The Trekking Pawns' Diary

The clouds come in fast, but still a beautiful place to explore. This view is from  Colline du Château --- October in Nice is a delightful time to visit, offering a balance between the city’s vibrant atmosphere and the mellowing crowds. It’s the sweet spot where you get the best of both worlds—a lively yet laid-back vibe that makes it perfect for exploring without the hustle and bustle of summer tourists. What to Expect Fewer Crowds, More Authenticity: The streets and beaches are noticeably quieter, making it a great time to experience Nice like a local. Without the masses, you can take your time to stroll through Old Town, explore its winding alleys, and enjoy people-watching from outdoor cafes at a more relaxed pace. The restaurants are easier to get into, and you won’t feel rushed. You might even strike up a conversation with a friendly local! Perfect Beach Weather (Almost): While the temperatures might not be sweltering, the Mediterranean Sea is still warm enough for a swim. You

Not as mean beach goers and many places are starting to clean up their cabanas.  --- When we were planning this trip to Nice, we figured that summer would be too busy. We had visited briefly two years ago and remembered the city being packed with tourists. So, we thought fall would be the perfect balance—fewer crowds, cooler weather, and still enough sunshine to enjoy the beach. But as the trip got closer, we kept obsessively checking the weather reports, and let’s just say the forecasts weren’t looking too promising. The hydraulic outlook for the Mediterranean didn’t exactly scream “sun-soaked beach days.” That first day, though, was beautiful—sunny with a few clouds scattered here and there, just enough to remind us it wasn’t quite summer anymore. We headed down to the beach, wearing our swimsuits optimistically, but when we dipped our toes in the water, it was colder than we remembered. It was a bit too brisk for us, so we decided to hold off on swimming for now. Instead, we laid on

Exploring the local markets in Nice has been one of the highlights of our time here! There are specific spots throughout the city set up for daily markets, and let me tell you, we are hooked. These markets are where locals get their groceries and seafood, and they feel worlds away from the markets we’re used to back in America. One of our favorite spots so far has been the market at the Liberation tram stop, thus known as the Libération market . It’s at this bustling intersection with the train station just a block away, Tram Line 1 zooming by, La Gare du Sud looming nearby (more on that later!), and several bus lines converging. But the real star of this area is the massive open-air market—it’s the kind of place you imagine when you think of a traditional European market. Pedestrian streets filled with stall after stall, all selling the freshest vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat. No clothes, no knick-knacks, and no trendy cafés trying to sell you pre-made sandwiches—just pure, local

We got cute notebook books for class in our welcome bag! --- Que Sera Sera Before coming to Nice for our French course at EF, we both had a pretty solid streak going on Duolingo—over 700 days! But here’s the catch: he was far more diligent. He was watching videos, learning French basics, and practicing pronunciation, while I just did the bare minimum—one lesson a day. I still remember the hilarious satire article we read when we first started Duolingo. It joked about feeling like you’ve mastered the language through an app, only to freeze up completely when talking to a real native speaker. It was funny at the time, but as we prepared for this course, I couldn’t help but relate to that feeling of panic! He took it as a challenge and doubled down on his learning, even getting into " Learn French with Alexa " on YouTube (check it out if you’re learning, she’s great!). Meanwhile, I sat back, watching the videos and avoiding practicing. I’ve always been more on the quiet side, bu

(In the upper right corner, click the flags to change to the language of preference.) As part of our ongoing adventures here in Nice, we’ve been experimenting with different ways to navigate the city’s public transportation system, specifically the Lignes d’Azur metro and bus networks. While playing around with the Lignes d’Azur Tickets app, we discovered some interesting pros and cons, especially compared to other transit systems we've used (looking at you, Paris Metro!). The Lignes d’Azur Digital Metro Card: A Pleasant Surprise One of the standout features of the Lignes d’Azur app is that the digital metro card doesn’t require data to work. This is a game-changer for us! Normally, when traveling, we try to limit our data usage to keep ourselves more immersed in the moment rather than constantly scrolling through social media or updating ourselves on the latest news. The fact that we could access and use the app offline meant one less thing to worry about and more time for explo

(I couldn't resist, I absolutely love the view from our window!) *** Bonjour from Nice, France! The Trekking Pawns have officially started our immersive French adventure, and what a journey it’s been so far. Our trip started with a layover in Montreal, and although it was just five hours, we had a surprisingly good time at the airport! We debated leaving the airport to explore the city—after all, Old Quebec looked incredible from what we’d seen online. However, considering the hour-long trip into the city center and the fact that our layover was from 4 pm to 9 pm, we didn’t want to risk getting stuck in immigration or missing our flight back through security. A hop on hop off bus would have been a fun easy way to quickly see all the big spots! Instead, we decided to stay put in the international terminal and made the most of our time there. Montreal Airport Fun The international section of the Montreal airport has quite a bit to keep you entertained. There was a little putting act

As The Trekking Pawns, we’re all about making the most of our travels—and that includes figuring out the easiest and most affordable way to get around! During our time in Nice, France, we discovered a few public transportation options that made exploring the Côte d’Azur a breeze. With the city’s modern contactless cards from Lignes d’Azur , getting around has never been easier. Here’s a quick rundown of what we learned and how we plan to use these options during our French adventures. 1. "Ma Carte" : The Ultimate Go-To for Regular Travelers We love the convenience of the "Ma Carte"! This personalized contactless card can be reloaded with ease and comes with your name and photo, so it feels like your very own travel buddy. For just €2, you get a reusable card that allows you to purchase and top up occasional tickets or season passes. Plus, if you ever lose it (we’ve all been there), you can get it replaced along with all the tickets you’ve purchased. Super convenient

 We are so excited!! Choosing EF for our French language journey was an easy decision for us, and here’s why. French isn’t just a beautiful language; it’s one of the most important languages in the world. From the United Nations to the International Olympic Committee and the Red Cross, French is a key language in international relations, business, and humanitarian work. It’s spoken across continents, from Canada to Haiti and North Africa, making it truly global. We wanted to learn a language that would not only enrich our travels but also open doors to new cultures and connections around the world. When it came to choosing where to study, EF offered us the perfect options: Paris or Nice. Both cities are incredible, but we decided to immerse ourselves in Nice. Picture this—learning French in a place where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Alpine foothills. Our days are filled with intensive French courses that build a solid foundation, but we also get to practice our French in real-world