Nice: Part 5 - Day 5: Saint Paul de Vence, Gourdon

Day 5

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 5

29/9 Day 5: Bus to Saint Paul de Vence --> drive to Gourdon

Must-Incur Costs
None

Optional Costs

(A) Transport 

(1) Bus to Saint Paul de Vence from Vence - EUR1,50 per person 

(2) Bus to Vence from Saint Paul de Vence - EUR1,50 per person

(B) Food

(1) Lunch at Saint Paul de Vence - Cold meat cut EUR19; 1 liter water EUR5

(2) Tea break at La Taverne Provencale, Gourdon - Cake of the day EUR6; Cappucino EUR3,90; Cafe viennois EUR4,50

(3) Dinner at Le Brasier, Vene - Salad with prawn EUR19 (mine); Salad with cheese EUR16 (his); Granini bottled drink - tomato flavour EUR3,90

(4) Grocery at Casino supermarket - EUR3,27 (red tomatoes 245g EUR0,61; bananas 600g EUR0,59; bell pepper 219g EUR1,27; 2 Michon bread EUR0,80) - for tomorrow's breakfast

The Story

29092022: Today, we take the bus to Saint Paul de Vence. Bus 400 comes frequent, and we did not have to wait long for our bus. We took the 9.35am bus and arrived within 1 hour.

The streets were narrow here and we are glad that we took the bus as we did not need to worry about parking and driving through the narrow streets. Not to mention that the French drivers do not drive within their designated lanes. 

Saint Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera and is famous as an artist village. Some famous artists have been known to live here. We were lucky to be there on a weekday and probably early too as we did not see any tourists around. We managed to take photos along the empty lanes. The pebbled narrow lanes were pleasant to walk on but maybe not during winter if it ever snows. The village is quaint and I love how the village is built. Of course, the locals who live there would not see anything special of their village. I did not go in to any of the shops because they are selling souvenirs and commercial items. I prefer the exterior of the buildings.

This is a giant olive tree!

I tried walking on the walls of the village but I was afraid to walk far as I keep imagining myself falling off the wall. 

Saint Paul de Vence village from afar. We were on our way to find lunch and we did not want to have our lunch in the village as we were sure it was expensive.

We found a lunch place by the main road. It was not too far from the bus station. 

Look at the giant portion of the food! We could not finish the fries.

We waited an hour for the bus to arrive, and we thought the bus will never arrive. I could not understand the sign at the bus stop, even after translating it. We were happy that we got the bus otherwise we might have to walk back. 

When we arrived back at the Airbnb, I suggested that we drive to Gourdon because I read that it was selected as the most beautiful village in France. My boyfriend drove and we got very stressed during the drive. The roads were narrows and winding up the mountain. A bus from the opposite direction drove on our lane after a bend but swung back in time. I, as the passenger, got sick in the stomach seeing how the drivers were. Cyclists were aplenty too and it was difficult to overtake them. When we reached Gourdon, it was the most overrated village. It is a very small village and I even convinced my boyfriend to walk around again just in case we missed any lanes and he said that we have been here before.. Do not go to Gourdon unless you are passing by. Saint Paul de Vence and Tourrettes village are way worth your time and effort.

To thank my boyfriend for being a careful driver, I treated him to a slice of today's cake and coffee which are very expensive. At least, we ate with a view of the mountains. 

Gourdon village behind me.

Back at Vence. For dinner, we tried to eat something healthy and found a place located on the smaller roads in Vence where we had salad and I had a bottled tomato drink.

After dinner, we walked to Casino supermarket to buy some vegetables and fruit for our tomorrow's breakfast.