My unusual quiet morning in the greatest city - Venice (Part 1)

While making a travel plan, I decided to stay 3 nights in Verona, as I will take a train from Verona to Venice, it takes only one hour and half in route, I'll go back to Verona at night. And if I like Venice, I still can go back there the following day. In fact I didn't return to Venice the next day! Why? Venice is not that beautiful? Venice is not like a greatest destination as people often say?

Don't get me wrong! It was good for me to be there, even very good...but to me, somehow I feel Venice seemly didn't have something that I used to imagine. Anyway, Venice is very unique, very photogenic... People gave different names to this old town on water: City of masks, City of bridges, City of canals, The Floating City, the Love's Holy Land...and I would call Venice as "always-overcrowded-old-town-on water"  

                              I want to see Venice in its true daily routine life, free of the crowds of tourists.

Juliet's house in Verona - my first stop in Italy

I left Nice Ville behind with mixed feelings : love, sadness, joy...I regretted that I didn't plan more time for this city, hot like a tropical town, but a popular, joyful tourist spot. The hostel I stayed was quite nice, the lady at the reception was so friendly, the location was the best, I couldn't wish for more. Anyway, my time in France has come to an end, my next destination was Verona - Italy, one of the most popular spots in Northern Italy. 

If you follow my journey from the beginning, you know that I got a France Rail Pass (to travel only within France) but this pass also allowed me to get inside Italy till Ventimiglia - a small Italian town near the border, then from there I need to get a new train ticket. My travel time in Italy was short, so I just bought the online ticket for each route, probably better than getting an Italy rail pass.

                     Juliet's house with the famous balcony... 

Last days in South of France - St Paul-de-Vence (Part 2)

I couldn't recall, from my memory, where we went first - Monaco or St Paul de Vence, anyway no matter at all, as all places I visited on that day were close to each others. Saint Paul de Vence was truly a special destination, I found it on the internet while preparing my trip, so I kept it in mind, I was quite excited to learn from the Office of Tourism in Nice that this village included in their 9-hour tour program.

It's a small town on a hill, the history starting from the Middle-age period, back to 10th -12th century, but now became one of the most visited villages due to the modern, contemporary art galleries, museums, art items displayed in the village, art studios, schools...and especially a home to a number of the famous artists, like Marc Chagall or movies celebs. Someone said "This is a paradise for the artists"!  

                Not far from the entrance - a symbolic sculpture on the village's ramparts.  

Last days in South of France: Cannes - Antibes - Monaco (Part 1)

Staying 2 nights in Nice and I had only 1 day to discover the city, it was definitely not enough but I also had other priorities - other towns nearby Nice ville. My original idea was St-Tropez, I would take either a bus or train to this famous site which considered as a paradise for the rich, but to me - just to satisfy my curiosity about the town that I heard of many times in the high school.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it there as the day for a tour to St Tropez, I had to leave Nice for Verona (Italy).  So I decided to go with a whole-day-long tour to Antibes - Cannes - St Paul de Vence - Monaco - Eze. 

         The Mediterranean view from Antibes - a resort town in South of France, between Nice and Cannes