The beach is always a good idea, no matter what part of the world you're in.
After backpacking for over two weeks with next to no downtime, a little time on the shores of the French Riviera was a warm welcome.
I've been carrying around two backpacks for far too long, feeling like the combination of a pregnant woman and a hunchback. Finally, after weeks of fun, packed days exploring the cities of Europe, I had three beautiful days on the French Riviera. I left my pack locked up in my room, threw on my bathing suit, and enjoyed the warm, pebble lined beaches of Nice, France.
Yes, you read that correctly, pebbles. As someone who often dislikes going to the beach because of sand's sneaky ability to get everywhere, the smooth and warm stones made it feel like I was getting a free spa treatment every day.
Before hitting the beach, my roommate and I would swing by the local market and grab some goodies to go -- emphasis on good. Everything in Europe is fresh and without the crazy amount of preservatives that the U.S. allows in our food. Between bundles of raspberries and strawberries from the produce vendors and fresh baked pizzas from the local bakers, we were happy as a clam basking in the sun and stuffing our faces.
If you find yourself planning a Euro-tour anytime soon, make sure to include one of the many beautiful coastal French or Italian cities in your visit. Cannes is another great spot, and home to the famous international film festival, so you really could get the best of both worlds.
Travel is wonderful, but make sure you allot some down time to just enjoy the day. Wherever you go in the world, the beach is always calling!
