Arriving in Nice

The Riviera- Nice, France

When I first arrived in Nice, everything seemed so foreign to me.  It was overwhelming knowing how far away I was from home in an country I had never been before.  Yet, I couldn't have been more excited to have finally made it.  Before our plane flight, all the students participating in both the Nice and Saint-Laurent-du-Var immersion programs met in the JFK airport.  I enjoyed being able to meet other students before arriving in Nice.  When we landed in France, I had slept a mere 2 hours.  Still adjusted to New York time, 10 o'clock in Nice felt like 4 in the morning.  However, my jet lag didn't stop me from immediatly taking in the beauty of the country.  When I walked out of the airport, the first difference I noted in comparison to America was the taxi cabs.  At first, I thought that the fancy, silver and black Mercedes-benzes were private town cars.  However, I soon realized that they were actually Taxis.  When we began driving to the residence, I was immediately struck by the beauty of the riviera. The water was separated into 2 distinct shades of blue.  Also, the beach seemed endless, lining the city with miles of sand.

After about 15 minutes of driving, we arrived at the residence.  I was so excited to learn that each student has his or her own room! Although roomates are always fun, I have enjoyed having my own space to sleep at night and especially the luxury of having my own bathroom! After I unpacked, I grabbed some lunch prepared by the program's Chef, and took a nap.  Later that day, we toured the town in small groups so that we could familiarize ourself with the city.  During the tour, we walked through the old town of Nice, a very european style village packed with small, charming boutiques, as well as delicious restaurants and cafes.  So far, the old town has been one of my favorite spots to walk around! Later that evening, we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and I had an amazing meal.  From a general stand point, one of the highlights of the Abbey Road summer programs is definitely the meals.  I have dined in and out, and both have been delicious.  Dinners during the weekdays are typically cooked in the residence, and we normally go out for dinner on the weekends.

In all, I enjoyed having the time to settle into Nice the first day.  Although we arrived in the early morning, I appreciated that we were given an entire day just to adjust to a new rhythm.

Old Town- Nice, France

Garibaldi Square- Nice, France