Friday, 13 May 2016

Aparthotel Adagio Access Nice Acropolis, France

A kind of hybrid of a hotel and a block of self-catering apartments, the Aparthotel Adagio Access Nice Acropolis is a cheap and grim place to stay. The rooms are spacious, but they have harsh tiled floors and the extractor fans in the kitchenettes can be noisy and impossible to switch off. There is some basic air conditioning and the Wi-Fi works, but this stark establishment was furnished on a budget and the views from the windows tend to be dispiriting. You can get breakfast, but you'll probably find better value and better food at one of the local cafes or boulangeries. Still, there is a small roof-top pool and you will be staying slap bang next to the Acropolis conference centre if you happen to be in Nice on business. 5/10

Thursday, 12 May 2016

Jetée Lucciana, Monaco

 “Ulysses” by Anna Chromy, which was installed on the Jetée Lucciana, Monaco, in 2014.

A Ferrari on display in the Yacht Club de Monaco


The Marina, the Yacht Club de Monaco















The eclectic and expensive yachts clustered into the marina outside the Yacht Club de Monaco

Gare de Nice-Ville, France


Completed in 1867, Gare de Nice-Ville retains its nineteenth century elegance and charm. A soaring roof, cast iron pillars, palm trees and stone archways combine to conjure up the grand tours of Europe in the golden age of travel.  From here, you can still catch brightly-decorated trains to Marseilles and Monaco.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France


One of the nine themed gardens at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, an early 20th century country house on the French Riviera. 

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

The Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, central London


Grade II listed, the 150 year old Italian Gardens can be found on the north side of Kensington Gardens near Lancaster Gate. The elegant Italianate pump house is surrounded by immaculate formal gardens, fountains and ornate cast iron railings. Story has it that the Gardens were a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria. The Royal Parks, which manages the Italian Gardens says they "consist of four main basins with central rosettes, all elaborately carved in Carrara marble, and the famous Portland stone and white marble Tazza Fountain. These are surrounded by intricately carved stone statues and urns. The urns have five main designs - the Swan's breast, woman's head, ram's head, dolphin and oval."