Nice is Nice

This summer we have been living from high to high, with an uncanny number of celebrations and visitors (and vacations, which are celebrations all in themselves – a perk of living in Europe that my work holiday count more than doubled). We even spent two weeks back in the States visiting family, friends and New York — we missed you so!

Last month was our first wedding anniversary. We took a three day weekend to the French Riviera, drinking in the scenery over crisp white wine, bathing on the sunny, rocky beaches and taking wonderful long walks in the hot summer sun. It felt like we grew up just a little more that weekend, realizing we were leaving our excited newlywed phase with so many milestones and entering into our calmer, lifelong partnership.

If Nice hasn’t been on your list of places to visit, it’s one to add. Stay at Hotel Le Negresco — we did and loved everything about the art deco style and close proximity to the beach — and book a fancy dinner one night at their restaurant Le Chantecler. With two Michelin stars, you need to go hungry, drink champagne and prepare for a four-hour leisurely multi-course dinner which will give you enough time to talk about all the work seen at the Matisse and Chagall museums.

Just before our anniversary dinner, wearing the sash from my wedding gown x

Work up an appetite the next day with a morning sail around the Bay of Angels and pick up lunch at the market (the best time to go is late morning on Saturdays!) for the ripest peaches, fresh sandwiches and just-off-the-griddle socca. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it! Eat it picnic style at the beach, and spend the rest of the day taking in the glamorous families and young children running around in water shoes to not cut their feet on the rocks. Other recommendations: dinner at JAN, hiking the coastline, and strolling along the promenade.

First delicious bites of socca at the market!

We ended the weekend back home on Palace Gardens Terrace, breaking out the top tier of our wedding cake from the freezer (for a buttercream cake, unwrap completely and set it on the counter for three hours as it defrosts – it will be ready to eat and absolutely delicious) and dancing barefoot in our living room to James Taylor. We read love letters from each other, and may have cried a little (okay, just me because my husband’s a doll). We talked through our year, where we were just twelve short months ago and how it feels like time has just flown. Aside from the letters, our gift to ourselves was new personalized stationery, which I’m dying to use! x

Just three rosebuds managed to be living following our weekend away, the perfect number to add to the top of the cake.