Nice *pronounced niece* is the destination you didn't even know you wanted to visit. It’s the place where they film Dolce and Gabbana commercials with those European models, and it’s only when you get there, that you realize that you should have taken your diet seriously.
The summer of 2019 had something in the air. It was giving me prequel vibes, like 2020 was going to be the best year ever! (I write this as I sit quarantined in my mom’s house during a global pandemic...)
But in that moment, at that time, it felt so surreal. To sit at a café overlooking the French Riviera and think to yourself, ‘my hotel room needs better lighting’ is a level of success I NEVER thought I would experience. Looking back at the trip of a lifetime I’ve got three lessons that will help you do better than me in Nice, France.
1. Be mentally prepared to take pictures of yourself.
I have over 600 pictures of Nice but I’m only in about 7 of them, because I was too body conscious to take pictures. In hindsight I’m sure I looked fine, but I wasn’t mentally prepared to see myself on camera. It was a stark contrast to what my snapchat filters were showing me. Be prepared to love whatever you see on camera and BE IN THOSE PICTURES! If you ever get to go to such a gorgeous place like Nice, you've already won.
2. Be ready to pay for water.
I’m an Arizonan and although it’s not illegal to make someone pay for water it’s unheard of. It can get up to a 120F on a hot summer day! In my privilege,I stoped by a little café and asked for water. I was rudely awakened when I was asked to pay… and it ain't cheap either. So, keep your euros, and bring a double wall water bottle to keep the water you pay for cold.
3. Do something you would do at home.
Some of my best memories in Nice where just walking to the drug store and getting facial cream. Doing things on vacation that you would normally do at home makes a special kind of memory. The temporary assimilation makes you feel like less of a tourist and allows you to sink into the culture. It's those little moments that you end up cherishing.
xo
Chi
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