Need for Grease

The morning following our night on the town we awoke to a dire need for greasy breakfast. Excited to see the old town and do some shopping, we head out on foot. But wait. Turns out, this town is closed on the weekend! We do satisfy our need by finding the ONE place open and serving food - a bar/restaurant/deli. He sees our need and offers to just make us up a nice greasy breakfast sandwich. Perfect :). We love W-S now.

Winstom-Salem: the Fashion and Jazz Capital

I am visiting Winstom-Salem with my friend to attend an old friend's wedding. Of course we are too snobby to stay at the recommended La Quinta, so we opt for the Mariott in Old Town. "Great!", we think. "We'll see the little old town, art galleries, treat ourselves to dinner - it will be fun."

On my blackberry we discover a little place only a block away that is highly recommended for a nice night out on the town, with live Jazz! "Eclectic and interesting with great food." Sounds perfect! Not really. Or I'm a snob. Yep, probably that.

We get all dressed up in our fun-night-out attire appropriate for the East Coast, but probably only for DC or farther north. We make reservations and show up to find that we are so drastically overdressed that we get stares. Not only are we essentially wearing black from head to toe, but we are not wearing jeans or sweatpants. Oh well. Dress the part.

And, no, there is no live Jazz. But there is a live band - playing Rocky Mountain High as local townsters clog in the front of the restaurant.

The college-aged waiter is aiming to convince us that he is an actor and heading for New York, recommends dishes that taste like they were microwaved and finally asks "So, I assume you are going to finish this bottle right?", pointing to the "delicious" wine he recommended. ha. Yes.

While I sarcastically relay this, we did in fact have a fantastic time.

Baguettes

I almost forgot to post this. Although stereotypes originate from reality, it's always fun to see one that is realistic. In Nice, every morning I saw women walking with a small bag of groceries and -yes, it's true- a baguette poking out of the top of the bag. Love it. I wish I had a little market to walk by and purchase my daily baguette.

Airport Security

Good grief. I had no idea getting through security from Nice to DC would be so insane. Let me just draw it out for you:

• Line 1: security questions at check-in with delta - receive stickers on everything you are carrying and checking.
• Line 2: give them your bags
• Line 3: bag screening through security
• Line 4: entering the gate walkway
• Line 5: show passport again and answer security questions before getting to the plane
• Finally! Get on the plane and arrive at JFK in NY.
• Line 6: wait to enter the customs area
• Line 7: wait for a customs desk to stamp your passport
• Wait for your baggage
• Line 8: wait to make any declarations with customs
• Line 9: RECHECK my baggage!
• Line 10: security screening AGAIN!
• Line 11: wait to get through the gate after the plane is an hour late
• Finally made it. I wont include any waiting that I did at IAD for the stupid people-mover.

I could have traveled to Nice twice in the time I stood in lines yesterday! I'm glad to be home but I will miss Nice with its turquoise ocean front and 70 degree weather.

St. Paul-de-Vence

I went with some friends to an ancien ville that was a fortress. It is now quite touristy but it is beautiful. Until I can load my pictures, here is a view from the hill overlooking the old cemetary. We had fun shopping, looking at art and just walking through the old streets over cobblestone. This map shows the travel from Nice to St. Paul-de-Vence.