4 ms·

I enjoyed Nice. I also enjoyed the towns around it. I even enjoyed Monaco which seems like an unpopular opinion. Not sure why it’s one or the other. I’d also re

by spyspy 4y ago

I enjoyed Nice. I also enjoyed the towns around it. I even enjoyed Monaco which seems like an unpopular opinion. Not sure why it’s one or the other. I’d also recommend Corsica if you make your way down there. Now THAT’S a secret (for Americans).

usr1106 4y ago
Corsica has partly violent fights for independence. I think if you are not up to a 100% touristy program and speak the language of the "occupying force" you can feel the tensions. Not an ideal holiday destination, unfortunately.
- JPLeRouzic 4y ago
  If you don't like Corsica for some social climate reasons, Sardinia (in Italy) is really close, equally as beautiful and there are much less tourists (except the north part).
  - usr1106 4y ago
    I haven't been there, hesitating mainly because of the political situation. But if you tell me it's very crowded maybe I can move from hesitating to a negative decision. I might have looked more into the mountains by bike, that did not seem crowded to me when I looked last time (probably years before Covid). But the public infrastructure for a cyclist who might want to have a rest some day and do something else did not look convincing either. And then there were some very unspecific reservations my French teacher had about the people in the mountains. No idea whether they have any foundation, but just looking at Street View did not tell me this looks all very welcoming. Sardinia is certainly on my list. I understand they still have some intersting small railways, too.
- spyspy 4y ago
  I think that's a bit unfair. I went for my honeymoon and found the people there more than welcoming to two very-basic-french-speaking Americans. We drove around and explored the island totally independently.
  - usr1106 4y ago
    Not an expert on the matter, but I don't think there is any aggression against tourists. It's more against French officials and then against each others because of disagreements about whether and how to act for independence. For a completely touristy program you might not notice until something bad happens just that day (unlikely). But more knowledge means more pain. If you don't know about it you might not learn until maybe you study the local newpapers (which I like to do if I am in a new place) and start wondering about some things not well explained. And I tend to react very sensitively to such things. I visited Spain as small schoolkid during Franco's dictatorship. I staid in a family I knew from before and was taken care of perfectly. Still seeing the Guardia Civil (paramilitary troops being especially loyal to the dictator) every day made me feel somehow unspecificly uncomfortable. It took me several years to even learn what dictatorship or democracy even mean. I had the same feeling later when travelling in the GDR or visiting Belfast (for work) just months after peace. If there is a reason to go there I make a rational risk assessment. If I just want to go there to explore and enjoy the place, I'd rather skip. I guess good for them if other tourists place the bar a bit lower.

by spyspy 4y ago

usr1106 4y ago

Corsica has partly violent fights for independence. I think if you are not up to a 100% touristy program and speak the language of the "occupying force" you can feel the tensions. Not an ideal holiday destination, unfortunately.

JPLeRouzic 4y ago
If you don't like Corsica for some social climate reasons, Sardinia (in Italy) is really close, equally as beautiful and there are much less tourists (except the north part).
- usr1106 4y ago
  I haven't been there, hesitating mainly because of the political situation. But if you tell me it's very crowded maybe I can move from hesitating to a negative decision. I might have looked more into the mountains by bike, that did not seem crowded to me when I looked last time (probably years before Covid). But the public infrastructure for a cyclist who might want to have a rest some day and do something else did not look convincing either. And then there were some very unspecific reservations my French teacher had about the people in the mountains. No idea whether they have any foundation, but just looking at Street View did not tell me this looks all very welcoming. Sardinia is certainly on my list. I understand they still have some intersting small railways, too.
spyspy 4y ago
I think that's a bit unfair. I went for my honeymoon and found the people there more than welcoming to two very-basic-french-speaking Americans. We drove around and explored the island totally independently.
- usr1106 4y ago
  Not an expert on the matter, but I don't think there is any aggression against tourists. It's more against French officials and then against each others because of disagreements about whether and how to act for independence. For a completely touristy program you might not notice until something bad happens just that day (unlikely). But more knowledge means more pain. If you don't know about it you might not learn until maybe you study the local newpapers (which I like to do if I am in a new place) and start wondering about some things not well explained. And I tend to react very sensitively to such things. I visited Spain as small schoolkid during Franco's dictatorship. I staid in a family I knew from before and was taken care of perfectly. Still seeing the Guardia Civil (paramilitary troops being especially loyal to the dictator) every day made me feel somehow unspecificly uncomfortable. It took me several years to even learn what dictatorship or democracy even mean. I had the same feeling later when travelling in the GDR or visiting Belfast (for work) just months after peace. If there is a reason to go there I make a rational risk assessment. If I just want to go there to explore and enjoy the place, I'd rather skip. I guess good for them if other tourists place the bar a bit lower.