Traveling across the French Riviera in 8 days – a Cote d’Azur Adventure in France & Monaco
Dear friends… and dear Older Me… Remember the time… when we visited the French Riviera back in 2025? One of us dreamt about visiting as many of the towns along the Cote d’Azur
as we could. In a little over a week. I… I was happy to be a part of that dream, witness it come true. We’ve seen the beauty of these places
with our own eyes. We’ve enjoyed these happy days together…
and captured these moments for later… Because they were real! And we existed! And this video is ours… forever. To remember. If our memories start to fade,
or if we ever start to doubt they happened in the first place. So I’m turning those adventures now…into reminders. After months
of planning ahead for this trip, we decided to book three Airbnbs
that would serve as our quote unquote- “headquarters”, each for about three nights,
respectively, and to visit not only the town we were staying in,
but some other nearby locations as well that were easily reachable
via train or bus. The first Airbnb we booked was in Nice,
near Port Lympia, close to Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, not to mention the airport. The second one was in Beausoleil,
right next to Monaco, within walking distance
from the Monte-Carlo casino. So close to Monaco, in fact,
that we thought we were staying in Monaco, really. RMonaco being close to Menton to
the east and is to the west. And finally, our third Airbnb for
this adventure was in Cannes. Remember our walk towards the Promenade
des Anglais on the 5th of July? We started from Port Lympia in the heart of the city,
admiring the many boats docked there. We looked at the colorful buildings
across the street, warm colors: reds… yellows… oranges… Their warm palettes contrasting all the greens
and blues of nature. Palm trees were showing us the way to the beach. We passed by the Monument of the Fallen
on Rauba Capeu at the foot of the Chateau Hill,
which we planned to visit later that day. The monument pays tribute to the people of Nice,
who died during the First World War. It’s 32m high, built in the 1920s, dug
straight into the rock. We could smell the salt
and hear the seagulls among the bits of conversation
strangers had as we passed by them. We found the “I Love Nice” sign next and kept glancing towards the calm sea. It was calm indeed that day,
and more or less for our entire trip, actually. Remember how we climbed
the stairs of Colline du Château, my dude? Apparently there is a lift, but we were “running up that hill
with no problems”. I just had to make that joke. I’m sorry. The stairs we climbed
are apparently called the Lesage stairs. We made sure to stop at every point
that offered great views over the Bay of Angels. The first one
being the terrace on top of the Bellanda Tower. Where a street musician played
his guitar. As people enjoyed the panorama. Climbing further up the stairs, we found ourselves in the park
on top of the hill. The park was created in 1822,
more than a century after the chateau itself was destroyed
in 1706 by the troops of Louis XIV. We were looking for the waterfall
that was built here at the end of the 19th century. When we found it, people were chilling at its pool and seagulls at its stop. Remember the panorama
from this side of the park as well? We couldn’t stay long though, as the sun was setting
and the park was closing at 8 p.m. but it was enough. In our search for a place
to have dinner later that evening, we explored another part of the city,
Place Massena, with its red buildings
that were accentuated by the sunset, contrasted with the black and white
checkered pavement and decorated by the Fountain of the Sun,
with Apollo’s statue. Remember those interesting statues
placed on top of pillars as we walked across the square there, ten meters above the ground, there’s a total of seven of them,
and apparently they represent the seven continents
and communication between them. Titled “Conversation in Nice”, created
by the Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. I remember when we first saw them, we were in awe. Unfortunately, the birds will be birds up there. We continue to explore. Place Massena, taking in the views of sunset lit streets, “red” and “checkered” remaining the keywords all along. Oh, but at night! I was not expecting them to be illuminated
when the night falls. Glad we came back the same way after dinner so we could witness
their randomly changing colors, which I have read
are meant to suggest exchanges of dialog between them, further
emphasizing the title of the artwork. Too bad I was a bit tipsy and couldn’t get better
shots of them at night, even after I got separated from
you guys for a bit when I stopped the film. One of you
never let me hear the end of it! I was still new to this camera as well. Remember, Villefranche-sur-Mer? We went there on Sunday the 6th of July. We took a bus there from Nice. Remember our morning stroll around the citadel? We found out about it
when one of us asked about local attractions at the tourism center
in front of the bus station. The Saint-Elme Citadel was built
in the XVI century by order of the Duke of Savoy,
Emmanuel Philibert, to serve as a defensive unit
against assaults from the sea. The city council bought it in 1965, and today the citadel houses the city Hall and the cultural center
for museums, exhibitions and events. Remember the impressive military
architecture? It’s an early example of a bastioned
fortification in Europe. The day was perfectly nice and sunny as we entered the citadel. Inside, going through medieval passageways, we were welcomed by its warmly colored
courtyards. Remember the wonderful garden we stumbled upon? The small turret at its edge with the colorful tiles
showed us incredible views of the sea through its openings. Another breathtaking panorama awaited us when we exited the citadel
at its main gates, and crossed its bridge. Remember how we walked across
narrow streets with warmly colored buildings? Up and down sets of stairs, catching glimpses of the sea. As we were looking for La Rue Obscure – The Dark Street. Remember the medieval atmosphere it created? Located in the old town of Villefranche, with a length of about 130m, it dates back to the 14th century, and along the years
it had defensive and strategic purposes, allowing for better
maneuvering of soldiers. After that, the beach was calling us and we longed for a dip on that hot
summer day. We passed along the harbor and looked at boats, seaside restaurants, and the mountains surrounding the coast. There were flowery walls
at the edge of a sandy beach, a lively magenta adding even more color
to an already colorful landscape. And on top of these walls,
we kept noticing the trains passing by
as we enjoyed our time in the warm water. Remember that crab you found on our way back
from the beach, my dude? It was on that lower step
just below the sidewalk. Then we saw some other crabs around to. Remember how we thought we’d only have time to visit
Villefranche that day? But in the afternoon at around 3 p.m., we realized we could actually visit Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, as well. So we made our way to the bus station. Climbing some steps surrounded by lush vegetation. So, another bus ride later we were in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. remember our hike
along the coast of the peninsula? We let the Sentier du Littoral guide us, as we enjoyed the changes
in our surroundings, from areas shaded by the forest to a narrow pathway
guarded by bushes and branches, twisting and turning, to sing the song of Sea
and Mountain. The waves were breaking on
the rocks just below our path. We stopped to look at them here and there. As we were catching up
on each other’s lives. The path
let us all the way to a pebbly beach, where we relaxed after our hike
and went for a quick dip. We stayed there until the sun went down, absorbed the views, created memories. Then we made our way back to Nice. Once in Monaco,
we left our luggage at our Airbnb and went out to explore the city. We were at the 15 minute walk away from the famous Monte
Carlo casino. Remember how busy that square
was during the day? We admired the casino’s architecture
for a bit, knowing we’d returne
after we found something to eat. I couldn’t pass by these amazing cars
without filming them Of course. Even though I’m not a big car
guy, normally. Remember how many such luxury cars
we’ve seen out on the roads of Monaco? And besides the cars,
remember the diversity of architecture we’ve seen that day?
From new, tall buildings to houses and
structures with rich history, as well as a well-maintained or renovated aspect. We passed by the Saint Charles Church, the Renaissance style church commissioned by Prince Charles III, at the end of the XIX century. The same prince who built the casino. After lunch, we returned to the casino, as promised and went for a relaxing walk around it, exploring as much of the area as we could and taking in the majestic architecture
of this historic building. The first casino in the area was built in the 1860s
by order of the Prince of Monaco, Charles III, and later, in 1878, the Casino was expanded and redesigned by the architect
Charles Garnier in the Belle-Epoque style that we see today,
with its rich ornamentation. Interestingly, Monegasque citizens
are forbidden by law to play at the casino. Across the street from the casino
and along the shoreline, we rested for a bit in this nice park. Then we made our way to the Prince’s
Palace. We got to see the harbor
and more of the urban landscape of the city, painted with its rich architecture, sculptures, and greenery. Its streets well-kept and neat. Remember when we arrived to the palace On top of Le Rocher de Monaco
or the Rock of Monaco? I’ve read that this rocky area
on the side of Port Hercules is the oldest part of Monaco. And that legend says the demigod Hercules stopped by here during his journeys, hence the name of the port. The palace dates back to the year 1215 and it has undergone many changes
along the centuries. The princely family is still living here. Remember the statue of Francois Grimaldi
we saw in the courtyard? I read that one night in 1297, Francois Grimaldi came to the fortress disguised as a Franciscan monk, hiding his weapons
under his cloak, and took over the Rock. We had some great views overlooking the port
and the city in the distance from here, and while still on the rock, we found ourselves on narrow streets
full of souvenir shops. We continued to admire the architecture. And visited the cathedral Notre-Dame Immaculaee. Built in 1875, in a Roman Byzantine style, the cathedral serves
as a final resting place for several members of the royal family. Remember how we sat down on a bench
for a bit here, and watch the sea and the seagulls, As the sun was starting to set? Then we started to descend from Le
Rocher, taking in as much of the panorama
as we could. We had dinner, and then… discovered Monaco at night
as well. On Tuesday the 8th of July,
we took the train from Gare de Monaco and went to the town of Menton. Remember when we discovered
they were famous for their lemons? We then went on our search
for a great lemonade and found ourselves in a street
full of souvenir shops and boutiques, offering all sorts of products
based on lemons and lavender. “Prends ton temps” is a phrase
I’ve learned that day from those of you who speak French. It means “Take your time!”. And it was quite fitting for that day
in Menton. We took our sweet time
browsing the souvenir shops and staying at the beach
and walking around the town. We’ve got separated for a bit
before walking along the Promenade du Soleil. But we got reunited at the Menton sign on the beach. The beach there was excellent. And the bustling restaurants
and pubs across from it, were full of life. Remember Les Rampes Saint Michel? also known as Les Escaliers Jaune or Yellow stairs, this monument
dates back to the XVIII century. The upper part of it, at least. I’ve read that the lower part, below Rue Long, was destroyed
during the Second World War and was later restored. The stairs offer some nice views as they are
just a short walk away from the beach. Remember the nice, warm tones that surrounded us
as we were climbing them? Or the historic buildings
that awaited us at the top? The Basilica of Saint-Michel Archange
being one of them. Built in the XVII century. “Prends ton temps”
remained our motto for that day, until it was time to go back to Monaco. It was on Wednesday the 9th of July that we visited
the medieval village of Eze, perched high on the mountain
above the Mediterranean Sea. Remember how easy it was to let ourselves get lost on the narrow
cobbled streets of Eze? With its stairs leading up and up, surrounded by stone walls ornated by colorful flowers
and greenery. And lively boutiques. Art gallery, after art gallery, after art gallery. Or the occasional cafe and hotel or restaurant. It was full of life and wonder! Remember the Exotic Garden? I read that it’s located on the site
of an ancient medieval fortress that was destroyed in 1706. We’ve seen the multitude of plant species it offers, including cacti, succulents, yuccas, aloes and lots of exotic plants
from all over the world, as well as the statues placed among the rich vegetation. Positioned 429m above the sea, the garden offers
one of the best panorama on the Riviera, and we made sure to take our time and enjoy the views. We saw the XVIII century church from the top as well. Remember our plan for that day? We took a bus from Monaco to Eze, up on the mountainside. And after visiting the village that day, we wanted to take Nietzsche’s
path down to Eze-sur-Mer, and go to the beach there. Nietzsche’s path connects
Eze village from up on the mountainside with Eze-sur-Mer,
all the way down along the coast, in the form of a hiking trail
that takes about an hour. As we were chatting and laughing
and trying to watch our steps here and there among the rocks and branches, we stumbled upon a footpath sign that was unexpectedly…
even bizarrely…fitting in that moment. “If “man is a bridge for man”, his super humanity is found in
his friendships.” is what I found myself reading out loud, feeling
both weirded out by what I was saying, and pleasantly surprised by the strange
timing of its appearance. I’ve never read
any of Nietzsche’s work yet, even though I was holding this book
for the sake of videography. It was brought by one of you guys,
and you were still reading it back then. I have only later learned
about his philosophy that the way we are
now as human beings is not a final form, not an end, but a bridge or rope, a transitional form between an animal
and a superhuman, or “ubermensch”, a future, evolved, higher version of a human –
which can be interpreted as a yearning for personal growth and becoming the best
possible version of ourselves. The way I wanted to interpret that quote in my head then, and the way I interpret it now as well, is that true friends can help each other
reach their full potential. Back then, however, I didn’t know for sure
what to think of it. And yet, standing in front of that sign
with all of you reading that one phrase out loud,
then continuing to walk the same path together just felt… and still feels… indeed… superhuman… Remember Eze-sur-Mer? With that train station we passed by near the beach,
or that restaurant we hopped in briefly that night
after I was stung by a jellyfish during my swim? We admired the sea at nights, and those little lemon trees
in front of the restaurant. Then we took the bus back to Monaco. After saying goodbye to our Airbnb from near Monaco,
we continued our journey to Cannes by train on Thursday
the 10th of July. Instead of a lockbox
we were used to, the keys to our Airbnb there, were left with some shop owners
a few streets away from the apartment. So we split up. Some of us went to pick up the keys,
while the rest of us waited near the apartment
with all of our luggage. Remember how hungry we were afterwards?
We ended up grabbing some of the finest local delicacies
and eating on the beach. We ate our fill of fried chicken, took a nap, went in for a dip
and just hung out till the sun was starting to set. After that, we kept walking along the shore,
crossing yet another nice port area and stumbling upon a panorama wheel. We kept exploring the busy streets of Cannes. Admiring the architecture,
as the streetlights were starting to turn on for the evening. We were in the old town of Cannes, in the heart of Le Suquet district. Remember the church of Notre-Dame d’Espérance from the top of the hill? The church was completed in 1641, but on that evening
it was illuminated by a decorative purply-blue ambient light,
that was just starting to come to life, despite the persistence
of the last remains of daylight. In its courtyard, an unexpected jazz concert awaited us. “Oh I see the love. I see the light, shinning for you…” We wandered around,
listening to the nice music, the band enhancing the purply-blue
atmosphere with their instruments, the singers voice echoing
harmoniously between those ancient walls. Remember the panorama from there? And the full moon? “Life… is… a… long… road…” Outside the courtyard, from the top of an outer wall,
we enjoyed a different angle of the city at night. Near the church, we saw the remnants
of a medieval monastery, which currently houses
the Museum of World Explorations. Leaving jazz and blues behind, we continued our evening walk, looking for a place to have dinner, then called it a night. On Friday the 11th of July, some of us wanted to rent some kayaks
and go to the island of Sainte Marguerite,
while others wanted to take the ferry there. So after splitting up
and being unsuccessful in renting the kayaks –
because of the wind that they… allegedly – we took the ferry to the island as well. We remained separated and ended up exploring Ile Sainte Marguerite
all day, Enjoying the rich vegetation, foresty areas and the medieval castle. After a quick swim, we took the last ferry back to Cannes. On the last full day of our Riviera trip on Saturday,
the 12th of July, we finally managed to rent some kayaks! Remember
what an adventure that was, my dude? Too bad I couldn’t risk my camera getting wet. But hopefully these words and
some of your photos will make up for it. After kayaking to the southern shore
of Sainte Marguerite Island, we snorkeled for a bit,
looking for some underwater statues there. The statues are part of Jason deCaires Taylor’s first underwater museum
from the Mediterranean Sea, and depict faces of people
from Cannes with varying ages. We found two out of the six statues, and I’ll never forget the sight
of that school of small fish swimming close to the eye of one of the big statue
heads, about 3 to 5 meters beneath us. That night marked the end of our Riviera adventure,
and one of us even had to leave earlier that morning. The rest of our group
enjoyed a relaxing evening, and we found a place to eat
some well-deserved protein. As I sat there in front of a restaurant somewhere
in the Port of Cannes on the last evening, waiting for my food… sipping my beer… listening to your cheerful back-and-forths… while gazing at a palm tree’s leaves
fluttering in the wind… I couldn’t help but think: “it might not get any better than this…” I was overwhelmed by how lucky I was… to have you guys… and how much we’ve experienced together. Life… can be cruel. It can. It was. It will be. But whatever may come, this… is a Reminder that we were truly happy, at least for a bit. And if I can promise you nothing else, I can at least promise you this: We lived. We lived! With everything we had, we lived! We lived. Thank you.
This is the story of that time my friends and I visited the French Riviera.
This is also the first video on this channel. If you like this style of videos… this is a reminder…to subscribe for more adventures! 🙂
We’ve visited Nice, Monaco, Eze, Menton, Cannes and some other places too!
It does take a while to make these videos, and of course, they highly depend on whether or not I’m going on a trip. But I hope you can stick around. The next video is already in the making.
#travel #frenchriviera #adventure
0:00 – Intro
0:58 – So, the plan:
01:05 – Nice, France
06:26 – Villefranche – sur- Mer, France
11:00 – Saint – Jean – Cap – Ferrat, France
12:07 – Monaco
16:44 – Menton, France
19:27 – Eze, France
22:32 – Nietzsche’s Path, Eze, France
24:31 – Eze-sur-Mer, France
25:00 – Cannes, France
29:28 – Cannes & Ile Sainte-Marguerite
31:07 – Cannes, France – last day
32:26 – A Reminder