Ferris wheel and winter sunset in Place Massena, Nice, France. Tickets cost about US $8 and you sit in enclosed cars rather than in swinging seats. The result is an enjoyable ride, even if you aren’t a fan of heights. In all, it’s a great way to spend a leisurely half-hour or so. Nice erects […]

Rue Obscure, Villefranche-sur-mer. This 425-foot (130 meter) passageway runs parallel to the shore in Villefranche, about 5 miles from downtown Nice, France. Dating from 1260, it was originally an open-air section of the original defensive ramparts of the town. Over the centuries, the town grew up around and above it, transforming it into a covered […]

U.S. Army tank parked in front of the Monument aux Morts (Monument to the Dead) in Nice. The tank was part of the 74th anniversary ceremony honoring the bravery and sacrifices of the French Resistance. On August 28, 1944, they rose up against the Nazis who were occupying Nice. By the end of the day, the […]

Summertime hiking at Auron Ski Resort in Mercantour National Park, southern France. The base camp — not shown in the photo — sits at 5,250 feet (1600m) and some of the 43 runs rise nearly 3,000 feet above that, so skiers and snowboarders (and hikers and bikers in the summer) have a lot of terrain to […]

American jeeps with pin-up girls parading through the streets of Villefranche-sur-mer on July 4. The US 6th Fleet was based in Villefranche from 1948 until 1966. As a result, the community has long had close ties with America. Every American Independence Day, they host a day-long series of events to honor that friendship. Visitors can […]

Burning of a fishing boat during the Fete de la Saint-Pierre (Festival of Saint Peter), Nice France. Held on or around June 29, which is the feast day of Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, the festival begins with a marine parade and the blessing of the fishing fleet. Afterwards, a procession of religious […]