the wines of Provence, several appellations with a fairly high rating should be noted: AOC Bandol, AOC Bellet, AOC Cassis. These wines are not inferior in quality to the most famous wines of France and will please any connoisseur of fine wines.
18. Nobody in Nice drinks tea. Everyone usually drinks coffee. If you see someone drinking tea, especially in the summer, they are most likely tourists from England.
19. French women never do anything special to hide their age or appear younger than their age. Every French woman believes that she is beautiful at any age. And it is true.
20. A French man may divorce his young wife in order to marry an older woman. He is looking for a companion and like-minded person, and not decorative design.
21. Bright Russian girls, repainted in blondes, in tight blouses, short skirts, daytime makeup and high heels, the French call "pupe rus" - which means "matryoshka".
22. No inhabitant of the Côte d'Azur will wear high-heeled shoes unless she is invited to a wedding or other celebration. And in this case, the heel will be average and as comfortable as possible. No one will expose themselves to discomfort in order to impress anyone or please a man.
23. Despite the huge number of world-famous couturiers and the status of one of the most luxurious resorts in the world, the inhabitants of Nice prefer sports shoes in everyday life, (sneakers or sneakers) from clothes - the simplest T-shirts and jeans that can be bought in stores for €15–20 . The collections of such clothes are very diverse and change almost every month, so you can safely buy the most fashionable things, wear them several times and immediately send them to the dustbin when a new collection appears. That's how everyone usually does it.
Fashionable and inexpensive clothing stores occupy entire streets in Nice, and the French are happy to walk around, looking at the windows and trying on the things they like. Often there are sales in stores where you can buy two items for the price of one, or with a 50-70% discount. Every French woman from childhood knows perfectly well what suits her and what does not. If she wants to emphasize the dignity of her figure or the color of her eyes - do not hesitate, you will notice it. You will notice the woman, not her clothes.
24. In the shops of Nice, where they sell the most expensive and prestigious clothes, there are always several Russian saleswomen. As a rule, they are very arrogant in front of their fellow citizens and try not to show that they are also Russian, although that is precisely what they work there for.
25. In Nice in winter, there are quite cold days when the wind blows and drizzles with unpleasant rain. The French will never put on a warm jacket, let alone a fur coat. They will cringe and wrap themselves in a long scarf up to their ears. In pharmacies, you can buy special sprays made from a mixture of eucalyptus and lavender essential oils, designed specifically to spray on a scarf. This is considered protection from the common cold.
26. Russian tourists can often be confused with tourists from Milan. They also dress too flashy. But the Italians are cheerful, and ours are always dissatisfied with something.
27. The waiter who cleaned your table or cleaned your dirty plates after you may well be the owner of the restaurant where you dine. In France, no one is ashamed of any work, often children on vacation or close relatives help their parents in a restaurant.
28. You should not sort out your relationship, swear or discuss people at neighboring tables, believing that no one here understands your Russian. Nice is a very Russian city. There is a good chance that you are heard and understood perfectly, even if everyone around you speaks French.
29. Thin as a reed, the Frenchwoman calmly copes alone with a whole pizza or a huge portion of spaghetti. After that, she will usually order a cake for dessert.
30. If you didn’t order dessert in a restaurant, after eating a voluminous hot dish, you will most likely be looked at with regret and sympathy. All French people have a sweet tooth, and the choice of desserts here can thrill any gourmet. Nobody denies themselves pleasure. After dessert, the French enjoy a small cup of coffee for a long time.
31. In Nice, it is customary to have lunch from 12:00 to 15:00. At this time, almost all institutions are closed for lunch, except for large shops and souvenir shops for tourists. If you had a meeting with a Frenchman at half past eleven, then instead of “goodbye”, they will most likely say “bon appetit”. At 13:00 there may not be a free table. There is a high probability that after 14:00 you will no longer be seated at a table, as the kitchen closes.
This applies, of course, only to the most fashionable places among the French. Naturally, with a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, no one will go hungry. The kitchen is great everywhere. But if you didn’t get somewhere, I advise you to remember this place. Surely you will like it so much that you will return there later more than once.
32. The French have dinner in the evening from 19:00 to 22:00. For those who get hungry at "off-hours" or for tourists there is always a cafe with continuous service. There, as elsewhere, you can eat very, very tasty, but self-respecting institutions, with a reputation and regular customers from all over the world, work only at lunch and dinner. This rule is. The French strictly follow it, which is probably why they always have a good appetite and a slender figure.
33. In France, it is not customary to tip too much. The receipt always states that the service is included in the price of the meal, so this is optional. Usually, for a dinner for two people, the French leave coins in the amount of €2–3 (approximately at the rate of €1 per €25 check). In the most luxurious restaurant, you can leave a €10–20 note, provided that you were very, very satisfied with everything. If you "throw" larger bills, this means, according to the Frenchman, that you do not know the value of money and, most likely, some kind of scammer. However, they will take a tip with gratitude, and your reputation is your personal concern.
34. You should never take a table covered with a tablecloth or napkin if you are not going to eat. If your plans include just a glass of wine or a glass of mineral water, always look for an unset table. If you didn’t find such a table, then you ended up in a restaurant, not a bar.
35. The French paradox is not fiction, it exists! You will hardly meet overweight people here. More likely to meet too thin.
36. All shops and many restaurants are closed on Sunday. On Monday, everything that worked on Sunday is closed.
37. The famous Provencal Marche de Fleur market in Nice, where peasants sell their fruits, flowers and vegetables daily, as well as mountain honey, fresh fish, olives, homemade cheeses, pâtés and sausages, closes at 12 noon. The brightest and most diverse market on Saturday and Sunday.
On Mondays, antique dealers and junk dealers display their merchandise on the Marche des Fleurs. Many connoisseurs of antiques come specially from other cities and countries to find rare old handicrafts, unique dishes, furniture and silverware on the market.
38. All French people are very friendly and polite. They always hold each other's door, men for women, women for men - it doesn't matter who is who. They address each other with a friendly smile. If, for example, someone dropped something or stumbled, half a street always rushes to the rescue. They genuinely ask if everything is in order, do you need any help? They will always help to collect scattered things or offer to go to the nearest cafe, seated on a chair to attach food if you hit. The entire staff of the cafe will also carefully fuss around the victim.
39. Nice clean and spacious public toilets. At the entrance you need to leave a coin of 50 centimes on a silver platter and say hello. Men's and women's booths may be located side by side or may not have gender distinctions at all. When you leave the toilet, the toilet attendant will thank you very much and wish you a good day. None of the French is embarrassed. They scatter in response in mutual gratitude. On Sunday, a public toilet located in a busy part of the city may well be closed for the weekend. This is not a problem, as the French use the toilets in cafes and bars. First, of course, you need to order a cup of coffee or a glass of mineral water.
40. If two passers-by who stare at the shop windows accidentally collide on the sidewalk, then the reaction will, as a rule, be merry laughter and many mutual jokes about the curiosity that has occurred.
41. Often strangers will say some kind words to you, for example, praise your hair or wink cheerfully, noticing that the weather is fine today. Not necessarily in this way a man flirts with a woman. A woman can say a compliment to a woman, a man can say nice words to a man. They are simply not afraid to “splash” a sea of positive emotions.
42. In France, it is customary to say hello wherever you go. In the elevator, with the neighbors on the floor, with the taxi driver, with the hotel maids, and of course with the waiters.
When you get on the bus, you need to say hello to the driver. Leaving the bus, it is customary to say “thank you” and “goodbye” to the driver. It is also advisable to say goodbye to the remaining passengers and wish everyone a pleasant journey. The exception is routes between Nice and Monaco or Nice and Cannes. There, as a rule, there are many tourists who do not know the rules of etiquette. But the French are always visible, because they do not make any exceptions for the courtesy. And tourists - they are wild, what can you take from them! They came and left.
43. Monaco is pronounced with the accent on the last syllable, just like any word in French.
44. If you say the word “Monaco” to the waiter in a bar or cafe, they will bring you draft beer, generously diluted with sweet grenadine syrup. This is a very popular drink in Nice.
45. Monaco is a 15-minute drive from Nice. A big part of what all tourists consider Monaco is the French city of Beausoleil (translated as "beautiful sun"). The city is constantly suing the authorities of Monaco for the fact that they are building more and more skyscrapers that obscure the inhabitants of Beausoleil sunlight, but so far to no avail.
46. If you are a fan of driving luxury cars, buying expensive jewelry from the most famous designers, picking up bright outfits lavishly decorated with rhinestones in your wardrobe, the cost of which can be several thousand euros, then you are in Monaco. This is not the case in Nice.
47. An ordinary person with an average income can afford lunch at any of the most luxurious restaurants on the Cote d'Azur. There is always a special seasonal menu or chef's dish of the day, which is quite a reasonable price.
48. The famous Monte Carlo Casino is a very pleasant and democratic place where you can drink champagne, place bets or just watch the game. Casino croupiers can pronounce the numbers and the phrase "bets are made" in Russian. When entering the casino, you may be asked to present your passport.
49. Most French people have a tender weakness for small dogs. In the market, in the supermarket, in cafes and restaurants, the dog always accompanies its owner. Most dogs in Nice walk without a leash, not trying to run away somewhere, they also know very well that you can’t run across the street at a red light, they behave calmly in a restaurant, dozing under the table, they never bark or pay attention to other dogs.
Many people in Nice take their dogs to work every day. You can always find a dog looking curiously at the clients of a barbershop, or sitting comfortably in the window of a small private fashion store. Many dogs are accustomed to ride with the owner in a basket attached somehow to the trunk of a motorcycle. The French Bulldog and Jack Russell breeds are very popular. Many have two or three dogs.
50. In Nice, you can taste hundreds of ice cream varieties, including such unusual ones as: violet, rose, cactus, chewing gum, avocado, poppy flower, chocolate with hot chili, as well as quite exotic ones - flavored with beer, tomato and black olives .
51. Nice has a huge number of bakeries. In addition to the French favorite baguette, you will be offered a large selection of different types of bread made from different types of flour. Also a lot of sweet pastries and confectionery. Often the bread is baked in a wood-fired oven. In every bakery you can find completely different types of bread. There is no yesterday's bread in France.
52. Most bakeries are equipped with special machines for receiving money. He accepts bills and gives change. Thus the seller of bread has no contact with coins and always remains with clean hands.
53. Nice is located on the border with Italy, so French and Provencal cuisine merges with Italian here. Many cafes, restaurants and shops are opened by Italian families who moved to live in France. You don't have to travel to Italy to taste authentic Italian cuisine. Nice has everything that Italians are proud of.
54. Hearing Italian in Nice is a common thing. Many French here speak Italian. In Italian cities on the border with France, all Italians speak French.
55. In Nice, you can't hail a taxi by voting with your hand from the pavement. There are special stands for taxis. If there is no car in the parking lot, then you need to call the number indicated on the sign. At the height of the tourist season, a taxi can arrive in an hour.
56. Many taxi drivers like to spend time in cafes, basking in the sun, drinking coffee, leafing through the newspaper and chatting with colleagues while you languish in the parking lot waiting for your car. They sincerely believe that you can’t earn all the money, and there is only one life, and you should enjoy it.
57. In recent years, Nice has received a huge number of immigrants from Muslim countries and former French colonies. They populate areas on the outskirts of the city. Many do not want to work and live on welfare. Every year there are more and more of them. Some work by begging. Five years ago, there was nothing like this in Nice. The French are very tolerant of them.
58. In Nice, people have a very poor idea of what rudeness is. Unceremonious immigrants take full advantage of this. They actively shove everyone with their elbows, climb into the bus or the supermarket cashier, not wanting to let anyone go ahead. The Frenchman in this case apologizes embarrassedly and steps aside. Illegals and homeless people who spend the night on the streets are not at all afraid of the police, because the police are very polite and attentive. They ask them to leave the place of spending the night, they snarl and bicker, then reluctantly leave, but after another hour they return to their favorite place again. Sometimes you can see a picture of how the French are trying to carefully raise a drunken homeless person who has collapsed in the middle of the sidewalk.
59. On tourist trips, in transport and on cheerful gatherings in cafes, you will often meet the French with newborn babies. They do not believe that the appearance of a child should somehow change or limit their life.
60. The people in Nice are very cheerful. The usual picture is workers singing songs, repairing the sidewalk, waiters in a cafe, sellers in the market. Even people in such traditionally serious professions as police officers, border guards, customs officers and bank employees are constantly playing pranks and jokes with each other. They can frolic and laugh like children in the middle of the "work process". Any resident of Nice always answers them with a smile, laughter and a return joke.
61. In expressing mournful feelings, on the contrary, the French are very restrained. At the funeral, no one sobs loudly, everyone quietly talks with the usual friendly and calm faces.
62. The tourist word “souvenir”, which is familiar to us, is often written on the gravestone of the deceased. It means "memory".
63. The French tend to speak English well. They were taught at school much better than us. Hearing an accent or feeling embarrassed on your part, they immediately switch to fluent English. An exception can only be a Frenchman from the hinterland.
64. The British are very reserved. No one will show it openly, but since the British are often stiff and dismissive, the French can respond in the same way.
65. A normal chicken in France costs about €3. Often in supermarkets there are offers of three chickens for the price of two or the second one is free. For €3-4 you can buy hot grilled chicken. But since France is a country of gourmets, here you can also buy chicken for your pleasure for €12 and even €25.
Such a chicken was raised in special conditions in the open air, walked all its life somewhere in beautiful mountains or valleys. She ate only organic, healthy products for chicken health and was surrounded by the gentle care and attention of the farmer. Naturally, the taste of such a bird is incomparably higher. No one saves on delicious products here. The same can be said about meat.
66. Such primordially, in our opinion, Russian products as jelly, herring, bacon, pancakes, Olivier salad - all these are common dishes of French or Italian cuisine, they just have different names. They are sold everywhere in supermarkets and small shops similar to our "culinary" The real "Doctor's" sausage, kvass and "Baltika" beer can be bought in Russian stores.
67. The French grow sturgeons and make their own caviar. It costs less than Russian and is in no way inferior to it.
68. The French have their own Easter, Forgiveness Sunday, Maslenitsa and Victory Day. Often they are sincerely surprised that we also have such holidays in Russia.
69. Holidays dedicated to the memorable dates of the Patriotic and First World Wars happen in Nice almost every month. An orchestra is playing, veterans are marching in awards, laying flowers at the monuments of the dead, the mayor of the city delivers a solemn speech. Veterans and their memory are greatly honored here. Near monuments and in city parks, festive tables are often set for veterans.
70. The French on the Cote d'Azur love and know how to arrange all kinds of holidays and large-scale events. In addition to the well-known Cannes Film Festival and Formula 1 races in Monaco, the Côte d'Azur hosts the Violets Festival, the Rose Festival and the Jasmine Festival. Tons of fresh flowers are used in the design of the streets and festive processions.
Also held annually is the Bread Festival, the Truffle Festival, the holidays of the patron saints of the city, the international festival of fireworks and fireworks, the International Jazz Festival, the Gastronomy Salon, the Chocolate Salon, the Italian Food Fair and much more. Throughout the year, concerts of the most famous world performers and prestigious sports competitions are held.
71. In July and August, you can watch fireworks and fireworks almost every day. In addition to the international fireworks festival, many tourists organize private parties in their villas and hotels. They celebrate their weddings and birthdays here. Celebrations usually end with colorful fireworks.
72. From mid-February to early March, the annual Carnival takes place in Nice, which is not inferior in its beauty to the famous carnival in Rio.
73. A ticket to the famous Nice Opera costs €10–20 and is freely sold at the Opera box office. No one specially dresses up for performances, does not wear high-heeled shoes and family jewels. People come to enjoy art, not to demonstrate themselves.
74. The mayor of Nice walks freely around the city and shakes hands with people he knows.
75. Nice organizes special open days when you can visit the prefectural palace, the old castle, which is a closed military air defense facility, and other places that are usually closed to tourists. In the event that these places are monuments of architecture and history, it is free for everyone.
76. In terms of the number of museums, Nice is second only to Paris.
77. Residents of Nice are very caring and attentive to the elderly. Old people, in turn, are always invigorated, never "put pressure on pity." They may be offended by an attempt to give them a seat in transport. It's not very common here.
Any elderly Frenchman until his last days tries to lead a full life: dine in restaurants, drink wine, go to the market and take walks along the embankment. A French grandmother well over 70 can meticulously choose a lace bikini in a store.
78. In January and February, it can rain for several days in a row without stopping. At the same time, in good weather during these months you can see a lot of people sunbathing on the beaches. Some swim in the sea.
79. The beaches in Nice are pebbly. If you prefer sand, then it is better to stop your choice of place to stay in the cities of the Côte d'Azur neighboring Nice.
80. Near Nice there is a technopolis "Sofia - Antinopolis". It is called the French Silicon Valley. This is a full-fledged city with modern residential areas, hotels, lyceums, educational centers and several higher educational institutions. It employs more than 30 thousand people, revenue from innovations in the field of electronics, pharmacology and biotechnology - more than €5 billion, which exceeds the revenue from tourism on the Cote d'Azur.
