Rocco's Riviera Rambling: All Dressed Up for Christmas

Place Massena by night in full colour

We are simply in awe at how beautiful Nice has been made to look for Christmas. Decorative Christmas lights strung from building to building criss-crossing the streets are everywhere as the city has been all dressed up for the holidays to give it a magical, festive feel.

Apart from some grocery shopping in Ventimeglia Saturday morning followed by lunch at a seaside restaurant sitting on pillars (what a magnificent view with the sun shinning as brightly as ever), we decided that we’d stay put and enjoy Nice the next two weekends. There is a definite buzz in the air as people scurry around buying gifts and get ready for Christmas. The city has started to come to life again as Parisiens, Italians, Brits and Russians with second homes descend upon it to escape the cold and enjoy some sunshine. The rains have disappeared, replaced with sunny crisp days and clear blue skies. One woman assured us that with November behind us we are over the coldest and wettest part of winter. Given some of the reports we are getting from back home (minus 13 today yikes!) we’ll take the sun-filled 12-14C we’ve been getting over the past two weeks.

Cadeaux falling from the sky

Saturday and Sunday evening we decide to join every other person in the city and head to Place Massena, undoubtedly the focal point of Nice. The square has been transformed into a remarkably, beautiful winter-wonderland - sans la neige thankfully!! There are colourful lights everywhere brilliantly beamed onto the facades of the buildings, in alternate colours and designs. Three dimensional, lit-up, decorative shapes have been installed throughout the square and Sinatra, Bennett, Nat King Cole and a host of unfamiliar French singers crooning Christmas classics piped in over speakers in the background.

Tasty Churros

A hugely popular skating pad has been installed and off to the side an outdoor café offering up vin chaud and other drinks overlooks smiling skaters. Similar to the ones we saw in Berlin an outdoor Christmas market selling food and CNE-like knick-knacks you’d never want to look at again after buying has been installed. I can never resist roasted chestnuts so I stand in line while Nancy and the girls opt for the sugary and tasty churros with nutella dipping sauce.

Up and away on the ferris wheel

With treats in hand we stroll through a mini-forest with countless (perhaps 800-1000) real pine trees that have been put up and covered in 'snow'. A reindeer drawn sleigh allows people to take precious polaroids of children not yet old enough to think they are too cool for such silliness. Tired of beaming into the camera Simona and Maddy scoff at the thought. We are lured to the outdoor fun-fair like play park with a dozen or so trampolines, jumping castles and slides, jungle gym like apparatuses and a bungee-trampoline station which the girls enjoyed.

Looking down on Massena from the ferris wheel

The highlight for me was taking a ride on the biggest, brightest ferris wheel which towers over the square providing a beautiful panoramic view of Nice, Place Massena immediately below and the ocean to the south.

By day or night spending time in Place Massena during this holiday season has a magical feel to it.

Sal