I hadn’t seen my passport since my last trip a year ago, when my daughter told me one day out of the blue that I needed it. Thankfully, after searching the house upside down I finally found it squashed between the bookshelf and the wall.  The feeling of relief was magnificent as was the surprise – a birthday trip to the French Riviera.

The 2-hour flight from London revealed breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views of the South of France, which I had seen in the 1955 film To Catch a Thief , but it didn’t prepare me for the real thing. 

We landed in a hot, sticky and bustling Nice, famous for its Promenade des Anglais, (the Walkway of the English). It was given its name because the British aristocracy of the 1800s liked to spend their winters in the town and would walk along this long 7 km (4.3 miles) pathway which extends along the Mediterranean coast. 

In addition to the usual sites, we were fortunate to visit a Nice rarely seen by tourists. Thanks to a friend  who lives locally, we discovered the town’s thriving Black business community in and around Rue Pertinax. Among them were Madame Janet Ofori, a hairdresser, who shared her journey from Ghana to Nice and young entrepreneur Madame Arame Diop [Missarame], whose hair product business is quickly expanding.

Our base was the reasonably priced Best Western Riviera & Spa hotel in Nice. The £604 all-in package holiday only afforded us breakfast on the first morning of our 4-day tripwhich also included Cannes and Monaco. Consisting of the usual ‘cheap hotel’ assortment of stale French patisseries and over-milked soggy scrabble eggs and bacon, it was not the usual morning fare I enjoy. Still, my daughter was delighted that the McDonalds was never far away, where we only had to ask for burgers to be ‘bien cuit’  to ensure a ‘happy meal’ eating experience.

The train to Cannes revealed more picturesque, stunning views. I was so relaxed and wanted to sleep, but I didn’t dare close my eyes for fear of missing any of the incredible sights around me.

Famous for its film festival, Cannes was like a ‘little Hollywood’ with its handprints of actors immortalized on steel plaques in front of Palais des Festivals. They included Meryl Streep, David Lynch and Ben Kingsley to name a few.  

We browsed the luxury shops along the well-known street, each window more spectacularly adorned than the next. Lunch at the Carlton Hotel’s Rüya Cannes Restaurant was pricey but excellent, with elegant decor and views of palm-lined streets and the ocean.

During our meal, a distressed waiter interrupted my reverie, gently admonishing that “your handbag should not be on the floor.” He swiftly rescued it, pulling out a folded wooden stool and gently placing my second-hand Louis Vuitton handbag on it.  I smiled to myself -The French…

The train from Nice to Monaco, the next day, was less than an hour’s ride.  Large picture windows on both sides of the train again revealed spectacular views.  

In the small municipality where over 40% of residents are millionaires, everything is beautiful – the people, the architecture, the views, the opulent cars. The average rent per square metre is about £45,000 (50,000 euros) per month, but there is no income tax. 

We took a short walk to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, which was smaller than I had imagined, though perched up on a hill.  The palace has been continuously occupied by the Grimaldi family since 1297 when François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, sought shelter  there. On obtaining entry he murdered the guard, whereupon his men appeared and captured it. 

One cannot visit Monaco without having a little flutter at the renowned Casino Royale and we didn’t resist. We dropped a few euros into the one arm bandit machine, crossing our fingers that the whirl of the brightly coloured fruit motifs would hopefully roll into a winning line. Success! We walked away with 40 euros.

There’s so much more to see than we could in four days, like St Nicholas Monaco Cathedral where famed actress Grace Kelly married the country’s ruler, Prince Louis Rainier III in 1956, or Formula One motor racing at the Monaco Grand Prix, or even a guided boat tour to Mala caves with a stop in Villefranche. 

So, you see, there’ll be lots to do when I come back to my newest happy place. Just have to make sure that I keep my passport handy!

Information:-

Flight price: £604 includes 3 nights/ Best Western Hotel (low season)

Website: https://www.britishairways.com/ 

Travel Agency:  British Airways Holidays 

Telephone:  [BA]0344 493 0787