Let me make this easy for you; if you live in the US you don't have this type of credit card. The technology was introduced a while back but not widely accepted (because merchants would need to purchase entirely new hardware to accept the new card while maintaining a strip reader during the transition. I.e. this all equals $$ and we're slow to change when it costs us something). You also as a foreigner (read: American) cannot apply for a credit card in europe without residency (temp or permanent). So in short, you're screwed. Factor in time to wait in line with everyone else to buy your train tickets.
All of this aside - for the most part I found the train employees at all the stations I needed to stop at to be very accommodating and bi/tri-lingual (most spoke French, English and Spanish. Now I'm REALLY jealous).
From Barcelona to Nice, which is where I decided to set up base for the week, the journey is approximately 10-11 hours and four trains (Barcelona to Figures, Figures to Montpellier, Montpellier to Marseille, Marseille to Nice). They are a mixture of high speed trains and comparatively slower speed trains with varying amounts of air conditioning. When I say varying I mean high speed trains will get you some and slow trains will get you none, so ensure you sit by a window that opens.
I arrived at Nice around 10pm on a Sunday evening and upon disembarking from the train headed to the "i" counter for information. When I asked the guy if he had a map of the town he said "No". When I asked if he could just point me to a specific street or rather directionally was it this way (to the left) he responded "yes". Getting that he was ignoring me I ask "is it this way" (to the right) to which he responds "yes". I got a good laugh despite him being such a peckerhead.
NICE
On the walk from the train station to the hotel I found this restaurant; Ah-Ha China Fast Food. No idea why I found (and still find) this so funny but there ya' go.
Despite the construction outside of my hotel room, here are some lovely views of Nice.
A view of the hotel - Grand Hotel Aston (or as we call it in the US, the Clarion hotel. Amazing how nice "lower end hotels" (in US) are in Europe.
Below: the square just down the street from the hotel was infinitely more beautiful with all the lights at night. The sculpture of David (maybe a different name in French) was really accentuated by the lighting (hee hee)
Below: Unfortunately you can't see them clearly here but atop these posts are statues which light up at night of people in weird positions (the one closest and sitting and hugging knees in, the one off to the left is kneeling and so on). No idea why they were there or what they signify, if anything.
Oh good - it's still hot!!! I was nervous it wouldn't be.
The water in Nice looks lovely; however I didn't swim here as the beach is pebbles (vs sand) and I didn't feel like buying a straw mat to lug around for rocky beaches.
Views of Nice at night:
Below: better safe than sorry, the French always say.
Below: impromptu dancing one night at a square in Nice.
Below: she's pushing a stroller and this is her outfit. Wow - don't see many moms like this in the US. Hell, I don't look like her and I'm not a mom! French know how to do it right.
Food:
For lunch the first day I decided to try a kabob place near the train station. I tried to order off the menu but was informed that I could order anything I wanted but I was only going to get a chicken kabob. Wow- thanks! Not what I expected (I was thinking of grilled chicken with veggies, rice and salad like in the US) but it was tasty.
Below: my very first french breakfast in Nice. A shot of expresso (not by design; I thought I was getting something a bit less bitter) and a crepe. I can say of both experiences I tried it and well, that was good enough for me.
Below: delicious dinner but yet again, the head. Thankfully the waiter was nice enough to help me out and debone/decapitate my meal.
A stand of fresh seafood as you walk down a street jam packed with people and restaurants.
Taxi anyone? Yes, it's a Mercedes; what else would it be?
MONACO - MONTE-CARLO
What I've learned about Monaco is the following: it's a city state, not part of France. It's independence was ensured when Prince Reiner III married Grace Kelly and thus producing an heir to the thrown. (Based on what I read this was the sole intent of the marriage, to save the monarchy and Monaco from reverting back to france upon the expiration of some treaty)
Other than that, Monico is absolutely lovely and filthy, stinkin' rich! Apparently there's 0% unemployment and has one of, if not, the highest number of millionaires and billionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world. You can see it too with all the high end cars that roam the streets and the clothing people wear. After 6pm you can't get in ANYWHERE including the casino unless you're in some designer name.
Below: pictures of the town.
I wonder if everyone who owns a home in Monte Carlo also owns a yacht?
Below: Casino in Monte-Carlo where I lost 200 euros and then subsequently won it back PLUS 50 euros! Of course this was at 2pm in the afternoon when they let "commoners' enter the casino. In actuality I was trying to escape the high afternoon heat (over 90 degrees AGAIN) but the 50 euros was a nice addition.
Below: Picture outside of the casino.
Hotel outside of the casino.
Below: pictures of the castle of Monte Carlo.
Below: Wonder what the changing of the "guard" looks like here. Bet its just a tad smaller scale than Buckingham Palace.
Below: Views of Manco from the castle. I need a yacht.
Post exploration of Monaco I decided to purchase a chair and towel to enjoy the rest of the day splashing away in another portion of the Mediterranean Sea.
CANNES
The city that hosts the infamous Cannes film festival every year. I can say that I walked most of this town in under 1 hours and while it's nice, it wasn't the best of the three towns I visited in the french riviera.
Below: me on the red carpet. "Who is she wearing" they all screamed. Something that will get you snickered at by some snooty french pre-pubescent kid when you ask when the casino opens and if there's a dress code. "You look like you're going to the beach" he says. Wow - rocket scientist.
Below: views from around the town.
Below: If you need to use the toilet, there's one right on the street; it'll only cost you 0.50 euros to use it. Or it'll shoot you to the nearest bank teller. Not sure which as I was not going to try it either way.
And now it was time to say "adieu" to the French Riviera. My 4 hour chariot, or hot box rather, to Montpellier awaits.
Below: There was some concern that from Figures, Spain we would not be able to continue on via train to Barcelona and would instead have to take a bus due to a fire along the way. Thankfully they were able to contain the fire enough to let the train pass but as you can see, it wasn't far from the tracks.
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