Thursday, August 25, 2011

[ med cruise day 2 - nice ]

No. 2 ~ Nice, France

THIS HAD TO BE my favourite day of our trip. We docked in Villefranche Sur Mer and while some went off to discover Monaco, Monte Carlo or Eze, we chose to take a short train ride further west to Nice.

Before leaving for our trip, I had Googled to see if there were any events happening on the day we would be there. And you'll see why this was my favourite day...



Villefranche was such a cute little place - so picture-perfect. We headed through the narrow streets to find our way to the train station.





I've never seen such a charming train station and I couldn't get over the beautiful floors inside. Thank goodness my guy is French - it makes purchasing tickets so much easier! We waited for the train and took in the pretty views to the beach.




We arrived in Nice about 15 minutes later at a much more elaborate train station.





We made our way through town to the old part of Nice on the shore {we found out later that a new tram could have saved us a lot of walking}.





The seaside area was beautiful with its round pebble beaches. We had a bite at a beach bistro and then off to take in what I was waiting for...





an antique market!

I couldn't believe my luck that there would be a French antique market happening on the one day we were there! For any of you who love this sort of thing as much as I do, you may need to sit down for this...















And so what did I buy? 

Well, I have to admit that it was gut-wrenching to have to limit my purchases {I had to keep in mind lugging it all back to the ship and flying home}.

So I eliminated the chandeliers, heavy piles of linen and beautiful furniture and narrowed it down to some art for our new place and a couple of special finds.


a few vintage advertisements to frame for an art wall...





a couple of old seaside gallery posters...




a vintage French phone

{needs a good cleaning but I got it for 20 euros compared to a clean one a couple of booths away for 60 euros}



and the most special purchase of the day?

a vintage 1970s Louis Vuitton...



The thing I loved most about this bag, was the lovely French woman who sold it to me.

It had belonged to her now 85 yr old sister who had received several LVs over the years from her American husband when he travelled and this was the last one she owned. I couldn't help but snap her pic - I could have brought her home with me, she was so adorable.



I'm so glad I discovered the market was happening that day - otherwise we may have headed to Monte Carlo not knowing.

So can you see why Nice was my favourite day of the trip?

lisa





24 comments:

Razmataz said...

Lisa, it all looks wonderful. I would love to attend a french market one day.

And the purse is lovely, especially since you have a history for it....plus it is the real deal. I don;t think anyone was making LV knock offs in the 70's/

Anonymous said...

What a great tour, great photographs. Makes it a bit hard for me to now get ready for work. :)
Have a great day ~ Alexandra

designchic said...

Oh wow, Lisa, how lucky was that. Would have been so excited to be at the French antique market. Can't wait to see your goodies!!

Formerly known as Frau said...

omg gorgeous pictures looks like an amazing trip! I would go crazy at that flea market....totally makes up for the one you went to in Dubai!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Your Med-cruise looks absolutely fabulous. I bet it was nice to get away from the heat. Dubai is usually pretty awful when it comes to summertime humidity. We are heading to Paris on Sunday. I'm looking forward to finally seeing a bit of France. Hope all is going well with unpacking and settling in. Best wishes, Tammy

Meeling said...

How awesome and what fun memories and purchases!!

Jo @ In Corners of My Mind said...

How fabulous! I love the posters, and adverts...I have three vintage english posters hanging framed in one of my bathrooms, and I just love them. These are beauties.
Thanks for sahring. Happy Thursday!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

OMG! I am weak. in. the. knees. Weak I tell you. I think I would have fainted. My vintage shop shelves would be overflowing with all that goodness, and I would have bought lots for myself as well. I think I would have been looking for boxes to ship it all home. You scored, love the advertisements - awesome choice. I want to meet the purse lady just from seeing her necklace, she looks like just the sort of woman I would like. I'm drooling over all of this! I always thrift and flea market on vacations. In May I had to buy and extra suitcase to get my treasures home from England :)

Marianne said...

I would have gone crazy in that market! So many gorgeous things I would want to take home, but how on earth to get it all there is the problem! Can't wait to see more.

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Giiiirl, I am annoyed with YOU because you got to go on a fancy mediterranean cruise!! LOL
I am loving these photos and just soaking it all in! A flea market in France....slice.of.heaven!!!
Don't even get me started on the fact that your man is French.....

Privet and Holly said...

So lovely
taking my
DREAM cruise
along with you!
Love your great
purchases....
you have the best
taste. And so
happy that your
stuff from Canada
has arrived to help
you feel more at
home. Hugs across
the world!
xx Suzanne

Lynne said...

Oh Lisa,
Thank you for taking us with you.
What a fabulous memory! I was dreaming all the way through your post today. The posters and vintage advertising are going to look amazing in you new home. You were so lucky hear the history of your LV bag. So special! Such romance!
~Lynne
[w/l]

Barbara Matson said...

OK, you are living it up girl! Awesome finds. I remember being overwhelmed at the Paris flea market. Wish I had bought something :) Love the bag and the vintage posters!

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

Wowee! Look at that floor!
It's completely gorgeous but laid in such a casual place! I love it!

Thank you so much for joining my Summer Loving link party!

Sarahx

Pinecone Camp said...

Ah yes, I can see why ;) What a fantastic day! I love that floor at the station and those beaches look incredible.

SHERRY HART said...

OMG...I almost got sick looking at the photos of that market....I could have spent every last dime I had....

All things nice... said...

Oh looks like you had a lovely trip and Nice is so pretty, I visited once before and fell in love with the place. The old town is charming and Cimez is a lovely area too :) Love your vintage finds

All things nice...

Blooming Rose Musings said...

My heart is beating so fast at seeing your wonderful post. Your purchases are perfect! And, you have brought back wonderful memories for me because I have taken that train and know those exact train stations. Wow, that market is fabulous and the posters and handbag are magnificent!!!
I'm visiting from Modern Country Style's party. Wonderful post!

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

I loved this post, Lisa!! We went to Nice years ago, and absolutely loved it. I think we may have been at that very same market. Of course, we had no money, were backpacking and couldn't speak any French, so we just browsed. I would love to go back someday.

InteriorGroupie said...

What an incredible day! the photos are beautiful, and your purchases are amazing! (are you sure you have room for a phone!??! It looks rather heavy!) The LV purse is a beautiful find...I'm not one for all of LV's stuff, but anything vintage would grab me. Beautiful.

Robynne's Nest said...

What a great day Lisa, and terrific finds...I always manage to just miss the bl**dy markets, every time I go into France...I really love the shot of the lady who sold you the bag (a great blog moment). Thanks for sharing..Robx

Jane said...

Oh my! You lucky, lucky duck. What a bounty you nabbed ☺. J x

Travel With Lulu said...

Her hat is adorable too! I didn't know your husband is French :) We were in Nice earlier this summer - but we didn't have the market find your did! LOVE your photos - you captured the area perfectly :) XOLaura

pimalai said...

As crowded as they are, those beaches look great. I wouldn't mind having to exert effort to find a spot on the sand, what with the big blue Mediterranean just a few steps away.

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