May 2010

When public transportation becomes an open-air museum

1 measly Euro. That’s how much it will cost you to get anywhere on a bus or tram in Nice: no matter if you’re winding alongside the sea to Monaco or if you’re just heading to the other side of town. 1 Euro for a ticket that’s valid for 78 minutes–although, unfortunately, it won’t work [...]

May 31, 2010 Continue reading…

A beautiful day for a windstorm

One of the downsides of energy-efficient and cheap strategy of hanging laundry outside? Windstorms. We had a crazy day of wind last week, and while this load of laundry seemed to stay hooked on, there were clothes all over the same street. It took me a second to realize where they came from!

May 30, 2010 Continue reading…

The challenge of the cornet has commenced

Before leaving the States, I decided to put my extended stay in Nice to good use and do what every tourist wishes they could do: try every flavor of ice cream at Fenocchio, the most popular ice cream shop in Nice. Then I arrived in Nice and did the math on my hasty proposal: roughly [...]

May 28, 2010 Continue reading…

Nutella is the beverage of champions

My cocktail/barista/life-in-general tip of the day: just add Nutella. I’ve found a cafe here that clearly caught on to the American obsession: they have Nutella EVERYTHING. Nutella muffins, milkshakes, cookies, hot chocolate. And bagels. Real bagels with real cream cheese that tempt me every time I go in. However, I haven’t been able to say [...]

May 27, 2010 Continue reading…

It doesn’t count until you write it down

I rarely leave home without a yellow tablet of paper that contains my life’s to-do’s separated into quadrants. My hyper-organization is a result of my awful memory; if I don’t write it down, I absolutely wouldn’t remember anything. It’s also the product of giving me something to do when I need to pass the time, [...]

May 25, 2010 Continue reading…

The bitter aftertaste of trying new things

Before leaving for France, I swore that I was going to be openminded and try all sorts of new things. While I haven’t gone back on my word, I’m realizing that openmindedness comes at a price: the awful aftertaste of something that just wasn’t that good. Living with a French person who likes to cook [...]

May 24, 2010 Continue reading…

A bit of Russia without ever leaving Nice

Bet you didn’t know that Nice used to be the hotspot for exiled Russian nobles. Just as the French Riviera is now the playground of jetsetters and celebrities, Nice was once the ultimate vacation destination for Russians looking to escape those rough winters in Moscow.