Eze : The Eagle's Nest

August in Nice is hot but breezy.

You can smell the densely salted Mediterranean Sea in the air; almost as if you turned around you could see the water. The promenade is a quiet babble of tourists and locals of different dialects and languages. After spending some time roasting on the beach and enjoying the mindless and aimless wandering around the city ; we finally decided it was time to explore the tiny little village on top of the mountain : Eze. 

As we got on the 112 Nice bus to get to Eze village, I was trying to finish my sandwich I had just bought. I was getting ready for a long day of walking and exploring. Matt, my husband, had his eyes glued to the window of the bus. He urged me to do the same. I did not take him seriously until the bus started making its way up the hilly folds of the steep mountain. The tentacles of curiosity started spinning with the tiny glimpses of the nice view through the bushes .

I remember the bus ride to be no more than an hour long. As we got off the steps at the bottom of the village, there was a tourist office where we walked in to get maps and guidelines. The map takes you through the village eventually ending at the top of the mountain at Jardin Botanique d'Eze (the botanical garden of Eze). We started making our way through the stony medieval steps of Eze.

I consider myself an over enthusiast for romantic places. It was so hard for me to just walk past a nice door, or a window overlooking the sea without stopping.

I was completely transcended into a whimsical world of mystery and the view was breathtaking.

What possessed someone to build a city so high up in the mountains and actually make it so beautiful;I wondered. I would be gushing about this place for a long time from now. 

As we were hiking our way up the stairs, we came across numerous chateaux at every turn. Eze has seen its fair share of war. Once it used to be the stronghold of the Romans. This village overlooks the entire Nice, hence the name "eagle's nest". After seeing the view from the top, it made sense to me why they would call it that.  These chateaux now have turned into restaurants and hotels with amazing view.

It was tempting to spend a pretty penny here and have a gastronomic experience with a fantastic view. We just didn’t expect this and made other plans for the day.

As we reached to the top, to the botanical garden, the mood was completely different. Throughout the village the sun is blocked by the walls built around the stairs. The botanical garden on the other hand was open, with the sun glaring at your face. I would bring a hat next time I come here. There were so many cacti of different sorts. I over heard a little american boy saying "this is like Arizona". There was also the beautiful statue of Isis softening the harsh look of the stones and the cactus and the sun. 

This place does have a very cleansing quality to it. We were trying to look around to see if we can ask someone to take a picture for us; it was a bit of a challenge. Everyone was lost in this enchanting place and busy snapping the digital wonder machines of their own. 

We also saw little shops of herbs and perfumeries and unique pieces of fashion. This purse in particular caught my attention.

My only regret is not being able to spend more time at Eze.

What I would wear : comfortable flats, bring some water, it is a little bit of a hike, and a hat.

If I could do it all over again : I would definitely enjoy a nice authentic meal while watching the sun set on the Mediterranean Sea.

Time Spent : approximately 2 hours