I’m certain that this is not a complete list, but don’t miss these culinary treats if you’re traveling to the following towns on the Côte d’Azur.
My gnocchi from Little Italy
Antibes
Gelateria del Porto (great place to enjoy a gelato and do some people-watching)
Gorbio
Les Terrasses (temporarily closed, but hope it re-opens soon)
Menton
Atelier Boulanger (I should be embarrassed by how many visits I made to this gem.)
L’Orangerie
La Cure Gourmande (has several locations in France)
La Pecoranegra (can’t wait to try the Lyon location)
Little Italy (Yes, I went twice. The waiter remembered my order and reminded me to skip the appetizer, so that I could finish my Baked Gnocchi!) https://www.restaurant-italien-menton.fr/
JR Bistronomie (elegant and highly rated; reservations necessary)
Tutti Frutti and Gelateria Sofia, tied for amazing gelato
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Glacier Ferraci (delicious gelato and a friendly vibe)
Ventimiglia
Caffè Vergnano 1882 (near the train station and a great spot for pastry before you hit the Friday market)
What can you add to this list of culinary treats on the Côte d’Azur?
I recently visited Menton, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Gorbio, Saorge, in France and Ventimiglia, Italy. Here are my notes from my June 2024 trip to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
Every driver in Menton and Antibes stopped for me as I attempted to cross the street, even when I was distracted and should have been paying more attention. What a different experience compared to Florida, where I now live!
Ventimiglia’s hosts its legendary market only on Fridays. Contrary to what I’ve read in several other publications, neither Ventimiglia’s crowds nor its vibe were oppressive on a Friday morning in June, at 9:30 a.m. It did get busier closer to noon. Try to make the trip on a Friday at the beginning of your travels, so that you have time to enjoy the culinary treats available. I made the mistake of going on my second Friday, and couldn’t take full advantage of the delicious possibilities because I had a Sunday departure. https://wanderlearnrepeat.com/six-travel-tips-you-probably-know-but/
It’s relatively easy to navigate the bus systems to various villages from Menton, but the buses are not frequent.
If insects love you as much as they love me, you will need repellent, at least in June and July. I can’t speak for the rest of the year.
I found Villefranche-sur-Mer stunningly beautiful, but I don’t place it on my favorite list. I found the town full of tourists speaking English. As an American, that’s a negative for me. It may be a great spot for travelers wanting to have the comfort of their own English language.
If you have 4 hours or so, do take the bus to visit the small villages of Saorge and Gorbio. I saw very few other humans during the several hours I spent there. Especially for Saorge, wear comfy footwear with a good grip. Those hilly cobblestones are slippery!
Talk to strangers. It’s so much fun. I had a blast giving directions, in a combination of French, Spanish, and Italian (which I don’t actually speak) to a young woman.
These are just my notes from MY trip to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. I’m always interested in your thoughts on this, my favorite region.
I’ve been reflecting about my last trip, and think these six travel tips are worth repeating.
Never assume that an airline will inform you that your flight has been canceled, OR that you have been removed from the flight. On a recent trip, I arrived at my departure airport 3 hours before my scheduled flight. After waiting an hour in line, and only because I asked the ticket agent a question, did I discover that I had been removed from the flight, and put on another one. I almost missed that flight. Ask questions early, and often.
Especially when using sites like Airbnb, VRBO or when your accommodation is a home share, know the stair situation for a property. If the stairs are many or steep, or old, opt for two carry-on size bags, checking just one. I found this much easier to navigate a lovely property with 48 beautiful, but well-worn steps. https://wanderlearnrepeat.com/making-myself-at-home/
When traveling solo, you will likely feel lonely at least once every week or so, especially when dining out. Go solo anyway. The feeling rarely lasts longer than the experience of a good glass of wine or a decadent pastry. When you do arrive home, you will miss those solo days!
Know that each airline may have its own rules about acceptable carry-on dimensions and weight. These details seem to be changing frequently since 2024, sometimes without logic.
Share your location with at least two contacts, assuming you have actually told someone that you were leaving town.
Don’t bring your hairdryer from the U.S. Instead, buy an inexpensive travel dryer once you arrive in country, and use it each time when in that general area.
Always share my six travel tips AND your travel suggestions with fellow travelers! Share yours with me too.
When I decided to go back to France solo, I opted to stay in my favorite town of Menton. Its mix of French and Italian spirit is palpable, and I remembered loving the magical cacophony of exhilarating languages. A Facebook friend had mentioned a lovely apartment in Menton’s Old Town. She warned me about the number of stairs, but also added that the view made it well worth the climbing. After reading dozens of reviews, I rented an apartment for ten nights, on Rue Longue, the oldest street in Menton. I looked forward to settling in and making myself at home.
Since I knew that I would have to navigate very old stairs, and lots of them, I left my large suitcase at home, and opted for two carry-ons instead. My host, Philippe promised to assist me with my bags when I arrived. If he hadn’t, I may have left my small pink suitcase at the mid-landing, and just got dressed every day there! I don’t think I would have made a good impression with that behavior!
I huffed and puffed, and clung to the railings as I climbed the beautiful but worn stone stairs, and then a set of narrow wooden ones. The view that awaited me rewarded me for my efforts to breathe. I was grateful, and immediately walked back down to the street, counting at least forty stairs. Descending was definitely easier than the ascending.
After walking for hours, stopping for dinner, then for ice cream at Tutti Frutti, I dragged myself up to my cozy abode, and slept soundly. Making myself at home had been successful. Day one had been perfect. https://www.instagram.com/tuttifrutti_menton/
Reminiscing about Paris, is something I do often, remembering back on so many delicious details. Shortly after my divorce, a new friend and I decided to take our first trip together. Who knew we would become best friends! We’ve taken great trips since then.
Sophia had never been to Paris, and neither of us had been to Barcelona so we planned a trip to both cities. If you’re reading this blog, you probably have a travel bucket list. I have several. Mine are located in various places, one in my file cabinet, one in a notebook that I carry everywhere, one in the “notes” section on my iPhone. I went first to my file cabinet and retrieved all of my Paris-related pages.
I had read somewhere about Jim Haynes, an American who was known as an integral part of British counterculture in the 50s and 60s. Jim led a colorful and complicated life, and in the 1970s, he began hosting Sunday dinner parties for strangers in his 14th arrondissement Paris apartment. Jim didn’t do the cooking. Instead he asked each of his fifty or so registered guests to bring a dish to share. At the time of his death in 2001, over 140,000 guests had dined with Jim.
I shared this discovery with my friend. Sophia said, “Do you really need to do this, Deb?” I did. Following detailed instructions, I reserved spots for both of us, and waited for the day when Jim’s address would be shared with us. It was a long cab ride from the Latin Quarter to Jim’s home. I couldn’t wait to arrive, because despite my mother’s warnings, I have always loved talking to strangers. I was one of Jim Haynes’ guests on my 7th trip to Paris in July of 2012. Surrounded by dozens of people speaking a multitude of languages, I was in heaven. I am always reminiscing about Paris.
Enjoy my article, published in the United Airlines publication, “Hemispheres.”
I left Florida today for a place that captured my heart in 2017. My gift from Michael and a flight to France happened like this. A few months ago, in November, and a few weeks before my birthday, my daughter and I were visiting my son, Michael in Texas.
I had taken a few sips of really good wine, then opened the menu, pretending to choose an entrée for dinner. I laughed often at this charade. It had become comical once my son had started to live and dine in fabulous restaurants in Manhattan. He is very confident that he will make the correct culinary decisions for everyone at the table at any given time. Before I had time to pretend to have chosen my meal, my son said, “Mom, I’m tired of hearing that you want to go back to France, so here’s your birthday gift. I’m sending you to France.” I looked at my daughter, who obviously knew about his surprise, and she nodded happily, proud of her brother’s generosity. The restaurant wasn’t very dark. Of course, several diners wondered why tears rolled down my face, resulting in a smudge of my blue mascara.
He then instructed me that I had two weeks to choose dates and a location, and joked that I would lose the opportunity if I delayed any longer. My gift from Michael was a round trip flight to any city in France. I’m normally very talkative, as my children, now grown, have told me repeatedly. This announcement shocked me, and I had mo idea what words to use. Needless to say, I grabbed the opportunity, and professed my gratitude! I gave Michael some dates and he took it from there. Thanks, Michael! I couldn’t wait to find out if Menton would still tug at my heart. https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Nice-Airport-NCE/Menton#r/Drive/s/0
I’m always interested in why someone does something, so I thought adding more history about me might make sense. Looking back to my lifelong love of travel, it seems strange that I knew not a soul who had traveled out of the United States, other than the small group of girls from my high school trip. I have no idea where my wanderlust came from, but I suspect you have it also, since you’re reading this.
Packed and ready for my first trip to europe
I don’t even remember how I decided that I wanted to backpack throughout Europe, but after failing to convince my college friends to join me, I seized an opportunity. I eavesdropped on a conversation between two girls I didn’t know. Never shy, I interrupted politely, introduced myself, and asked about the trip they were planning. Somehow, I invited myself on this trip between best friends, and Sarah and Renée immediately accepted me. I know I should stop listening to private conversations, but being nosy gave me courage to jump at six weeks of blissful chaos. To this day, it remains the travel experience I compare everything to.
More history… I graduated from college, started working, and participating in life. I experienced job success, embarked on a second career, raised a family, and survived major health issues. Through it all, I fantasized, planned and ventured into travel. A journey somewhere new never failed to lift my mood. It has exaggerated happy times, and just the idea of it has saved me during the challenging ones.
I leave zip-lining, bungee jumping, and parasailing to those who commit braver acts than I did. I don’t intend to take a second helicopter ride. Those of you who thrive on these physical activities, truly amaze me, but I hope to inspire you with my own cerebral idea of adventure. I’m terrified of heights, but am perfectly happy to be plopped down into a country where I don’t speak the language. My favorite perspective is thinking how great it is to be in places where, “you don’t know the drill.” https://www.arcadia.edu/student-life/meet-our-students/jj-demetrius-26/how-traveling-helped-my-mental-health/
Hello. Bonjour. Buenos Días. Xin chào. My name is Deb. Many have asked, “Why I travel,” a question I have asked myself multiple times, “Why do I travel?” I’ve been planning adventures since I was 15, and that was quite a while ago.
I’ve been a writer from the age of ten, when I wrote a play for the neighborhood kids. Since then, I’ve created content for magazines, completed, but not yet published, a memoir, and have started writing a novel. Several of my friends have hounded me to start a blog about travel or dating. I finally listened and chose the topic that has been more successful for me!
My preoccupation with travel began with a high school trip to Rome that included an emotional visit to the Vatican, and continued to Amsterdam, and Lucerne, Switzerland. Our voyage was conducted under the mostly diligent supervision of our dear nuns. I didn’t share what the “mostly” meant with my parents until many years later. That spring break experience changed me. Since then, I have used just about every waking moment, fantasizing about my next escape. https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Newark-Airport-EWR/Rome?search=Newark-Airport-EWR,Rome,Canton-of-Lucerne,Amsterdam,Newark-Airport-EWR#trips
I began college with the intention of becoming an attorney, but a small detail altered my path. After determining my required courses for the second semester of my freshman year, I was able to choose an elective. I’d always loved languages, having studied Latin and Spanish already, so I opted to add French to my university schedule. I fell in love with the language, switched my major, started looking for travel buddies.
Looking back, it seems strange that I knew not a soul who had traveled out of the United States, other than the small group of girls from my high school trip. After failing to convince my college friends to backpack through Europe with me, I seized an opportunity when I eavesdropped on a conversation between two girls I didn’t know. Never shy, I interrupted politely, introduced myself, and asked more about the trip they were planning. I invited myself on this trip between best friends, and was immediately accepted. I know I should stop listening to private conversations, but this resulted in six weeks of blissful chaos, and remains the travel experience I compare everything to.
Graduation happened, and life happened, with jobs, kids, health issues. Travel was always the bright spot. It has exaggerated happy times, and just the idea of it has saved me during the challenging ones.
I hope to inspire you with my perspective about how great it is to be in places where, “you don’t know the drill.”
