2024 - June - Grasse

What an obstacle course: We actually wanted to take a relaxing day trip from Nice to Grasse, but this turned out to be a bit more exciting.

First, Google maps took me to another train station in Nice, which is why I got confused the first time. The small station only had two platforms and that was exactly what would later prove to be my downfall. But more on that in a moment.

But first, a very nice ticket seller helped me. He booked us a day ticket for the whole region for the trip to Grasse. This only cost 20 euros + 5 euros for a second person. And he gave me a tip: first go to Grasse, then use the same ticket to go to Monaco.

After this conversation, our train was due to leave from platform 2 in 8 minutes. And what can I say: We couldn't find the right platform in this small station with only two platforms! The sign for the platform was so confusing for me that I misinterpreted everything. So our train arrived on the other platform and we had no chance of changing to the right one.

That was a shame, but our ticket meant we could have gone to Monaco! So we took the train in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, Monaco isn't a particularly beautiful city for me. A quick trip through the principality was really enough for us.

So, we tried our second trip to Grasse. This time from Monaco and at first everything worked out: the right train, the right platform, hallelujah! Unfortunately, our train then had various technical problems along the way and kept stopping.

So we didn't arrive in Grasse until 4:26 p.m. A bit late, I know. Then there was a steep (!) half-hour climb up to the center of the town above.

When we finally got to the top, everything was already pretty much tidied up and we were basically the last visitors. At least one shop was still open: the "Eau de Grasse".

Since the city is famous for its perfume production, this was exactly one of the shops we were hoping to visit. The owner personally welcomed us and showed us around. We were also delighted by the shop's cat, who had his little basket in the middle of the display.

We found out that the boss herself creates all of the perfumes on display and has been doing so for 27 years. We then purchased a mini version of one of them.

Unfortunately, all the other shops were already closed by then. All we could do was take a walk around the small town and admire the many umbrellas hanging between the houses.

But I know from a previous visit that Grasse is really worth a visit. There are many sales rooms and also demonstration workshops for perfume production.

Now that I am writing this report on the return journey, I hope of course that we will arrive back in Nice at some point. Our train is having technical problems again...

Addendum: We arrived so late that our last bus had already left and we had to walk. I think this day will go down in history.