Today is my last day in Nice. I woke up to warm weather and clear blue skies outside my window. So, I will be spending the day shopping the markets, shops, and boutiques rather than packing because I refuse to accept the fact that I am leaving so soon.
The old town area in Nice is by far my favorite area to spend time in. It’s full of narrow streets winding around tall apartment buildings that somehow all fit into a warm, sunset-like color pallet.
Old Town is a great area to just get lost in. I love browsing the local artists’ shops and boutiques. On weekends, and most weekdays, you can find an open-air market set up in the many squares scattered around Nice. But, the largest and most popular markets usually take place in Cours Saleya, a square just off of the Promenade des Anglais between the beach and old town.
Le Marche aux Fleurs or the flower market is the most famous market in Saleya and perhaps in all of Nice. When I first arrived in Nice, at the tail end of the tourist season, the flower market was always packed. It was really nice to be able to visit the flower market later on in the off season when there were half as many people browsing, most of whom were local. Saleya also hosts a large food market which is a local favorite. My favorite items at these markets are usually the homemade jams and, of course, the free cheese samples.
However, the best market I’ve visited during my semester is the “brocante”. Brocante is the French word for flea market. There is a brocante set up in Cours Saleya every Monday and in Garibaldi Square, closest to my apartment, the 3rd Saturday of the month. At the brocante, I found antiques and vintage items unlike I had never seen. People sell everything from old cameras, vintage coats, jewelry of every kind, vintage prints, record players …the list goes on. I got almost all my friends and family a little something from the brocante. Some of my favorite items to browse are the old postcards, they are sold for 1-5 euros a piece, and organized in big crates. It is so interesting to see what post cards looked like from as far back as the early 1900s. Many of them have illustrations or photos of what cities all over Europe looked like years ago.
Spending time in Nice just enjoying the city and what it has to offer has strongly encouraged me to do the same in Charleston when I get back. I’ve visited multiple different cities in Europe since I’ve been here, and every time I get so excited about the scenery, the squares, the shops, etc. It has made me think of how many tourists come to Charleston every year and have the same excitement I’ve had when visiting cities in Europe. While I am very sad to leave France, I also can’t wait to get back to Charleston. I’ve realized that there is a lot I take for granted living in Charleston, and I can’t wait to come home with a renewed appreciation for all that my lovely city has to offer.