Restoration in Nice, France

After two full winters in London, I quickly realized that the weather is not the problem.  I don't much mind the rain.  It's the darkness that really gets to me.  Six hours of sunlight is not enough for this Texas girl.  (At what age must I stop referring to myself as a girl?)  Luckily, it doesn't last that long and we're rewarded with really long sunny days in the summer.  

Matt is very sympathetic, as I think it gets to him, too.  Our solution is to "get the hell outta Dodge."  By January, it's time to book a flight South to warmer temps in search of some sunshine. 

Pasty, white Brits have been retreating to Nice, France in the winter since the 18th Century.  The Promenade Des Anglais is named so because of the British uppercrust that would stroll along the beach with their top hats, corsets and parasols.  Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill would often winter along the French Riviera.  In fact, doctors would prescribe a visit to Nice and its warmer climate as a cure for many health problems. 

A weekend in this health resort was just what the doctor ordered for this pasty, white American.  With 300 days of sunshine a year, we had a good chance of getting just what we were looking for. 

Nice is the 5th largest city in France and the 2nd most visited.  I'm sure you can guess the first.  As one of the jewels of the Cote d'Azur it sits sparkling on the southeast coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea. 

We spent the weekend like we do on most of our city break weekends, strolling and exploring.  Taking lots of photographs and enjoying the scenery.  We take our time and don't cram too much in. We enjoyed long leisurely cafe meals, stopping whenever we wanted for a glass of wine and some people watching.  Nice is the perfect place for this.  

Don't expect sand beaches, these beaches are like the ones you find in the UK, full of smooth round rocks washed down from the rivers. I love the sound of a pebble beach.

The thing that struck me the most about Nice was the lighting and the colors for the views.  It seemed to constantly change as if in the middle of a kaleidoscope.  The special lighting of Nice has attracted such artists as Matisse, Renoir and Picasso. 

I couldn't take my eyes off of the sea, sometimes a moody blue grey, other times a bright turquoise blue that seemed to be lit from below as if the sun was shining underneath rather than above. 

At sunset it was as if a million sparkling Swarovski crystals were floating on the surface, twinkling furiously before the light faded.  There is nothing so marvelous and ever changing as the sea.  

I'm completely sold on the healing power of sun and warmth.  But I think the real healing power of Nice and the French Riviera is found in this beautiful blue expanse. 

Where do you run away to for restoration?

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