Ever since I was a child I can remember
the French Riviera as being synonymous with luxury and glamor. It
was the place where royalty and movie stars went to vacation. It was
also the location for numerous films including Hitchcock's “To
Catch A Thief” and several James Bond movies.
It wasn't until I first went there
that I realized why this place attracts people who could go anywhere
in the world. It is simply a beautiful combination of sea, mountains
and charming looking towns. The light is soft, not too harsh. The
weather is mild, not too hot and not too cold. A really nice
combination.
Since it is on the sea, the French
Riviera is a good cruise destination. There is no single large port.
Rather, the ships now call at several different ports along the Cote
d”Azur.
From any one of these ports, it is not
difficult to explore the attractions of the area.
Nice is known as the capital of the
French Riviera. It is the largest city. However, it is a pretty
town with lots of Belle Epoch architecture from the days when it was
the place where European royalty and aristocrats came to spend the
winter. And there is its long seaside promenade, Promenade des
Anglasis, where everyone goes for some relaxation by the sea. Our
photo briefing about Nice is at
Monaco may be the world's second
smallest country but it is one of the richest per capita. Set by the
sea at the base of sheer cliffs, not surprisingly, it looks like all
urban centers would like to look. And since it is so compact, it is
easy to get around and see the sights and visit the luxury hotels and
shops. Our page about Monaco is at
http://www.beyondships3.com/monaco.html
Not all th attractions of the French
Riviera are in big cities. St Paul de Vence is a walled-village
perched a top a hill. It looks much the way it has looked for
centuries i.e. the way it looks in the paintings done by various
masters over the years. The village does attract a lot of tourists
but it is still possible to walk its narrow Medieval streets and be
entirely charmed. Our photo briefing on St. Paul de Vence is at
http://www.beyondships3.com/st-paul-de-vence.html
One of the most frequented ports on
the Riviera is a small town that does not even have a dock where
modern cruise ships can dock. Instead, passengers tender into town
from the ships anchored in the bay. But it is a beautiful bay. And
the town itself has a small town charm that makes it attractive to
wander. Our photo page on cruise port Ville Franche is at
http://www.beyondships3.com/cruise-port-villefranche.html