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Category Archives: Practicalities
Using the Velo Bleu Just Got Easier
The Velo Bleu share-bikes are great in concept, but in practice there have been a few… shall we say, speedbumps. One complication is that if you didn’t plan ahead, you need a cellphone to sign up, and if you are … Continue reading
Indian Winter? Record-breaking November
Since when do strawberry plants bear fruit in December? The Indian summer has plowed straight through autumn and run right into winter… and who ever heard of an Indian winter? We’ve just experienced France’s second warmest November since the start of the … Continue reading
The Secret to Carte de Sejour Renewals + a Cool New French Residency Card
UPDATE April 2012: According to a recent report from a reader, the Prefecture has stopped making appointments. Why does this not surprise me? Appointments were entirely too logical… Expats with a Carte de Sejour dread that annual pre-dawn pilgrimage … Continue reading
Posted in Practicalities
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Summer Sale Dates for the Cote d’Azur
The annual summer sales are coming up, but with wildly staggered dates according to region in France, Monaco and Italy. To help plan your summer Soldes shopping forays, here are the relevant dates: Paris starts price slashing first, with sales starting June 22. Next comes Monaco, whose sales … Continue reading
Posted in Bargain Hunting, Monaco, Practicalities
Tagged Bargains in Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Sales in Nice, Ventimiglia
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What is up with the Weather?
After the coldest winter in 40 years, the Riviera just hit the hottest May in 70 years… only to have June start, literally, with a bang: thunder, lightning, hail stones and torrential rains! Do these extreme swings point to a summer heat wave? Meteo-France says that the … Continue reading
Top Ten Free iPhone Apps for Nice
Better living through technology! Here are Best of Nice Blog’s top ten best free iPhone apps for Nice and the Cote d’Azur: SNCF Direct Incredibly simple to use and infinitely easier than the SNCF website: with one click this app replicates the big board at … Continue reading
New Tram Track Crackdown
The police are out in force on avenue Jean Medecin: between tracking pickpockets, scam artists, and purse snatchers, they are now on the lookout for the latest menace… bicyclists blithely cruising down the tramway tracks. The new policy started yesterday, and the tickets are no joke: a whopping … Continue reading
L’Auto Bleue: If you like the Velo Bleu, you’re going to love this!
Photo: www.audos.blogspot.com Ya gotta love this town! Starting next weekend, Nice will be stocked up with electric cars that can be rented with a mouse click for as little as 5€ an hour. There will be 17 strategically located stations to start … Continue reading
Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Practicalities
Tagged Auto Bleue, Bargains in Nice, Deals in Nice, Velo Bleu
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Chagall Museum Free on First Sunday
photo: www.musee-chagall.fr Nice has an abundance of great museums, and even better, they’re almost all free! The big exception is the Chagall Museum, which at 7.50€ a pop is a major hold-out. This gets remedied on the first Sunday of each month, however, when even the Musee Chagall … Continue reading
Coldest Riviera Winter in 40 Years
No, it’s not your imagination; it really is colder this year. With average temps so far running 11.3°C (52.3°F), it’s starting out to be the coldest winter in 40 years …and just a hair away from the coldest in 60 … Continue reading
Posted in Practicalities
Tagged Average temperature in Nice, Nice Carnaval, Weather in Nice, Winter in Nice
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Nice Bus Station Closed: Dude, Where’s my Bus?
The Nice Gare Routiere is finito: closed as of today, a date with the wrecking ball next week, and re-emerging a few years down the road as a lovely park. Oh, but did I mention that the modern new Nice Bus Station near the airport (along … Continue reading
Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Practicalities
Tagged Gare routiere, New Bus Stops in Nice, Nice Bus Station Closed, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi
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Get a Jump on the Soldes
2011: The annual French sales start on Wednesday, January 12… but why wait? Monaco starts theirs tomorrow, and in Italy, where everything is a bargain even before the sales, the big markdowns start this Wednesday, January 5th. See Related Pages … Continue reading
Posted in Bargain Hunting, Practicalities
Tagged Bargains in Nice, Deals in Nice, French Winter Sales, Nice Soldes, Sales in Nice
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If you like the Velo Bleu you’re gonna love this!
Soon Nice will be providing its residents with cars! Starting April 9th, the town will be stocked up with city cars that can be rented with a mouse click for as little as 5€ an hour. There will be 17 strategically located stations to start … Continue reading
Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Practicalities
Tagged Auto Bleue, Car Rental in Nice, Nice City Cars, Velo Bleu
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RIP Gare Routiere
The depressing Nice Bus Station is gasping its last raspy breath. January 5th is its final day and demolition will start a week later. Well, it’s about time! Oh, but wait… there is just one small problem… the modern new Nice … Continue reading
Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Practicalities
Tagged Gare routiere, New Bus Stops in Nice, Nice Bus Station Closed
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