After just making the connection from Pune, we boarded LH763 from Delhi to Munich. We had bulkhead seats on this flight. 31D and 31G, both aisle seats in the middle 3 seats in a typical 3-3-3 widebody configuration. The seats had the tray tables in the armresrts and the armrest for 31D was fixed on both sides and the armrest between 31F and 31G was movable. The flight attendant in the galley in front of our seats suggested that since we were traveling together we should take seats 31F and 31G and offer 31D to anyone who shows up for the middle seat, but from his records that seat was still empty. We thanked him for the tip and sat in our originally assigned seats hoping that no one would turn up on the middle seat. Soon the cabin crew announced that boarding was completed and we had 3 seats for the 2 of us to stretch out a little more.
After take off there was a beverage service along with a small snack. I saw Jurassic World Dominion on the Inflight Entertainment System and then tried to get some sleep. Eventually, I took the extra blanket and pillow from the middle seats and actually slept on the floor in front of these 3 seats. This was the first time I had done this, but it let me be flat and allowed me to get at least a few hours of sleep. My wife was able to sleep on the 3 seats with her legs across from the immovable armrest. Before landing, there was breakfast service. I think there was no meal choice and everyone got the Indian vegetarian breakfast. The cabin was being prepared for landing and we were running behind schedule.
We had a 1 hour 10 minute connection at Munich, but landed 40 minutes late. So effectively that was only 30 minutes to exit the aircraft after landing, clear passport control and go to the next gate and board our connecting flight. It was like the previous night in Delhi all over again, actually worse. We ran out as soon as we could and stood in line for passport control. Luckily there was no crowd there and after showing our return tickets and all the hotel reservations, we were stamped into Germany and the Schengen zone. Our next flight was leaving from the main terminal building and we had to take the train to get there. We ran through the terminal and as luck would have it our flight was from one of the gates at the far end of the terminal. I ran ahead and down the stairs as we heard them announcing that they are closing the flight to Nice. I reached the gate and showed them my boarding pass and told them my wife was running to get there a minute behind me. We were the last two to get in and they closed the flight after that. Of course our bags were not going to make it but we had an overnight in Nice and a full day in Lisbon so I was hoping that our bags would eventually catch up with us and meet us in Terceira. We boarded LH2280 from Munich to Nice. The flight was uneventful. The only service was a bottle of water after take off and a small chocolate before landing. We got some nice views of the Alps but as we flew south the weather got more cloudy and by the time we landed in Nice it was raining heavily. We had to run to the bus from the aircraft in the rain and then we were dropped off at the terminal building ready for the first day of our trip.
We had what we needed for one night in our backpacks and we walked out of the airport to go to our hotel, ibis budget Nice Aéroport. The check-in was not going to open till noon so we took some time to freshen up, packed what we didn’t need during the day in one of the bags and left it at the front desk. One of the hotel staff members told us how to get to the Nice Saint-Augustin train station.
I had read about the Pass Touristique and one of the staff members at the station was able to help us to purchase the tickets. It was 16€ for the first traveler and only €10 per additional traveler for a full day of travel within 1 department of the south region. We took the train from Nice Saint-Augustin to Monaco-Monte-Carlo.
The train ride took a little over 30 minutes and we were in a new country, Monaco. We exited the station towards the water6front and it was a quick descent towards sea level. We saw the Sainte-Dévote Chapel and the Statue Sainte Dévote and then the William Grover Monument across the road as we headed towards Jetée Lucciana.
We saw Anna Chromy - Ulysses monument and the Et Purus 1 monument. The view of Port Hercule and Monaco from the end of Jetée Lucciana was simply superb.
We then started back towards the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. We had not eaten anything since the morning so we stopped at Supermarché Casino and picked up a couple of french baguette sandwiches to eat on the go as we walked on.
The route quickly ascended with stairs and walkways and there were wonderful view of the harbour. We saw the Statue Prince Rainier III on the way.
We finally made it to the François Grimaldi Statue and reached the Place du Palais. There were patrolling guards at the entrance of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
We walked across the Place du Palais to see the Apothéose de Monaco and the fantastic view of Port de Fontvieille on the other side.
After that we walked by the Ministre d’État to the Frame. One thing that really stood out was the clean and accessible public toilets in Monaco.
We saw the Manteau de la Conscience and a few other art installations on the way to the Frame.
We then headed to see the famous Yellow Submarine outside the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. We didn’t have time to go in and headed to the Saint Martin Gardens next.
We saw the statue of Princess Grace and some other art instalations as we walked towards the Saint Nicholas Cathedral and the Monaco Courthouse.
We took a look at Port de Fontvieille once again from the viewpoint close by and then started walking back to the train station. There was a huge tunnel that led us to the train station and we decided to head further to Ventimiglia in Italy.
By the time we reached Ventimiglia, the rain had increased. We still decided to venture out and headed towards the Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta. We walked across the bridge on the Roya river and started trying to find our way in the steep and narrow streets.
After a few wrong turns, we finally found the right path and made it to the Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta. Heading back downwards, we took the longer but more open route to the Rotonda degli Scoglietti.
We walked across the Galleria degli Scoglietti, a tunnel to the Cala del Forte marina. But by the time we got out on the other side, the rain had intensified.
Given the situation, we just decide to head to the train station and have dinner on the way back. We saw the Il Cavallino seduto and then had pizza at a local place before reaching the train station.
We were wondering if we should stop at Nice on the way back or even head further to Cannes. But with the incessant rain, none of that was going to be really enjoyable. We also had a very early flight the next day, so we decide to head back to our hotel, ibis budget Nice Aéroport, and call it a night.
The room was small but clean and adequate for one night. The Nice Saint-Augustin train station and the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport were easy walk of about 10 minutes. Very convinient location for staying close to the airport and also having access to the TER trains to get to other destiations.
✈️ LH 763
🚆 Pass Touristique
🍽️ Supermarché Casino
🍽️ Paprika Kebab Pizza Burger
🛏️ ibis budget Nice Aéroport