day off | ch3 - blog

0km of 3042km so far…

I took the day off today, the last one in France, to see the city of Nice and get some rest.

First thing in the morning, I visited the nearby hospital. It’s about 4 days now that I am feeling a mild pain on my right knee and of course it is a side effect of all this cycling. I was prepared to spend the entire day in the hospital waiting, but in less than an hour I was out. I was given a cream and I think I should now on take it very easy. I just hope it doesn’t get any worst and have to stop my trip.

I didn’t cycle at all today, but I walked for 4-5 hours all around the city. After the hospital I visited the near by Modern Art Museum of Nice, which happened to have a very good and free exhibition of Robert Longo. After going through all the galleries of the temporary and permanent exhibition, I also went up the roof which has a nice view of the city.

: Musee d’Art moderne et d’Art contemporain

: Bronze sculture in front of charcoal and graphite drawings

: One of the permanant exhibits

: The view from the roof

I then wondered around the old part of the city with the typical small alleys and the numerous cafes and restaurants. I walked up the north east hill, next to the old city, which has a castle, a cemetery and the best view of the city.

: Uphill alleys

: Nice, with the old part of the city in the foreground

: An artificial waterfall at the top

: The city’s beach

I went down again to the old city for some lunch and after I bought a few things from a bike shop, I went back to the hostel for more rest.

: I bought one of these and finally washed my socks

: Who is laughing now?

After dinner and a beer, I went back to the old city for a last wonder around. All these little alleys were packed with people. Even the smallest bar and restaurant had customers and it is not even the peak season. Nice is a very beautiful and lively city and I am glad I spent my last night of France here. It’s been a month and a half in this country, so it’s a little pity leaving it as I was just started getting used to it and becoming more fluent with the language.

30km of 2849 so far…

After a little bit of laundry, I took just a couple of things and departed for Toulon. Even if in the map La Seyne appears to be attached to Toulon, I had to cycle 10 painful kilometers, getting lost in the numerous roundabouts and trying to avoid the highway that all the roads are leading to. It took about an hour and by the time I made it to its port I was already a little disappointed, as it was yet another extremely busy city with loads of traffic. I wondered a little bit around the civilian port which is next to the military one and I asked my questions at the tourist office.

: One of the military naval schools

: The facade of the city to the sea

It was only when I left the port and started walking a little northern into the city center that I started linking it. There was an open market on one of the main pedestrian streets, from where I bought a few supplies for the night.

: The market

: Many of such alleys

: Boat parked at one of the squares

: Hard student life

: The public theater

: At one of the squares

After my lunch and a couple of hours of walking within the alleys, I rested in one of the numerous cafes for a cold drink and some internet.

: Cafe culture indeed

I left the city early enough to get back to the camping in day light. But once again it took me some time and many questions to find the correct route. I am sure this will happen again tomorrow that I will have to do the same route again to continue my trip to the east.

- This way to the camping...

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Cycling Adventures

Tag Archives: day off

Day 45 – Nice

Day 42 – Toulon