Nice, France was my introduction to Europe in the summer of 2012. I had just finished up my third year of college. One of the legs of my flight was delayed, and my luggage didn't make the transfer. I had a couple days in Nice with just a small carry-on backpack. After reflecting and thinking about traveling back to Europe this summer, I majorly overpacked. It’s not uncommon to see travelers hoofing around with too many bags. It weighs you down and tires you out as you travel. It’s exhausting to account for unnecessary possessions and inconvenient to move with. If your clothes get dirty there are plenty of places everywhere you can wash them. Minimalism allows more time for your mind to be in the present moment. Anyways, I remember checking into my hostel which was just blocks from the rocky beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. The sun felt good and summer was in true form in southern France. I crashed hard once I reach my bed, as the time change had my mind confused.

After sleeping, I met up with others in my shared co-ed room. We had previously coordinated to stay here though an online group create by ACLE, the Italian-English teaching company I was working with over the summer. These travelers were also headed to orientation in Sanremo, Italy after Nice. We headed to lunch, and I can still recall the feeling of sipping my first inexpensive house wine, while taking in the atmosphere. Walking the narrow streets while seeing the sights was the perfect introduction to this city. We walked to a top outlook near a cemetery and took in the view of the sea from above. I spent a great deal of time taking pictures of the different dogs with their owners. I would send and share these photos with my mom back home.

Before leaving for Europe, I had spoken with an art professor about traveling to Nice. She advised me to check out Matisse’s home and now museum. The museum is easily accessible by bus from downtown, but I decided to lead my group on a long winding hike up the hills to this. I have no idea why, but I thought it was closer than it was. They were good sports about the small mishap. Outside the museum, olive trees were lined up which Matisse painted. Children played soccer and others ate and relaxed in the park. The museum was Henri Matisse’s villa where he spent a great deal of his later life while making art. I was really impressed and I highly recommend visiting to anyone who goes to Nice. An added bonus was the old ancient Roman ruins in a museum nearby. The way back to the center of Nice was taken by public bus, much better to ride on a hot day. Dinner that night included delicious pasta and of course more wine. The wine really is cheaper than water in many locations. Following dinner we bought more wine and headed to the beach. At night many local teenagers smoked cigarettes and drank wine while laughing with their friends. Three other girls joined me and we passed around the bottle. A middle aged man joined our group but appeared to not speak English. Some of our group tried to speak to him in other languages, including French, but had no success. He inched closer to one of the girls catching my radar for a creeper alert. We packed up and headed back to the hostel. As soon as we left he scurried away. It’s always good to travel in groups, anywhere in the world, and especially at night. Back at the hostel and slightly buzzed off the wine, I mistakenly walked into the wrong hostel room. As I opened the door my chin dropped, as a naked woman lay on a single bed. Her partner, partially clothed, let out a laugh as my face most likely turned bright red in embarrassment. Nice was nice.