Hi Cklimon,
My preference is food plus good vodka and a couple of Guinnesses. Thanks for the stick to the plan. Nick

Stu Dudley, I'll be looking forward to your trip report for the 5 weeks!
You've been such a great help to everyone on here.

Stu, should I miss the time to wish you a bon voyage, have a wonderful trip as you always do, but how about photos this time. Your fans are anxious to se you and your family.

So sorry, I've been offline for awhile! Stu Dudley, I'm afraid you are already on your way! I hope you get this somehow, if you will be in Nice. The amazing restaurant is BienVenue. It is right behind the tiny fish market (not the big cours salya). The tiny square where the fish market is held (there is a fountain in the center w/ a statute of entwined fish and there is a clock tower on the square) (near the north end of rue Droite). It is run by 2 brothers (John & David) from England. I think they are the owners. The chef (also named John) is Irish. I know the Brits and Irish are not renown for their food, but these boys will change your mind fast! By our last week (3 weeks) we had given up all pretense of finding another place to eat! And the prices are astounding (I hope they haven't gone up too much this year, I was there last Sept). The traditional nicoise salad -- instead of canned tuna and anchovies, you get a HUGE piece of grilled tuna and FRESH anchovies. And it is the same price as every other salad nicoise in town! Everything I had there was superb -- way better than the price would indicate! And I didn't get through everything on the menu. It reached the point where every time we went we'd see something being delivered to another table and say -- we've got to come back tomorrow and try THAT! John seems to have found a "secret source" for many of his ingredients! One night I had some olives there that were unlike any I had ever had.

If you go, please tell John (believe me, you'll meet him!) that Ronda (from Texas) said hello, and that I sent you. This was definitely the best restaurant in the "Old Town" and for the prices, one of the best I've ever been to (I don't think any main course was over 20 euros, including a huge, melt-in-your-mouth steak).

If you want a very unusual, vegetarian, dining experience, check out La Zucca Magica, on the port (4 bis, Quai Papacino). Another excellent restaurant in the Old Town is Don Camillo (VERY pricey).

Hi-my husband and I rented a house in Normandy two years ago and did see some sights (Bayeux tapestry, Dday beaches, Mt. Ste. Michelle) but to be honest the best part was just walking and driving along the small country backroads. It was so beautiful. We were there in May (and got married there!)and the days lasted so long, everything was in bloom, and the weather was perfect. It really was idyllic.

I just found this on the easyJet website, with specific location info:

BienVenue (5 Place Saint-François, Nice. Tel. 04 9379 8440) Anglo-French bar/restaurant in the Old Town run by Jon and David South. Vaulted ceilings and comfy sofas create the perfect environment for cocktails, snacks or a three-course meal. Quality cuisine, plus fish and chips on Fridays, and the best Sunday roast in Nice.

And be sure to tell Jon and David (and Sana if she is still waitressing) that I sent you!

Christina,

What hotel(s) did you stay in Aix? Looking at Hotel Cezanne, it's just so modern looking. I was hoping to expose my family to Provence charm. But I think Aix will be a good central location to travel to/and from. We travel from Paris by train to Aix and are planning on renting a car in Aix. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Malia

Why not choose another smaller town like St. Remy for your Provence stay. You can go to Avignon instead of Aix. I am not a fan of Aix, let me say--too much traffic.