Nice- Just Nice

Nice was a fun one time experience.The sky was downcast for most of our trip which sucks for beach lovers but works out great for me (less sun exposure = less skin aging hooray).  Would i go back to Nice again? Probably not cos we have nicer (and cheaper) beaches in Asia like Boracay. The people watching weren't all that fantastic. Additionally, there was this bus driver who saw the five of us flagging for the bus at the bus stop (the bus is supposed to make a stop according to the signs) but didn't stop so that kinda ruined our experience a little. 

Place Massena

Loads of fountains/statues in Europe.

Reminded me of Venice.

Strolling down Promenade des Anglais.

Resorted to stealing the bf's toilet slippers as I didn't pack any and didn't feel like wearing covered shoes out. 

I have a soft spot for sausage dogs. Probably a residue from my childhood days when my Dad came back from a long outpost  in Australia and brought back a stuffed toy Dachshund. That and super hard nougats. 

Heart to Heart Talk. Shaggy dog (aww).

Blue Nautical Strips.

Vintage car exhibition. Jaguar.

Vieux Nice (Old Town)

Flower Market. Pretty small scale compared to our Far Est Floral.

Ending off with a lion ^Roar^.

Accommodation

1. Villa Saint Exupery Gardens 22 Avenue Gravier. 

Review: Pretty decent at around 18 euro/bed/night in 8 bed mixed dorm. Only con is this place is packed with partying folks so it can get loud at night.

Carcassonne - Tale as Old as Time

 When I first heard of Carcassonne as a beautiful medieval fortress, I was expecting to see a "small provincial town" right out of Disney (I know right!). Think cobbled stones, fountains, creeping ivy, singing birds and lovely flowers. 

With great expectations comes great disappointment. This place was full of shit (literally, birdshit) and was swarmed packed with tourists  . 

Nonetheless, Carcassonne retains her old charm. A visit once is sufficient.

Lourdes - Pilgrimage Town

First stop of the road trip (Lourdes-Carcassonne-Nice-Monaco) with 3 other friends. Don't expect any tourist attractions here as it is more of a pilgrimage town for Catholics. Will recommend a 3 hour stopover if your are curious about this place unless you are coming here for any specific purpose.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on 18 occasions at Lourdes (from wiki). As such, this place was swarmed with people who came from all over the world hoping for miraculous healing. 

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

Loads of tour groups.

Bottling some spring water from the grotto (believed to bring healing properties). 

Didn't take any pictures at the Grotto but there were ongoing mass all day. Prayer chantings and a strong atmosphere of hope. 

We also visited the home of St. Bernadette (no pictures).

Accommodation

1. Hotel Dauphine Lourdes 13 boulevard de la Grotte - Lourdes. 

Review: Room was nice and clean. Nothing to shout about.

Food

1. Pizzeria Casa Italia, 13 Rue Bernadette Soubirous, 65100 Lourdes, France 

Review: Really good pizza. 

2. Indian Briyani place along street of souvenir store 

Review: Fulfilled Indian food craving but damn expensive.Ten Euros per plate of simple Briyani. Tasted pretty ordinary.  

Rouen - Food

Yvonne Bakery Eclaire 
(5mins across the street from Rouen station)

This is soooooo good. You definitely have to try this if you are in Rouen. The eclair skin is crunchy and chewey and they are very generous with the fillings! My favorites are speculoos/cinnamon and cappuccino.

Tirasmisu Ice Cream Cake

Available at Carrefour. Love the sporadic utburst of sugar rush when you bite into the crunchy biscuity parts. Pure bliss. 

Chocolates and Moscato
The moscato was damn cheap like 2 euros each. Not very nice though.

Rouen Business School Cafeteria

Avoid at all cost. About 3.5 euro per meal (varies from steak+ frites to couscous etc). You get what you pay.

Regular Stuff we cook
W usually buys the grocery (which is a big deal cos Carrefour is soo far away), cooks (cos he is a fussy eater) and takes the trash out braving the cold. I would do the preparation (wash the ingredients chop the onions etc) and wash up. 

Foie Gras

Available at Carrefour. W cooked it pan seared style. Sinfully good.

Clockwise: Aglio Olio - Omelette Cheese - Pre-marinaded Carrefour Chicken Wings

                                 
                                    Clockwise: Brinjal-Potatoes-Broccoli-Miso Soup

Clockwise: Venison Meat- Chicken Tagine - Steak-Spam fries  

Clockwise: Prawns - Mussels - Salmon

Clockwise: Chicken Rice - Almond Jelly - Chicken porridge with pork floss - Steamed Tofu - Fried Rice

Top-Down: Corn Soup - Lotus Soup - Bak Kuh Teh (epic fail so no photograph)

Rouen - Daily Living

1. Accommodation 

Paid S$2000 for my 4 months rental (inclusive utilities bills) to stay at Pleaide and S$18/month for internet. Also entitled to S$300 CAF housing rebate. France social welfare system ftw. Unlike Anglo where exchange students throw parties almost every other night, Pleaide is much quieter as most residents are international students staying for longer semesters to pursue their MBA.  There is a common laundry/dryer area and trash collection point located a short distance away from my building. The only downside is that internet connection here is pretty slow so download shows in school if you have to.

Clockwise: Kitchen-Toilet-Shower-Study/Dining Area-Wardrobe-2 Bedrooms

Locals' residence located right opposite the bus-stop

Bus Stop 

Roads outside Pleaide

Season Change

2. Transportation

The bus fare paying system is similar to London's oyster card/ Singapore's EZ-link car's. You can top up your card at the machine located at the bus stop behind the book store or at Rouen rail station counter. Tops up are based on the number of bus trips and ten is the minimum. You tap your card when you board and alight from the bus. Regardless of the distance, one trip will be deducted from your card.

If you board another bus within the 30 minutes time frame, no further deduction will be made from your fare card. I didnt encounter any bus conductor during my entire 4 months but our friends saw this dude getting handcuffed off the bus by the bus conductor as he didnt pay his fare.

Waiting time for buses averages 20mins so its necessary to check the bus timing schedule. To read the bus schedule, you have to first spot the color of the date (1st photo below) and then check within that color for the desired time frame (2nd photo below).  It is good to arrive 5 mins earlier as buses don't run on the dot. I prefer to walk to school (10mins) from Pleaide.

3. Grocery

We usually do our grocery shopping at Carrefour and buy rice and eggs in bulk. There is also a Chinese store located at the Rouen city's central. It sells light soya sauce (no dark soya sauce), oyster sauce, beansprouts (crazy expensive), frozen wantons, frozen glutinous rice balls, canned Thailand green curry, curry spices, vietnam food, hotpot sauces, Yeo's drinks etc. 

Rouen - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Woods)

Shortcut through the woods on my way home (Pleaide)

Fall, approaching.