Desti-Weddi, Cacio e Vino: No Money for Monaco and Wandering Through Eze

^{My first destination wedding and it’s in Italy. We first started the trip lounging around Nice; with a side quest to Monaco and Eze. Then met up with some friends to explore Rome and the Vatican City. Took a train to Florence and ate some delicious foods before joining wedding crew. After a White Lotus experience, we attempted to stay cool in Pisa and Florence.}

On the second day of the trip we planned to side quest to Monaco then head over to a town called Eze. Honestly we didn’t really have too much interest in Monaco but it was nearby and Bad Bunny had been in rotation the last few months. From Nice, Monaco can be reached by train or bus. We rode the bus because it had a better views, of course forgetting to record or take pics of the ride. Once you get there though, you can definitely feel the wealth.

We timed it so we would arrive close to the changing of the The Prince’s Palace Guard ceremony but we had some time to kill so we ate a light lunch (some cured meats from a grocery store) that overlooked the city and Port Hercule. F1 was here few days before and you can clearly see the bleachers still assembled. There was already a big crowd when we got to the palace so I couldn’t take clear picture. Afterwards we then walked through the old town and ended in the serene Jardins Saint-Martin.

Afterwards we walked back to the city and did some shopping. Well attempted to shop. Everything was beyond our pasalubong budget so we instead just window shopped. We went to the Monte Carlo Casino and decided we didn’t want to drop 20 euros to enter the actual casino. The atrium though is free to get in. it was getting toasty and we still hadn’t fully adjusted to the time difference so we were getting a bit sleepy. We ended up having a little picnic (really a quick nap) in a shaded park right above the Fairmont Hairpin.

After our little picnic (quick nap), we took a bus to a little town called Eze. The bus ride from Monaco little under an hour and goes up winding roads. Eze is an old medieval town perched on top of a mountain. Unfortunately it was cloudy when we got there, but were sections that were clear that teased the type of view the town has to offer.We walked through the Jardin d’Èze which had a bunch of cacti and succulents. Really wish it wasn’t cloudy. The green of the garden would have been a really nice contrast with the blue water. We shared a delicious sandwich at a restaurant called Deli and cooled off with a clutch olive oil lemon sorbet.

The return to Nice was a bit of an adventure. I planed to hike down Chemin de Nietzsche to catch the train back to Nice. I assumed it was a really easy trail, and really it was, but it was hot and we didn’t really have the right shoes for it. We only saw about five people during the hike and they were all in workout clothes and shoes. Even though the hike was on 1 mile, the exposed trail and 80F weather made this trail more difficult that it actually was. The views throughout though were amazing.

MILEAGE REVIEW
Miles: 1.16
Pace: 52: 23/mi
Total Time: 1:01:01
Total Ascent: 207 ft

We eventually got to the train station and ran to get in, assuming we could tap-to-pay inside the train. We were wrong. The train was also really packed. The initial plan was to ride the train from Eze to Nice-VIlle so we could have dinner in the area but it was starting to drizzle, our Airbnb would’ve been a far walk from the destination, and we didn’t want to risk staying on the train and get fined (though with how packed it was, we probably would’ve been good). We decided to get off the train at Villefranche-sur-Mer and take the bus which would’ve dropped us off closer to our Airbnb. It had started to drizzle at this point and the walk from the Villefranche-sur-Mer to the main road was longer than we expected. The walk through the alleyways was pleasant despite the warm drizzle wetting us. I wish I could end this post saying the bus ride was dandy. But there were some delays that ultimately had us waiting in the bus stop for over an hour. While waiting, a lady had asked my when the next bus was coming in French and her patience was not there. I told her her it’ll be fifteen minutes until the next bus (in the French I’ve never spoken before) and she didn’t hide her displeasure and annoyance. She needed to get to wherever she needed to. A car close by had stopped to pick someone and she paced towards it. Just as the car driving away, she sprints and hits the car and asks for a ride. She was very animated and the driver eventually let her in after three minutes of negotiation.

The bus eventually came and we managed to reach Nice fairly dry. We walked walked around the Old Town and ended the night with Nicoise dinner and ice cream. If I make it back in the French Riviera, I would definitely check out Eze again the, Monaco, and spend some time in Villefranche-sur-Mer. If time permits, maybe go back to Monaco for the Oceanography Museum, and definitely check out Villefranche-sur-Mer.