Two weeks ago, Liebling and I spent three days in Nice, the pearl of the French Riviera, and I realized that there’s something about Nice that keeps me coming back. I often think it’s the memories: long-time readers know I spent a whole year living there, basking in the warm glow of the French Riviera sun and letting the spray from waves of the Mediterranean refresh my face as I strolled along its shores.
Nice was a important time for me, a time of discovery, a time when adventure knew no bounds. I lived freely, happily, gaily, I fell hopelessly in love with the food, the language, and with a Frenchman. But, most importantly, I fell even more in love with myself, with my life, and with the way I was shaping my destiny.
Nice gave me a taste of the world and a better understanding of who I was and who I wanted to become. While my first year abroad (studying French literature at a university in the north of France) was the year of training wheels, of uncertainty, of cultural and linguistic stumbles and homesickness, of baby steps and mini failures, my second year abroad was all cool confidence, assuredness, and composure. Success. Then realization. Because in Nice I came to realize that this life of foreign language, alien culture, passports, paperwork, and permits was truly for me.
I learned about joie de vivre in Nice. Simple occurrences were precious jewels. Fresh baked French bread, stifling days turned breezy nights, sitting cross-legged and stiff-bummed on the rocky beach with guitar-strumming randoms as they passed a cheap bottle of wine around… these things still make me smile. The sing song of the vendor’s “Mademoiselle” as I perused the flower market along the Cours Saleya, pot-luck dinners with a pot-pourri of friends, the long walks home through the twists and turns of the streets in the old town (that only a foreigner-turned-local would know how to navigate)… these remembrances make me sigh.
And, of course, that view:
Awe-inspiring, all-consuming, absolutely astounding… Is it any surprise that Nice tugs at my heart strings?
Has a city or country ever evoked these sorts of feelings in you?
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Maybe it tugged at your heartstrings because you looked INSANELY cute there in that hot pink dress!
Awww, you are sweet lady!! We really need to chat!!
Mannheim and Heidelberg, Germany. I lived in that area for 8 years. It was the best of times.
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Oh wow! What were you doing there? My Liebling is German, but I’ve only ever been to Berlin, which is where he’s from.
Oooh, I second Heidelberg! I lived there as well a few years back. Heidelberg is such a romantic city, as captured in the folk song ‘Ich hab’ mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren’. You should go there with your Liebling, Oneika. You’d love it!
I adore Nice and I miss it terribly as I sit here recuperating in the T-Dot. Nice is a beautiful city with lots of quirks. I love the laid-back attitude, the almost-always-sunny weather, the twisty streets in Vieux Nice…and the sea!
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Nice misses you back, surely! Luckily it’s not going anywhere
You’ve hit on exactly why I love Nice and the surrounding area too! There is something about it all that helps a person truly discover themselves and what matters in their life. Great post!
Thank you! I think it’s the eternally sunny sky and the beautiful water. Great weather makes me feel extremely positive!
I’ve had a few countries to evoke these wonderful feelings. BTW that’s one HOT guy you have there! Nice. Looks like a movie star! Go, girl!!
Fab photos, too.
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Which ones?! Aww, you are sweet- not only is he cute, he’s the nicest guy ever as well- I am lucky!
Your pics bring me back too! Back when we were assistants the same year, and I was so jealous you got Nice and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, north of France. Well it looks like things worked out for the best for both of us
I could stare at the colour of the sea along the Cote d’Azur forever…who knows – maybe Max and I will end up living there one day!
They sure did, but I’m jealous that you get to speak French every day!! Sadly, L isn’t the biggest fan of France (though our trips to Paris and Nice have definitely got him thinking that France is a cool place) and doesn’t speak French so alas we will probably never live there!!
Gorgeous – Melbourne certainly evokes some of the same feelings for me.
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I’ve only been in the airport! I need to go!
it looks gorgeous. i have to go.
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You really should! Maybe I’ll tag along with you..
That was beautiful. The part where you said, “But, most importantly, I fell even more in love with myself, with my life, and with the way I was shaping my destiny.” was so powerful. We all need to have some sort of realization period in our lives. Nice was obviously the place where you found yourself. Congrats.
It soo was. I look back at that time and realize how beautiful it was…I’m sad that it’s over now but glad that I had that year just the same!
I think you summed up how I feel about Croatia, even though I’ve only been once – it’s where I felt like I fell in love with traveling as an adult. Those places are special!
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Mmmm Croatia… I didn’t connect with it as strongly as you did, but it’s a place I’d love to go back to!
Beautiful writing and beautiful pictures too! I totally identify with what you said – my first year abroad (in France) taught me a lot about myself and what I wanted, but it was in my second country (Italy) that I became truly happy in what I was doing. I guess that explains why I haven’t gone home yet!
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