Stories of Life and Craft: Nice Photo Diary

July has whirled by in a blur and suddenly, August is upon us and the gradually dawning reality that the glorious summer is drawing to a close. Too soon, I say! The last few days have been spent reliving the amazing last minute holiday my sister and I took last week to the south of France. I'd never been before and it far exceeded my expectations... Sparkling azure waters, dazzling sunshine coupled with a warm skin-tickling breeze, quaint narrow labyrinthine streets, faded shutters, flaky buttery croissants and crusty baguettes...

We flew from Shannon to Nice with Ryanair and stayed in Hotel Oasis Nice, which was conveniently located near the train station. Aside from basking in the sunshine of Promenade des Anglais, swimming in the turquoise Mediterranean waves and exploring the sights, particularly the charming old town of Nice, we also enjoyed some day trips. We took a forty minute train to stunning Cannes with its designer shops, sandy beaches, sleek yachts and of course the famous red staircase of the film festival! We also visited nearby Monaco which was only twenty minutes on the train, and well worth a look. This place just oozes wealth and luxury, with three storey yachts moored in the port and Ferraris on every corner. We visited Prince Rainier's palace and saw the famous Monte Carlo casino, and generally marvelled at how the other half live.

Nice is a beautiful city with so much to do and see, and the excellent rail service makes day trips easy. I loved every second of this trip and would definitely recommend it! Now to order the prints and get scrapbooking it...