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Market day and fine dining in Provence/Cote de Azure

Market day and fine dining in Provence/Cote de Azure

Old Aug 22, 2011, 10:42 am
  #1  
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 24
Market day and fine dining in Provence/Cote de Azure

So here's the deal: Husband and I are traveling by train from Italy to Nice early September. We will be arriving at 10pm and staying for an additional night in Nice. What would have been two full days in Nice and the coast is now turning into a day and a half. We check out on a Saturday and head out to Aix en Provence. Now if we want to do a market Saturday morning, are there any close to Nice that are particularly special? I understand there's a big one in Aix, but I'm hoping we can still enjoy some of the coast before making it out to Aix later in the day.

Alternatively, we can head out early in the morning to Aix or a nice market in Provence and head back to Nice earlier than planned to spend some more time exploring the coastline.

Also, do you have recommendations for a special dinner spot during those 4 days?

Here's the French part of our trip:
Sept. 8- arrive to Nice at 10pm
Sept. 9- rent a car and drive around the coast and visit a couple of beaches. Is parking going to be a bear? Should we wait on the car and travel by train along the coast?
Sept 10- leave Nice for Aix, time to be determined. Catch a market.
Sept 10-12- two nights in Aix with a couple of day trips, yet to be planned.
Sept 12- return to Nice- could be later in the day or earlier depending on when we head out on Sept. 10.
Sept 12- spend the night at airport hotel, leave early Sept. 13.

So, in summary, here are my questions:
  1. Are there nearby markets to Nice?
  2. Should we rent a car in Nice or wait until we're ready to go to Provence?
  3. Help me pick a special dinning experience in Aix or along the coast, preferably michelin standard.

Thanks!!

Your help is greatly appreciated!
gabz is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2011, 7:29 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue
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I would recommend that you save Aix for another trip, you won't do Provence justice in such a short stay. Just stay the entire time on the Cote. You won't be bored!

As far as a car on the Cote, you do not need one in Nice, but you will need one to be productive for most of the other areas. YOu just won't see the best things on a bus or a train, and after reaching your destination you will be stuck without a taxi. The Arrire-Pays, the back country, is full of wonderfully hilly roads, switchbacks, and gorgeous vistas winding up in fantastic hilltop towns. One, La Turbie, has 2000-year old Roman ruins and a fantastic restaurant, Hostellerie Jrome. The other don't miss restaurant on the Cote is Mirazur, down on the coast in Menton. Some other don't miss hill towns are St Agns, Gourdon, and Peillon.

Parking is possible just about everywhere but Nice, just be patient, and use the lots in the bigger towns.

Do you want a produce market, or a market with clothing and crafts? For food, Nice Cours Saleya market is every day but Monday, and is the largest in the department. Clothing and crafts? That's actually the Friday market in Ventimiglia, Italy, just over the border, with 400 vendors!

http://www.hostelleriejerome.com/pag...restaurant.cfm

http://www.maurocolagreco.com/restau...omique/mirazur

These 2 restaurants, in one word, are SPECIAL.

There is so much to do on the Riviera for 5 days. Time will go fast. Beaches, markets, historic homes, great museums, and food!

I can be more specific and detailed if you have a particular interest.

Bon voyage!
menton1 is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2011, 10:48 pm
  #3  
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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Thanks so much!
gabz is offline  

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