Explore the South of France

The south of France is a collection of adorable towns lining the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The streets are clean, the stores are posh, and the food was to die for. We flew into Nice and took the train to our Airbnb, which was just a block away from the sea. I made sure to take pictures at every #ILoveNice sign because I really do love Nice. After dropping our bags off and changing into flowy skirts, we stopped at Garden Café for brunch. The ambiance was light and full of nature, making it a perfect first place to eat. I ordered the breakfast bagel with avocado, tomatoes, and eggs, which was incredible! My friends ordered different variations of shakshuka, and they loved it. No brunch is complete without an iced latte, which was refreshing and rare for Europe because iced drinks are scarce.

We then strolled through Jardin Alsace Lorraine, admiring the beautiful fountains, nature, statues, palm trees, and very well-groomed dogs. We made our way to the beach with crystal blue water and I was so excited to see the iconic blue and white stripped umbrellas. We then wandered to the main square, situated around the Fontaine du Soleil. The town was beautiful, with bright-colored buildings and fascinating architecture. We stumbled upon an adorable farmers market, and the fruit was quite literally glowing with freshness. As we kept wandering, from a distance we spotted a waterfall, so we decided to head towards it. We climbed several stairs to finally reach the Colline du Château. The viewpoint was incredible - you could see the entire city of Nice and beyond. The waterfall was stunning, and it was a nice little park to walk around in.

After spending a few hours at the park, we needed a mid-day pick me up, so we went on a hunt for gelato. We found a hole-in-the-wall gelato shop, with homeade gelato and a wide variety of flavors. I got a cup of white chocolate with pistachio butter, and I was nearly salivating. For dinner we went to a French wine bar called Le Vingt4. The restaurant was adorable and very chic. We had incredible wine, a flaming brie cheese appetizer, and for dinner I ordered carbonara pasta with a runny egg on top - devine! For dessert we split a crème brûlée, and they lit it on fire at our table. Between the interactive plates and the amazing service, this restaurant is a 10/10. After dinner we walked along the beach to Waka Bar for some drinks. Though it was a small venue, it was packed and the drinks were great. Our first day in Nice set the bar high for the rest of the trip.

Day 2 started out with another amazing brunch at Edmond Café.  The food and vibes were excellent. We then hopped on a short train ride to Èze, a small village in between Nice and Monaco. We had to walk through the entire village, uphill not to mention, in order to reach the exotic garden. The village was sooo beautiful, and it was full of hand-painted artwork, jewelry, and trinkets. Once we arrived to the garden, I was speechless. It was probably one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen in all of Europe. The water was so blue and bright, the abundance of cacti were tall, and the flowers were vibrant and beautiful. What a gorgeous garden and even better photo spot! There was even another mini waterfall. I grabbed a quick croissant and latte to go before hopping back on the train to Monaco.

Our first stop in Monaco was the infamous casino! First casino I have ever been to, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I ordered an espresso martini while I played the slots. Unfortunately, I lost 20 euros but I still had a great time. For dinner, we went to Giacomo, and I could rave all day about this place. The ambiance was ADORABLE and I just knew the food would be great, which it was. We split focaccia for an appetizer, and for my main meal, I ordered thick noodle pesto pasta with smoked stracciatella and candied tomatoes. This restaurant is a MUST if you are in Monaco. We then headed back to Nice and called it a night.

For our last morning in Nice, we went to a little cafe for crepes. I got a ham and cheese crepe with both goat and cow milk - amazing. I also had my last French latte before heading to the airport and flying back to Barcelona. French Riviera...you will be missed.