From Tuscany to the Riviera — Joe and Jeanne Kovacs describe the gems of the Ligurian coastline

Jeanne and Joe at the Columbus statue in Santa Margherita, Italy.

After our trusty ship docked in the vieux Port of Nice, we discovered the local sights, first on bus, then on foot. High above the city, the scenic ride offered fantastic views of the city and the Baie des Anges, the Bay of Angels . Expensive villas owned by European, American and Middle Eastern VIPs dot the hillside. Then we wandered through the old town and the flower market where you can buy anything, not just flowers. Finally we strolled along the city’s famed boulevard, the Promenade des Anglais back to our ship for a good lunch.

St. Paul de Vence and Cannes

St. Paul is one of oldest town in French Riviera, with its narrow streets completely surrounded by medieval city walls. Once inside its archway gate, museums and galleries are abound. One of the 20th century’s most prolific artists, Marc Chagall worked here and was buried in its cemetery.

Cannes was next on our itinerary where we spent the last three nights of the trip. After checking into the hotel, we set out for a panoramic tour. Clearly, it is the annual film festival that put the city on the map. For one week each year the film industry descends to the Palais de Festivals where the festival is held. The red carpet is left at its entrance all year as a tourist attraction. Near the festival grounds there is a small amusement park which does little to enhance the area’s attractiveness. We took a tram ride along the shore and through the quaint town center.

Monaco and Monte Carlo

On the next day we took a panoramic drive to Monaco and Monte Carlo along the coastal highway. The drive offered breathtaking views of the coves, villas and the distant snow-covered mountains. In Monaco, we stopped at the Grimaldi Palace, viewed the change of guards. Then we visited the gravesites of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier in the St. Nicholas Cathedral. After lunch, we stopped by the luxurious Monte Carlo Casino. Jeanne tried her luck at the slot machine; surprisingly she lasted longer than a half hour before she lost her Euros. Our main impression of Monaco was its incredible opulence, as shown by its villas, mansions and yachts. It is congested but well organized, an object of envy by the visitors.

Antibes

The last day we drove along the shore to Antibes, just a few miles from Cannes. This is another scenic town that preserved its medieval appearance while attracting visitors and artists alike. A local palace displays some of the early works of Picasso who lived and worked in this area.

After the farewell drinks at the hotel, we faced the daunting task of packing the suitcases for the return flight next morning. With Jeanne’s fondness — perhaps passion is a better word — for souvenirs, the challenge was how to fit 100 pounds of gifts into the suitcases and still meet the airline’s weight restrictions. As a further challenge, the Lufthansa strike forced us to reschedule our return flights.

While our vacation had its minor problems, it was a great, memorable trip. The sights, the people and the food was excellent, both in Italy and France. We would do it over in a heartbeat.