Memories of Nice
I was going to write about a recent lunch at the Frenchway Cafe and got out my travel journal about France for reference. But I have now been swept away with memories of Nice as we were there exactly at this time, two years ago. When I open my journal, it is as if it were last weekend.
In celebration of a milestone wedding anniversary, D and I travelled to Italy and France (very much motivated by the food offerings of the regions). En route from the Italian Riviera to Paris was a glorious stop in Nice. D wanted me to experience his favourite hostel from his backpacking adventure with our son, a couple of years prior.
Can you see me under the palm fronds on our balcony?
Villa Saint Exupery was everything he promised and more. He had booked us a “suite” which in hostel terms, meant that we had our own bathroom and did not have to sleep with strangers
The view from our 5th floor window was of the city below us, all the way to the Mediteranean and from our 180 degree balcony of another cityscape, the hills and the sunset.
There was a delay in the preparation of our room because the hostel staff had run down to the Marche aux Fleurs to ensure that flowers were waiting in our room (as D had arranged in every city we arrived in on this second honeymoon). The lilies were absolutely glorious and I can remember their scent even now. No wait, those are fresh lilies I smell, a gift from D marking this year’s wedding anniversary.
I digress. I am supposed to be musings about food, so back to the culinary adventure. At the Villa, a glass of French wine was a single euro but if you bought the entire bottle, it was only 4 euros-duh. The hostel’s chef prepares a pizza each evening in addition to one other dish. So D and I shared an amazing sausage, red pepper and artichoke pizza and a grilled chicken breast, turnip puree, sauteed green beans and roasted baby potatoes-all for 12 euros!
We sat in the garden and chatted with travellers from all over the world. Truly, an unforgettable time for us.
Kath’s quote: “Your words are my food, your breath my wine. You are everything to me.”-Sarah Bernhardt