Be lazy in Nice and take the tram.

Tram line 2 plans revealed for 2016-2017

found this at www.RivieraTimes.com

Concrete plans for Nice’s second tramway were unveiled yesterday, with an elaborate underground transport network that should be up and running by the end of 2017.

The new tramway will run underground for 3.2km of the route

After the success of Tramline 1, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe, Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi and members of Nice Côte d’Azur urban development gathered at the Palais Acropolis to confirm plans for the next phase. Tramline 2 will run from the port, westwards to the Arénas business district and to Nice Côte d’Azur airport.

With 19 stations spanning across 11.3 kilometers, the city’s newest development will provide transport towards both terminals of the airport with the construction of the Saint-Augustin terminal. At least four of the tram stops are to be built underground, in a bid to keep disruption and traffic congestion to a minimum. Each tram is expected to hold 300 passengers, transporting a daily average of 105,000 people towards the second busiest airport in France.

Mr Estrosi said he is extremely enthusiastic about the plans, describing the end result as “a green ribbon on the city of Nice”. “This is a building project which I hope will be almost pain-free for the city centre. There shouldn’t be any real effect on traffic, pedestrians and businesses during the construction phases,” he declared.

By the end of 2012, works will begin on the underground stations and the tunnel. Come mid 2014, most of the ground level construction will take place with all trams and stations expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The whole system is expected to be in operation by 2017.

In an attempt to keep its green promise, 77,000m² of grass will be planted along Tramline 2, with 2,400 additional trees. The extended tramline will also decrease pollution considerably, impacting upon the 800 buses that pass along the Promenade des Anglais each day. There will be a new ‘park and ride’ scheme, with the introduction of 850 new parking spots to replace the 450 spaces that will be lost during construction.

With total costs weighing in at 758.7 million euros, the extension of the tramline aims to eventually provide 60% of residents and 150,000 workers quick and easy access to tram facilities.
Louise Kirby

Photo round-up of Monaco Yacht Show 2011 by FR2DAY

 

The 21st Monaco Yacht Show has come to an end, and what a great show it was. Four days of glorious sunshine making those big boats sparkle in the waters of Port Hercule. For those of you who couldn't make it there, or for those who want to relive the fond memories, here is our little pictorial review of the events of the last four days.

All photographs © FR2DAY

Release your inner hunter and help me

I live on a beautiful spot on top of a mountain. The view is priceless and endless, like the depth downhill. In the past I havetried to walk down to the campsites down the valley , but was quickly caught up in all kinds of complicated and especially sharp thorns. Handy for a burglar who wants to climb from bottom to top so to with a solid door on the narrow access road and the natural protection full prickly bushes we had never suffered from invaders. Until last week. It was dusk, we enjoyed a glass of red wine while torches lit and everything was perfect until the children shouted that they heard growling in the bushes at the fig tree. "It will probably be a boar, and I jokingly said to my words to emphasize I grabbed a solid wood baseball bat playing my role of the brave man in the house. At the fig tree I saw, blind night owl that I am really, nothing. I heard some rustling and decided to provoke a reaction to do some rustling with my feet in the loose leaves. As if I pressed a button! Suddenly I heard less than 10 meters away a huge grunt and the sound of an approaching herd of wildebeest. You know that sound well, as low bommerdebombommerdebom 500 pounds on four legs pounding the ground. This time it was not safe on HD Discovery Channel in 5.1 surround DTS sound but the reality. I decided not to wait until I could see the beast in the eye, but gave the signal for us to retreat, and close all the shutters. Yeah, there is action everywhere on the Riviera. Today I already forgotten the incident until I was called with the news that there was a sort of creeping bear standing next to the trampoline. And believe me, the trampoline is really close to the house. I once heard somewhere that as a landowner in France with more than 2,500 square feet must you are allowed to have a rifle to defend your land. Sounds pretty cool, a gun in the house. Now I played a lot of hours, "Call of Duty" on Xbox, but shoating a boar of 200 pounds in front of the children, that's another thing. I imagine also that a wild boar will bleed a lot, thinking of the phrase "bleeding like a pig." What is wisdom? On the French website Caboom I can purchase a semi-automatic shotgun including a box of ammunition. And then? What do I do with a dead boar riddled under a trampoline, or even worse, as he might be  wounded screaming and running through the fence, into the pool, and ending his life at the bottom of it. Do I need the animal to bring the animal to the Intermarchee and get a good price for it or should I remove the skin within 4 hours,  rip the liver out and burry the flesh in the ground, like in the movie Into the wild? According to my dearest the beast about the size of a baby elephant. Mmmm. Maybe I should use a bazooka to I can shoot the beast towards Isola 2000. And what do I do with the screaming boar kids who lost their mother? Tough men, women also, release your inner hunter and help me.  Alternative hunting methods or a good spicy boar recipe, it's all welcome.

Do you want a secure and gated appartment in Cannes?

Here it is. I always dreamed about a French house with a beautiful solid gate. Most of the times these houses are outside the city area. But I also like Cannes, the vibrant and stylish city at the French Riviera. What would be the best place to live in? Outside the city, on a hill top you always have the chance that hungry wild pigs enter your garden paradise. But now I found the perfect solution; a superbe luxury appartment (of total 3) in a stunning villa in Cannes, with a solid and stylish gate. Have a look at his 3 bedroom beauty; for only 510.000 euro you have the best of both worlds. More info about this secure and gated property with arage, cave, two additional outside parking spaces. Double living room, 3 bathrooms at www.livingatthecotedazur.com. Contact jo@marinus-concierge.com

French Riviera most popular car is not the Mehari anymore

For many decades we all loved and admired Citroën's Mehari; the funny open car with hardplastic motorhood and doors like flaps. It was thanks to the movies with French actor Louis de Funes playing a French policeman, driving like a maniac in a Mehari through the streets of Saint Tropez chaising either nons or crooks. You can still buy new Mehari's in a little factory in Cassis, but the car is technically somewhat outdated.... No safety belts, no airbags and  no way to lock the car properly; simple stuff that has become essential in today's world. The #1 place for The Most Popular Car At The Riviera has been taken over by Renault with the Twingo 1; the old model. Also a funny car with headlights like bold eyes. The big different with the Mehari is the drivers experience; it hits the road like a kart. And it's fast enough for the A8, it does not fall apart when you hit a tree after a cold Pastis 51 and the small size makes it easy to park anywhere near the beach or in a narrow street in Cannes. If you want to become part of the Riviera people and you buy Riviera's most popular car, make sure you get a good insurance. The Twingo is also very popular amongst thieves.

Getting Biebered by Jacques Dessange

I am blessed with lots of hair. Not on my chest but on my head. Jo loves it and I have to thank my dear father; until he passed away at the age of 81, hey had still thick grey hair. So I have nothing to worry about for the future. The only problem with having lots of hair is that it also grows very fast. Sometimes I go twice a month to the hairdresser to get a cut before I turn into Catweazle. Long long time ago I even married a girl that had her own hairstudio, so I could save some money on my personal maintenance. No that is not true, I mean she did have a hairstudio, but at the end that marriage costed me a lot more then 1000 straight haircuts. Living at the French Riviera, my hair seems to grow even faster and it gets more curly then ever. 'Very beautiful hair, sir' says my regular hairdresser in Cannes. I saw him a lot this summer and every time I get a nice 40 eurocent per cup Nespresso, a glass of water and a great haircut, all together for 18 euro. Not a bad deal right. This week I was in Cagnes, Riviera's fastest growing city close to Nice and I visited another hairdresser: Jacques Dessange. Monsieur Jacques is a French multi millionaire with a clever franchise formula and I discovered now how he did that. I entered the shop and was welcomed by gay hairdresser number one that noted my name. I took place in one of the 20 empty seats and was again welcomed by gay hairdresser number 2. 'Helleu, I am responsible for your drinks. Would you like a coffee, tea, orange juice, a coke or mineral water?' While sipping my Coca Cola light another Gay Hairdresser came to my chair, introducing himself as the one that was responsible for my shampoo. It took him 10 minutes to put shampoo on my dry hair, centimeter by centimeter, as if he was dying it. After the long washing ceremony by the same guy, I was prompted to another chair. There was gay hairdresser number 4, responsible for my haircut. I said 'keep it simple, just 1,5 centimeter off and you will see me in two weeks again'. A fair business deal, so I would not cut too much off. Despite my request, I lost 3 centimeter and they styled my hair in a Justin Bieber look. I never felt more silly when I left the shop, after paying 31 euro to Gay hairdresser number 5. Next time back to Cannes!