The ideal resort city of Nice
The typical image of Nice is the poetic dark blue coastline filled with golden sunshine. The special thing about this city is that it has a temperate climate all year round, even in winter. You can't swim in the winter, but in return, the atmosphere is quiet and there are few tourists. Traveling off-season means that the price of rooms in the center is not too expensive. People should choose hotels in the Vieux-Nice and Place Masséna areas, two old quarters near the coast.
During my recent trip to Nice, I had the opportunity to visit the Masséna Museum (Masséna Musée) located on the famous seaside road called Promenade des Anglais. The museum was formerly the residence of André Masséna, one of the most outstanding marshals of the Napoleon I era. In addition to its beautiful architecture, the Masséna Museum is also an ideal place to learn about the history of Nice from the late 18th to the early 20th century.
While looking at paintings of Nice from the pre-tourist era, I came across a large portrait of Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901). It turns out that in her later years, Queen Victoria visited Nice quite a few times and had her own private residence, the Excelsior Regina Palace, built between 1895 and 1897. Even on her deathbed, the Queen said: “Oh, if only I were at Nice, I should recover.”
From Nice, it is easy to visit Monaco in a day by booking a tour or taking the bus yourself. Monaco is one of the smallest but richest countries in the world. Monaco is extremely expensive, so it is best to stay overnight in Nice and only visit Monaco during the day. Unless you are a big fan of Formula 1 racing, book your accommodation and buy tickets early to have the opportunity to watch the race live in Monaco. If you want a special mark of Monaco, bring your passport to the Tourist Office at 2 Boulevard des Moulins to get a free entry stamp.
Even the Queen of England could not resist the charm of Nice, so today, Nice has become an indispensable tourist destination in France. To enjoy a leisurely day in Nice, people can start with a French breakfast at the Boulangerie Jeannot bakery, then stroll around the Cours Saleya flea market and Nice Cathedral in the old town of Vieux-Nice. Then, you can go shopping at the luxury shopping center Galeries Lafayette and have lunch at the Michelin guide restaurant Le Séjour. Le Séjour's most famous dish is lobster risotto.
Spend the afternoon admiring the architecture and learning about the history at Villa Masséna. If you’re into art, nearby is the Nice Museum of Fine Arts (Museé Beaux-Arts de Nice), which displays works from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Finally, enjoy a cocktail or dinner at Le Méridien, with panoramic views of the sea from above.
The "slow living" country of Malta
Malta is not a very famous tourist destination, but I have always been curious about it because Malta is the only island country in Southern Europe. This island has an area of only 316 km2 and a population of 460,297 (in 2017) but is an independent country in the Schengen area. And the uniqueness of Malta does not stop there.
My first destination was Valletta, the capital of Malta. One of my first impressions of Malta was the “slowness” of this city. From the people to the vehicles, everything gave me the feeling of a slow-motion movie. My cousin and I still find it funny when talking to the locals, their response was always quite slow. For example, when we asked to buy museum tickets, it took a minute for the staff to raise their heads to answer. As for traffic, it was extremely slow, especially when taking the bus because the roads were very winding. If you have the means and want to go to many places in Malta, renting a car to drive yourself will be more proactive.
In addition to the capital Valletta, Malta has many interesting attractions. One of my favorite cities in Malta is Mdina, the island nation's former capital from ancient times to the Middle Ages. The architecture of the former capital is not only ancient but also quite cute because everything is small and pretty. Sliema is a vibrant city that attracts many young people. Coming to Sliema, tourists often shop, stroll and go to the beach to fully admire the unique skyline of Valletta. For those who love the sea and like to explore nature, they should visit the islands of Comino and Gozo or take a boat to visit the caves in Blue Grotto to admire the deep blue of the ocean.
One time, while walking near St. John's Church, I came across a very familiar image from my student years in England, which was a red telephone booth. Why did Malta suddenly look like England? After doing some research, I learned that Malta was a British colony from 1813 to 1964. No wonder the Maltese people have an elegant style and... "slow living" like the British. Many people even come to Malta to learn English.
Valletta is the European Capital of Culture in 2018, so there are many notable cultural and artistic events, such as classical concerts in museums. Must-see attractions for visitors who love history and culture include the National Museum of Archaeology, St. John's Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster's Palace. On the last Friday of every month, the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at 10:30 am in St. George's Square. This is a special opportunity to take photos of the royal guards in their traditional black, red and white uniforms.
It doesn't take much time to explore Valletta, but Valletta is truly the ideal place to enjoy the warm winter sunshine and have a peaceful, quiet vacation.
Sicily, land of the "godfather"
Those who have seen the 1972 masterpiece “The Godfather” must be very curious about the Sicilian mafia in southern Italy. Today, according to my Italian friend, the mafia has all moved to the north of Italy, leaving behind a poor Sicily. Although southern Italy is increasingly declining due to the economic downturn, the architecture combining many different cultures, the wild nature and the carefree lifestyle of the Sicilian people still attract tourists from all over the world.
Palermo is the capital of Sicily. Go to Palermo in winter to avoid the cold and also to find forgotten historical values. Perhaps not many people know that Sicily was invaded by many different empires. Before being part of Italy, some parts of Sicily were colonies of ancient Greece (750 BC - 242), ancient Rome (242 - 440), the Byzantine Empire (535 - 965), Arabs (831 - 1072), the Normans (1068 - 1194) and many other empires. When mentioning Sicily, people think of a land with a strong Italian character of the "godfathers", but in fact, Sicily is a place where many different cultures intersect.
A month is probably not enough to explore Sicily because the island is quite large. But when you come to Sicily, do not miss the coastal city of Cefalù. It only takes about 45 minutes by train from Palermo to Cefalù. In addition to the peaceful scenery and the quiet city that is always in a state of "napping", Cefalù is also famous for the Cefalù Cathedral, built in the Norman architectural style from the 12th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another World Heritage Site near Cefalù is the Monreale Cathedral. In addition to the above-mentioned places, Sicily is also known to the world for the great volcano Etna, the port city of Catania, the ancient theater in Taormina and the chocolate Modica.
Sicily’s history of invasions has left a deep mark on the unique architecture of buildings such as the Palermo Cathedral, the Norman Palace, the Palatine Chapel, the Pretoria Waterfall, and the Quattro Canti. Every corner of Sicily has a touch of ancient Greece, the Arabs, and the Normans (from Northern France). At times, I felt like I was in a Muslim country, not a Catholic one. The architecture that overwhelmed me the most was the Massimo Theatre, the largest theatre in Italy and the third largest in Europe. There is an interesting English tour at the theatre, which visitors should join to learn more about the history of the theatre. This theatre was one of the filming locations for The Godfather.
One of the best things about Palermo is its rich local cuisine. Street food is cheap and exotic. A local friend once took me to Franco u Vastiddaru to try pane ca' meusa, a sandwich with beef spleen. Locals line up to order it. Sicily also has roasted lamb or goat tripe. Another popular and less disgusting dish is arancine, fried rice balls filled with cheese or tomato sauce.
What about sweets? Sicilians in particular and Italians in general love sweets. Famous Sicilian sweets include cannoli (ricotta-filled biscuits), cassata (marzipan-covered pastry) and paste di mandorle (almond biscuits). These are beautiful but too sweet to eat. But they are an indispensable part of Italy's "La dolce vita" (The Sweet Life).
MORE INFORMATIONVisa: All three locations Nice (France), Palermo (Italy) and Valletta (Malta) are part of the Schengen area, so you only need a Schengen visa to be able to stay in these cities. Of the three countries mentioned above, applying for a French visa is the easiest. Detailed information on applying for a French visa can be found on the official website of the French embassy or the TLSContact center.
Itinerary: There are currently no direct flights from Vietnam to Nice, Palermo and Valletta. If you want to fly to Nice, it is best to transit in Paris, and if you want to fly to Palermo and Valletta, it is most convenient to transit in Rome.
Transportation: Public transportation in Nice such as trams and buses is very convenient so people can walk or use public transportation, taxis and Uber. In Palermo and Valletta, if you want to go to many places, it is best to rent a car because the public transportation system is poor.
Clothing: Although not as cold as the northern European cities listed above, Nice, Palermo and Valletta are still quite cold. People should still bring warm clothes, scarves, hats and boots. The average December temperature in Nice is 6° - 14°C; in Palermo it is 11° - 16°C; in Valletta it is 11° - 17°C (according to www.ncdc.noaa.gov). Don't forget to bring sunglasses because winter in southern Europe still has many sunny days.
Other notes:
- Nice and Valletta are safe enough to travel alone. Sicily, due to its poor economy and large immigrant population, is quite chaotic, so avoid traveling alone to deserted places.
- Choose a sturdy crossbody bag with many compartments to protect against pickpockets and robberies, especially in Palermo.
- Malta uses three-prong plugs like the UK, so European two-prong plugs will not work. Everyone should bring an adapter in case the hotel does not have one.
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