No, it wasn’t Groundhog Day, but yes, Nigel and I were in Nice last Sunday too. If you remember, I’d picked up a brochure about Le Jardin Botanique de la Ville de Nice when visiting Parc Phoenix the previous Sunday. While browsing through it I came across a map of the Jardin’s location and of course made another discovery: Promenade Corniglion-Molinier that appeared to run parallel to the Promenade des Anglais. Why hadn’t I noticed this before? Flummoxed? You bet I was. A return visit was called for.

When Sunday dawned it was one of those perfect mornings that are truly irresistible and must be seized before its magic fades. There is a point, as you leave the Antibes péage, where the road cusps and you are suddenly confronted with an incredible view of Nice and the Baie des Anges with the Alps as a stunning backdrop (in winter, when snow caps the Alps and the sky is a crystal clear and the blue Mediterranean curves around the Baie, it is one of the most spectacular sights in the world). Of course, this being a motorway the view only lasts a couple of seconds, but on a morning such as this it truly fills the heart and you wonder how you could ever leave this region.

As my research involved the area close to Nice Airport (known as le Californie district), we parked in the Bosquets multi-storey parking and walked the short distance to the Promenade des Anglais. Though it was only 10am, the sun was already warm as we made our way there and came across the most wonderful of sights that could only have happened here on the Cote d’Azur: a small shop had pitched a stall just adjacent to its shop front and was very busy selling oysters and sea-urchins . . . for breakfast! It was a fantastic sight, and so unexpected. Jostling for space on a couple of stainless-steel tables, clients happily partook of their repast - all washed down by a glass of champagne. More than anything, it was the convivial atmosphere, laughter and general bonhomie that was so enchanting.