Budget Coté D'azur

Cote D'azur - France

Thomsonfly - Nice to Coventry

Thomsonfly operate a number of services from Cov. Spawn of a much larger fish Thomson (TUI), the service on board is much the same as you would expect from an large operator. The toilets were smelling a bit, but that disappeared when we got going.

Coventry airport is the preverbial shed in a field.
From airport, was directed to small village bus stop where I waited for an hour for a bus to Cov.

In summing up: The extent of local amenities was limited, but the price for the flight was under £40.
Like Ryanair, Thomsonfly have slashed their overheads. If you don't mind a little extra travelling, or in my case waiting around, these are the flights for you.

FlyBe - Birmingham to Perpignan

FlyBe operate what they call a local network, basing their business model on cheap regular flights. An alternative to other modes of transport for scheduled travellers.

It was the first time I'd been on a FlyBe flight and I was impressed that I didn't have to walk across the runway, you could pay with plastic, and you didn't have to queue for boarding as seats were issued at check in. All advantages over the competition, Easyjet, Ryanair et. al.

Flying conditions were more or less perfect.

It was one of the planes with propellors and having a window seat looking out I could watch the propellor spinning if I got bored, (bit like the washing machine only faster).

Would fly with them again, I think their prices could be lower though.

Budget Coté D'azur - Costs Summary

Here is a summary of the costs you can expect to pay. I have used my experiences as an example, these are not always representative of truely the cheapest, you will always find cheaper if you want to work through all the options, but here we go:

ESSENTIALS
> Flight Birmingham to Perpignan and from Nice
(£81)
thomsonfly
flybe
> Hotels/Hostels - 13 nights
(£465)
2x Barcelona - (£48)
2x Nimes - (£45)
2x Cassis - (£95)
1x St. Tropez - (£80)
5x Nice - (£197)
> Cost of Travel Barcelona - Nice (via St. Tropez)
(£68.00)
> Cost of 1 Beer - ave.
(£3.30)
> Three course set menu meal - 1 person
(£14)

ADDITIONAL OOSTS

> Cost to get into a nightclub - Nice
(£10)
> Tour bus
(£12)
> Ice cream
(£1.66)
> Marinated Mussels (France)
(£3.42) without chips

Nice - Street Map

Here is a map of nice where i have marked up all the best spots for your perusal.

Nice - Nice in Nice

For my last night have decided to attend a concert, open air. Here I can vent my emotions and generally get in the spirit of the occasion.

It has started to thunder and lightening and my performers are being rained on like myself.
Instead, i decide that it may be better in the casino which may have a black jack wheel or something I can get my fingers stuck in.

On reaching casino they decide that they don't like my trainers, which I find disappointing as they are Reebok Classics.
Perhaps it's the smell that's putting them off.

I move on again, this time to another casino where they just have the monkeys putting the money in the machines. now this may seem like a good pastime to some people, but to me from the outside it simply looks like a load of people sitting in front of machines putting the money in. Where's the fun in that?

I move on again ,this time to a nightclub called the dancing club, which i'm afraid to say looks astonishingly crap. after what has preceeded tonight this is overlooked and moved to the back of my mind as I pay the 16e entry fee.

On entering I am in fact the only customer and the aged club owner/cloakroom attendant, takes it apon herself to aproach me and attempt to show me a good time, french style. this fails, but I manage to get a cigarette off her before she gets the picture and goes back to handing out the cloakroom tickets.

Now the night is young and i am not having a good time swaying in this dancing club and although there are people arriving I just can't be arsed hanging around, drinks are pricey and the place is shit.

I decide to leave and take a joant down past the Negresco, this is where if there are any celebs in town, they might be staying.
Nothing flying out of the windows or motorcades indicates tonight might be a quite one.
I decide to skip a drink in the bar and move on to the central area of town.

I think i've probably passed about two hours since the concert got rained out.

I decide to try one more a place called the klub, where they turn me away for not being a homo. I insist on my homosexual credentials, splaying of the the buttocks etc. but to no avail the door is slammed in my face.

This is my last night in Nice. I've had better ones.

Nice - Football

For no other reason apart from that I'm sat at the computer thought I ought to mention Euro 2004 and those rediculous monkeys they let wonder round the pitch when people are wanting to watch the football.

If I was in Portugal, I would have been throwing bottles.

Hiall Hitler.

Nice - Museums

Nice has its fair share of Musuems. Due to failing weather, I felt that these museums would be a worthy way to while away the hours.
Kitting myself with cagoule, camera and other shoes and stuff I set out bright and early to this museum of one of the most famous artists who has hailed from Nice. That famous artist Matisse.

Taking the bus, not the bugger bus, but a normal one no. 15 or 17, (for those bus spotters out there), up to the important stop which is Cimiez Monastry. This was quick and effective and took me to the top of the steep hills which sorround Nice in little time or effort.

There where 3 museums to see on the way back into town. These three museums where:
The Musée Matisse
The Musée Marc Chagall
The Musée d'art Moderne et Contemporain.

Without going to much into boring detail. There were all worth visiting, especial if the weather ain't great. The best, I thought, was the Musée d'art Moderne et Contemporain, becuase it had such mad and varied displays.

I also went to another museum, that was the musuem of Asian art.

These i usually find really interesting because
a) we stole all the stuff of them and they can't get it back.
b) because their cultures are different.

At this museum they gave you a funky headphone which would tell you stories as you wandered from statue to statue. This i found on reflecting made the whole expreince much more valuable and wandered what was the point in having those little bits of paper next to things when they don't tell you anything at all.

Nice - Bus

For this day, due to failing weather conditions, I have planned a bus trip.

For this in Nice you have a choice of modes, you have the small white choo choo bus, shaped like a train, favoured by very old and very young. Views aren't great from the choo choo bus, pasengers simply have to satify themselves that they are making a spectacle and crawl along at exhaust pipe level until they reach their destination.

Alternative two is the big bus, the bus with no roof, what i call the bugger bus. If you have little else to do, you may find yourself on this bus, which is not in itself a bad thing to do. Headphones keep you company throughout your journey, and you are free to come and go, board and disembark as you please.

Below is a picture of this bugger bus and a view from across the port in Nice. I found the journey pleasing, the only thing I would recomend is that if you are planning to journey on the B bus get your ticket early on in the day this way you can get on and off many times at the points of interest. i.e. make a day of it.

Nice - Dogs

The French have a national obsession.. with dogs.
A Frenchman owns a dog much the same as anybody else would own a car, he buys it from new or secondhand, drives it around for a little showing it off. This is the French way.

I have included this picture of a classical French dog and pose. When visiting French parks, especially city parks, you will becomes aware of just how important the social role of the dog, A canine represenative is essential when going forth breaking down and breaking down those froggy social barriers, sniffing, biting, frolicking when no-one is looking..

With the dog of course comes the dog poo, which again comes in all shapes and sizes as I'm sure we're aware. This is one of Frances ever present hazards and should not be underestemited. The danger of mistrodden poo, especially under load or at perculiar angle can lead to slippage much to the amusement of onlookers. Be warned.

Nice - La Pietonnerre

After little wandering between beach and hotel, have stumbled apon this Pitonnere area place, all narrow and magical, authentic window boxes, french smells, bohemian style town houses, and dog poo. The real France..

Nice - Nice Arrival

After strenous previous days travelling around, found a cheap hotel 52e per night up by station area.

Nice was one of those cities to which I took an instant liking.

The people and place, attitudes of the big city refreshing after wandering outback D'azur.

I have 5 days before I fly back to England, plenty of time to explore the city, kick back and relax.

St. Tropez - Boat trip

Took a little time to write up some blogs whilst waiting for the bus, Croque Monsueir in hand.

As with many things continental, bus timetables cannot be relied apon, and my maticulous timing in finishing my mid morning snack had not co-ordinated with the real arrival and departure times of the bus to St. Raphel.

Taking this as a glitch to add another few travel hours, I decided rather than hang around I might be able to catch the bus up in Martinez by getting a boat round the coast and rendezvous.

Found out there where different boats departing from the docks all the time, even more regularly than the buses. Made my way down there.

After Chinese whispers games with French nationals, followed my nose, stuck to my guns and managed to get a fare of 11e right the way to St. Raphel, much quicker and cheaper than the bus. Plus met lawyer girl who wanted to show me her apartment in Paris. Didn't bother but this would have been the first time since leaving Barcelona that I'd met a 'proper' English speaker.

She tells me they used to do helicopter trips, but there was so many helicopters flying around ,it annoyed the locals and had to stop. Most of the bigger boats had their own helipads which you could see, moored outside the main St. Tropez waterway.

Didn't see P Diddy or any other hanging out the back of any of these huge yachts.

Stopped in St. Rahpel for about 20 minutes, just long enough to get a ticket and get out of there to Nice.

This is the last port of call on my journey.

St. Tropez

St. Tropez renowned playground of the rich, famous, Bridget Bardot and Harry Seycombe, liggers and hangers alike gather to bask in St. Tropezs' opulent reputation.

The port areas yachts intimidate the promenade as you walk along the sea front.

My hotel cost 121e per night so I decided only to stay for one night.

Spent a little time walking around designer boutiques and amongst exclusive galleries, between the beautiful people and their well dressed children.

For those with enough money to enjoy, St. Tropez represents a French crash pad, nice spot for a few drinks and a meal amongst like minded people.

Average Joe needn't bother.

I found it obligatory passing through, but with drinks @ 20e a throw, wearing a T-Shirt and Trainers, my credibility threshold would not have sustained a full on St. Tropez dipping.

Tommorrow I'm moving on to Nice. This should be more up my street.

Cassis - Vive le France

Have realised in Cass the importance of being French, where this is not possible, you will have difficulties.

Things have changed in France since my last visit 4 years ago. Then the French would attempt to communicate in English where you make the effort. Obviously now it seems due to our diplomatic naughtiness, this is no longer the case.
French must be spoken at all times.
Underlying French attitudes have shifted in a similar direction.

Cassis was not unfriendly as much as unpleasant, which didn't really make it a worthwhile place to spend any time.

Cassis

Have left Nimes behind.
Am now in Cote D'azur proper - Cassis, as in Crémé de Cassis.

Just south of Marseille between the mountains and the sea. For those that don't like the town of Marseille, don't worry, the mountains have acted as barrier keeping out the smells of the city.

Cassis Town Centre
The town centre is focussed around a small port area which is surrounded by shops.

I am staying in the hotel Centre Ville & at 71e per night is almost double what I was paying at good old 'Cat' hotel.

Location is good, right on the front and the rooms are quite and clean.

Seems to be an amount of Americans, verbalising at different points through town. Would have thoguht the GWB stuff would have kept them in the 'homeland'.
Haven't seen any other backpackery, travelly, youth types. Maybe later.

The Fog. There is an eary sea fog on town today. I've captured it in the picture below, this may attract those of you who are interested in natural weatherographic conditions or cloud watchers (i know you're out there).

Nimes Town

Nimes is a town much like any other in France, Tours, Poitiers etc. French atmosphere and culture, plus, with Nimes, you get few historical sites thrown in for good measure.

The Pont-du-Gare, is easily accessible from regular buses from Nimes, and due to its status as an UNESCO site, entry is free to most of the site.

Nimes also has an amphitheatre which you can get in for 3e. They still hold concerts there.

Nimes Town
Nimes town itself has character.

An old town centre with many shops, I found it relaxing. The old town circled by a ring road, and the central district pedestrianised. This meant that travelling was easy.
Navigating the variety of shops and resteruants was possible from the station, or my 'Cat' hotel without any difficulty, everything was close.

Meals

One was good, at the Irish pub oposite my hotel. The other I found a gaint cockroach lurking behind one of the French posters, just it's cockroach tentacles flailing around. My unwelcome guest put me off and i left without pudding.

Soz

Due to different circumstances beyond my control, this blog has been delayed.

For this I apologise.

Next blog I will know not to make the same mistakes twice.

Nimes - Cats

Have been in Nimes for one day now.

Am staying in the 'Cat' Hotel.

Luckily there are no cats, nor signs that cats have been here, the place is clean and cheap.

More later..

Port Bou - Moving on

Call it Port Boo, it annoys the locals and can be used to confuse border officials.

The sort of mentally symbolic gateway between France and Spain.

Wait
Rather than wait for 2hrs in Port Bou, I felt the 5 minute train journey over the border could easily be taken on foot.
Alpha male like myself would not find this a problem, and I set off through the Boo heading for the French border.

Aside from treading on a prickly pear on the Spainsh side, and avoiding lumps of dog turd on the French side, a hot, tiring and worthless journey was had.. amended slightly by a cool glass of lager and an ice cream in a beachfront Cerbere.

Next is Nimes, where excitiment, entertainment and a three hour train journey follow.

Here's a movie of the beach in case you're as bored as I am..

Beach Movie

Barcelona - Football

Managed to wander round, get drunk and watch the football.
Good constructive stuff.

Didn't bother with the museums.

Got some pictures of bits and pieces which I will be adding later.

Due to excessive American students, have decided to give myself a new name for each independent tourist encounter.
So far have been Harry, Jim, Fred, Geoff, Brin, Mat, Damon, Lodger and Pimp..

This saves time thinking about things and you can concentrate on the conversation to come.

Barcelona - Scam

Barcelona hosts the best backpacker horror stories.
Snatchings, street scams pickpockets, all the best stuff for those travel yarns.

This one of the more popular scams you're likely to encounter on Las Ramblas.

Find the Lady

Hat and balls trick on cardboard table.

Balls are exchanged between hats, money is exchanged between Spaniards, all is jolly, all is normal..

Hat is chosen by Spainiard.
Spainiard loses bet, and no objection, continues with the game.

Gullable tourist approaches, spots the ball (which is peeping out from under hat), points at hat, encouraged by locals, withdraws money from pocket.

Guy snatches money and will not return it insisting that a hat is picked.

So he's got your money. If you want it back, shout now, if not, go ahead, pick a hat and forever hold your peace. You won't find the berry, (unless they want you to continue upping the stakes and drawing in a crowd).

Also, if you watch closely, all the money the locals exchange is folded bits of paper, passed to the bottom of the pile of notes.

You are like the unlikely fish attracted by the flashing lure and these guys see you coming and take your money off you.

If you don't like losing money, pass them by or watch others lose. Don't get involved, and don't lose your temper, as I nearly did.