“Enchantment lies in everyday moments if you are observant” -Amy Leigh Mercree
Day 1 - Welcome to Nice!
Our trip started at Chicago's O’hare Airport. We were going to treat ourselves and fly first class (thanks to the American Airlines’ Frequent Flyer Miles Program) but little did we know several others had that same idea. We were number seven and eight on the wait list, and unfortunately they never called our names. We did enjoy our nine hour trip, however, with the other three people sharing our row! Mike discovered that Tetris was available to play on the plane, and brushed up on his skills.
When we landed at London's Heathrow Airport, the race began. We had less than an hour to make our connection which required transferring ourselves and our luggage from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5. You can see we were greeted with a bright orange “Express Connect” ticket which was supposed to help us fast track through Heathrow. However, that did not mean much when we got to security as we were asked to go to the back of the line with 20 minutes left before our flight to Nice took off. Thanks to the kindness of a traveler at the front of our line, we threw our personal belongings on the security belt, barely put our shoes back on, and started running to gate A22 (think Home Alone!) |
Two Travelers and MOST of their luggage arrive...
Two travelers and one suitcase arrived in Nice which are reasonable statistics considering the connection time we had at Heathrow. We arrived at Hotel Vendome, which was a mansion converted to a hotel with a grand staircase in the lobby. Not bad!
The rooms were smaller than what you would expect in America, but it was exactly what we needed for our week in Nice. The shared spaces were perfect for group meetings, and breakfast provided the energy we needed to start each day! |
Off to Dinner!
After the most amazing nap we had ever experienced, we were off to meet our group and then taste our first dinner in the French Riviera! Our group of 24 gathered in the breakfast area of Hotel Vendome. We were timid and quiet, as if you had stepped into a classroom on the first day of school. But when Daniela entered, her smile and enthusiasm warmed up the room immediately. We knew this was going to be a good trip!
Daniela lead us through Massena Square, pointing out areas to become familiar with the social center, and places to visit on our free afternoons. We arrived to a sea of grinning faces at Restaurant Le Grand Balcon who were going to wait on us for the evening. They assisted us with the menu, the language, and were our initial glance into the culture. We sat with a couple from Kansas City and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner, and a chocolate lava cake that was to die for!
Daniela lead us through Massena Square, pointing out areas to become familiar with the social center, and places to visit on our free afternoons. We arrived to a sea of grinning faces at Restaurant Le Grand Balcon who were going to wait on us for the evening. They assisted us with the menu, the language, and were our initial glance into the culture. We sat with a couple from Kansas City and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner, and a chocolate lava cake that was to die for!
Daily Snapshot
~Ashley should have packed some clothes in Mike’s bag, and Mike should have done the same with Ashley’s bag. Then, when there was lost luggage, there would be a few options until stores were open.
~We would eat at Restaurant Le Grand Baclon every night! It’s a restaurant that is off the beaten path near the water, so you see more locals dining there than tourists. If you can make it a stop on your trip, do so. ~We were full from our meal and tired from our travels, so we headed back to the hotel. Looking back on it, we wish we would have grabbed a glass of wine and taken it all in! |