Back on the blog with a more personal post that was inspired by friends from Paris and Parisians with whom I was able to share via my instagram account lovelysouth. A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from a good friend who announced her plan to move to Nice with her husband and children.
“Hi Van, how are you? I’m calling you because we’re planning to leave Paris for Nice before the end of the year! We’re fed up with Paris and we thought of you because we want to go on an adventure like you did, can you share your experience with us?”
And she’s clearly not the only one, several people living in the Paris area contacted me for feedback and advice as an ex-Parisian expat in the south “in which city should you live?”, “isn’t it too dead in winter?”, “what has changed in your life?”, “easy to adapt to the mentality?”… Their plan to leave Paris for Nice was of course accelerated by the health crisis.
As for me, I did not wait for the pandemic to flee the capital. It’s been 9 years now since I left Paris to settle in Nice and indeed, many things have changed in my life since I’ve been living there.
I’m not going to deal with all the questions mentioned above (that will be the subject of a new “Paris-Nice question/answer” article) but I’ve listed 5 points that have changed the daily life of a Parisian like me moving to the French Riviera:
1. From greyness to sunshine
The abundance of light, the view of the sea and the mountains, the horizon as far as the eye can see, the warm colours of old Nice… These are probably the things that made the biggest impression on me during the first few months and which, despite my 9 years on the Côte d’Azur, never cease to soothe me in my daily life.
The benefits of living by the sea with the light 350 days a year are just indescribable! It has reduced my stress and anxiety that I had accumulated during my life in Paris. Living in these new conditions has brought me a lot of serenity and calmness and to go further in my approach, it has allowed me to develop a more spiritual life while having my feet on the ground.
At a time when there is increasing talk of declining mental health, accentuated by the health crisis, the horizon, the sea and the light are extremely powerful natural remedies for regaining strength and energy. This crisis has made me grateful to be able to live in this environment.
2. From the metro line 13 to the blue bike by the sea
Public transport in Ile de France has clearly been my biggest trauma (and I weigh my words!). Whether in student or working life, being crammed like sardines in the metro line 13 or in the RER B train at 8am is really something I don’t want to experience again!
So imagine how happy I am to take the blue bike to the seaside to go to the city centre of Nice or to take the car under the sun on the Provençal motorway, with the window open and my hair blowing in the wind to go to work… A real feeling of lightness and freedom to be enjoyed without moderation!
Since 2020, the city of Nice has opened two additional tram lines (it was high time), which makes it even easier to get around. I avoid taking the car as much as I can in favour of public transport. Especially as it’s more pleasant in the South than in the Paris region.
3. From stilettos to hiking boots
It’s true that clothing style takes a bit of a hit when you live in the south. It depends on the activities of each person, but generally speaking, you are surrounded by lush nature, seaside walks, hills, hilltop villages, hikes with a view of the sea or river, such as the famous Pont des Tuves, parks, beaches, ideal spots for snorkelling on the French Riviera… It is more likely that you will spend your weekends in nature, even if a little shopping trip to the CAP 3000 shopping center may be necessary from time to time. However, you can still look stylish even in jeans and trainers.
For my part, I had no difficulty in swapping my 10cm heels for good hiking boots… After spending all my weekends in Paris going to the cinema, shopping, going to restaurants, seeing photography exhibitions etc… To find myself in the middle of nature hiking at the Col de Vence or the Mercantour at 2500m altitude every weekend was far too exciting.
But the more time passes, the more the desire to find my Parisian style of dress resurfaces! It’s all a question of balance.
4. From overconsumption to simplicity
It is often said that the Côte d’Azur is very bling bling, which is not wrong but not entirely true either. It all depends on your personality, the people and the circles you frequent and there is something for everyone! Both in Paris and in Nice.
As I mentioned above, my life experience as a southerner has allowed me to develop a more spiritual life and to get closer to what was essential to me.
The proximity to nature and the sea view contributed greatly to my new way of perceiving life. And this was not easy for a Parisian who has been conditioned for 30 years to an ultra-city lifestyle where luxury and fashion reign supreme. I consumed and overconsumed, wanting to look like such and such… But I realised that it wasn’t me.
The most important thing is to experiment to get to know yourself and then make choices that are in line with who you really are.
5. From a Parisian mentality to a Nice mentality
I don’t use adjectives to say who’s better or not because there are none. Taking a long view, there are good and bad in both. But one thing is for sure, it is very different and there is an atmosphere.
People often reproach the distrust and coldness of Parisians, which is quite understandable given the permanent insecurity that reigns there (I’ve experienced it), just as they can reproach the lack of delicacy and the nonchalant side of southerners, which could be justified by the environment with the sun, the heat, the sea… (I’ve experienced it too).
As for me, I have friends from all over the world, whether they come from Nice or elsewhere, but I must admit that I have much more affinity with people who don’t come from Nice… Or if they come from Nice, it’s usually because they’ve gone to live elsewhere and then come back.
And you, Parisian friends, are you ready to finally leave Paris for the sun of Nice, French Riviera?
