Nice, Villefranche, Menton.....

3 towns in one day is too much. Insufficient, but spectacular in each....start in Nice again, with a walk on the beach (see people swimming and am inspired to try also, so return to hostel for swimsuit), walk around Vieux Nice and Castle Hill (pictures of the water from this vantage point are ridiculously beautiful), buy food for picnic on the beach....yes you are going to get a detailed list. =) A fresh baguette aux cereales, fresh goat's milk cheese, super ripe and delicious cherry tomatoes, olives flavored with garlic and basil (holy shlamola, those things were amazing!!) Proceed to catch the bus at 1:30 pm (significant delays because of Carnaval - boo!) but finally make it to the beach at Villefranche around 2 pm. Picnic barefoot in the fantastic sun by the Mediterranean. Feeling very VERY grateful for life and all of its goodness at this point. But missing someone to share it with. Test the water, but it is painfully cold on my feet, so opt for the option of putting my shoes back on, rather than swimming in the sea. Ha! 'Petite Nature' yes. Catch the next bus to Menton and juuuuuuuuuuuuust miss the parade. Bummer. Get to see the last 3 floats heading back to the parking lot.....for next time, I suppose. Spend 2 hours walking around the Gardens, in utter admiration and picture frenzy of all the structures they created and decorated with oranges and lemons. Get a hot 'lemonade' (literally just fresh squeezed lemon juice, hot water, and honey) and buy fresh Menton kumquats! Woohoo! Walk around the Port and beach of Menton by night and catch the closing of the festival with the firework show. Actually much better than I expected! Had it synchronized with music and excerpts from "Around the World in 80 Days" (the theme of the festival this year, as it is the 80th anniversary). Lovely time! Catch a train back, along with masses of other people, but I'm surrounded by very good natured people, so it was a grand old time. Now off to bed to prep for last day in Nice tomorrow!