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The sea is azure blue, the summits are snow white, the rocks are red and the residential hotels with an air of yesterday are fascinating. It is a region of dreams that resists the present. It contains the palms, that are unmistakable standing for the south and warmth - protected by the high mountains.The contrast between hurly-burly and a fairytale land of t he French Riviera loans the landscape a touch of irreality that is part of a dream land.

On expects gastronomic finesse, bouillabaise and crustaceans - but on finds a specific way of cooking with "socca", "mesclun" , "pistou" and "petit farcis".

Côte d'Azur

Nicc
2004-09-13 11:27:18

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Nice

It is the undisputed queen of the Riviera: a fascinating position, a lively old part of town, attractive museums, wide boulevards and the famous "Promenade des Anglais". How should we start a round tour through Nice. The only possibility is the splendid boulevard where employees use their lunch break on blue chairs, tourists are walking since more than 100 years, dogs are taken for a walk and - only for a few years - inline skaters are running round the street. On the narrow shingle beaches in the "Bay of Angles", public and private hotel zones are taking turns. Beyond the six-lane road there are luxury buildings like the famous "Hotel Negresco" and architectural irrelevance's next to each other.

Marineland

About 1.2 millions of visitors can be counted in Marineland, which is a sea-adventure park in "Antibes", every year. Inhabitants of the Mediterranean sea can be seen in big aquariums. Jellyfishes that are of a beauty that one is seduced to call them "medusas" are unfold and sharks show their teeth. The variety of colours has been enlarged with the new tropic aquarium in 1999.

Monaco

Comparable to a mock-castle of millionaires the principality of Monaco arouses from the mountains over the blue sea. You are invited to do a time travel into the past. For visitors a little bit of fantasy, passion and credit cards are necessary to get an impression of the tax paradise. Still, 6 million people are doing this every year. You even have to pay to get a short glimpse into the casino of "Monte Carlo", but the atmosphere is unbelievable!
Just in time for the replacement of the guards the cameras are clicking at the "Place du Palais" at 11.55 a.m. When turning the head round you get a magnificent view on the harbour, "Monte Carlo" and Italy. On the rocks "Monaco" gives the impression of being tiny, consisting of several small pieces, old and very, very well looked after.

Grasse

In the capital of scent jasmine in August and of roses in May is celebrated. Already in January mimosas are enchanting the village of the mountains everywhere. The nice old part of town can be explored by food. Or should I better say sniffled? It smells more of vanilla and raspberry than of roses and jasmine.
Behind the extraordinary beautiful "Second Empire Facade" the kitchen of fragrances that has created such world-wide known perfumes as "Chanel No. 5", loses it's magic. In the "Musée Internaional de la Parfumerie" machines can be seen and you learn a lot about distillation and technical details. It is here where more secrets are revealed than in the perfume fabrics itself.

Cannes

The words "Croisette", "Casino" and congresses alone, would be enough to make Cannes famous all over the world. Not even the movies festivals would be necessary for this effects. Cannes is the epitome of the Côte d'Azur and of wonderful travelling possibilities. Cannes is a stage, even without stars and glamour. Perhaps it is a certain kind of lifestyle - but then it is a very special one. It seems as if everything finds it's place next at each other. It can be regarded as the home of madness, the one of yesterday as well as the one of today. This is exactly what gives the city it's fascination. The "splendid boulevard" is meant to imitate the "Promenade de Anglais" in Nice and it took nearly 20 years until the boulevard, which is surrounded by palms, has been socially acceptable.

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