Relaxing on the French Riviera

Sadly, I woke up at 6am this morning and then forced myself to sleep for another two hours. I got up and headed to the free breakfast. After, I headed to the coastline and walked down the large walkway that stretched the whole length of the shore. I made my way up to a large park that provided some fantastic views of Nice and the ocean. My memory came back to me as I was climbing those steps....I'd been there before. The weather was PERFECT! Sunny, clear, and cool! You seriously couldn't have asked for a better day on the French Riviera!

The French Riviera

Le Port

Dirty Rotten Scoundrel

After walking around the park and enjoying the views I made my way down to the Flower Market. It was pretty nice and relaxing to walk around the flower and food stands. I took it nice and slow and just enjoyed the day and the weather. I bought some pizza bread, some fruit, and beer then headed to the beach. Once there I camped myself and laid around for a couple of hours. It was relaxing! While I was there I looked over at a woman near me and I remembered, "Oh yeah! This is a clothing optional beach!" I had almost forgotten. Honestly I don't think much of it. I ate my lunch and drank my beer. I even got in a little nap. Wow, I haven't laid on the beach and done nothing in a LONG time.

The Market

Lunch of Champions

After enjoying the sun I got up and made my way to the Port. I had a plan for the afternoon. I decided that today I was going to try to overcome a small fear. Remember when I was taking the boat from Holyhead, Wales to Dublin, Ireland and I said that that was the first time I'd been on a boat in the ocean? Of course you do, thanks for reading! Well, I've always been pretty terrified of the ocean. I don't like the fact that I can't seen the bottom. Lakes I'm only partly freak out about since I know nothing can eat me. When Meg and I were in our young teens or so we were swimming in the ocean. Heather was on the shore watching us and after a while she began to yell frantically, but I couldn't hear what she was saying. I look behind me and see a fin come out of the water and go back in. It looked like a shark fin because it was skinny and not thick like a dolphins. Also, it was straight and not rounded or curved liked a dolphins. I turned to Meg who was swimming right next to me and yelled to get out of the water. We raced for the shore. Since that day I have barely been able to put my foot in the ocean. I have, but I won't swim. It seriously could have been a dolphin for all we know, but it was close enough to a shark for me. Hell, as a kid I didn't even like swimming in Grandma's pool because of the pool sweeper who we called, "Jaws". Well, today I was going to try and overcome this fear. I said, "I don't like the ocean because I can't see the bottom. So, I'll need to go scuba diving in order to see the bottom". That is exactly what I did!
At 2pm I arrived at Nice Diving for my 2nd trip on a boat in the ocean, my first time submerging myself in the ocean water since I was a young teen, and for my first scuba experience. I got equipped with my suit and tank before heading to the boat. I was a little nervous to be honest, but not as much as I thought I would be. There were three other first-time divers on the boat and the rest of the people (5-6 men) were all experienced divers.

The Boat

The Suits

The Tank

We were taught what to do on the way over to the dive area. The good news was that each one of us would be paired with an experienced diver the entire time underwater. This is French law for first-time diver. Awesome! At our destination it was time to get ready. I looked at my wetsuit, then at the water, then at the wetsuit again, and then at the water again. The butterflies in my stomach go away and with a big feeling of super confidence I take a deep breath and say, "Suit up!" I get my wetsuit on.

Suited up!

After, I am handed a belt with large weights on it. I look at it and say, "I'm not jumping in there with that thing on!" I put it around my waist. I put on the flippers and then sit on the edge of the boat with my feet dangling in the water. I put my hoodie over my head. I pick-up my goggles and spit into each eye pocket to clean it out. I rinse the mask in the water before putting it on over my head. Ready, the instructor says, "Can you swim?" I thought, "Your asking me this NOW?!!!" I jump in the cold water. My guide comes over to me and helps me put on the tank.

In the Water

I'm now equipped! He gives me the mouth piece and begin to practice breathing with it above the water. He says, "Are you comfortable?" I said, "Yes". He says, "Okay, I'm going to dip you under water to get used to breaking under the water." He dunks my head in the ocean water. I breath. I breath again. I breath faster and faster. I'm starting to feel like I'm hyperventilating. He pulls my head up and asks, "How was that?". I said, "I'm feeling short of breath". He replies, "Most everyone feels that way at first. I'm going to dunk your head under again and it will go away." He dunks my head under. Believe it or not; it goes away. It feels natural and comfortable. Under water he gives me the sign for going down which means that I'm supposed to hold my nose to help with the pressure. We venture down into the light green water. I practice my breathing. Breathing in is almost silent, but you sound like Darth Vader. I breathe out, again sounding like Darth Vader, and the sound of the loud bubbles float up to the surface. I begin to see the bottom. Coral and colorful fish! We cruise the ocean floor and it feels like you are flying as you glide through the water over the coral. You see the seaweed all flow through the water with wave of the ocean in unison like they are dancing. My guide points up ahead. It's a school of fish. We go in closer. The fish scatter. We follow. I thought to myself, "So, this is what being Scuba Steve feels like". I look up and see the reflection of the sun on the water. I even see the other two divers above us. All I can say is that the experience was incredible! I felt like I was stuck in one of those Discovery Channel Ocean Documentaries. The water was so clear and there was great visibility. It was surreal!
When we reach the top the other novice guy (A French guy from Nice) and I get back on the boat. The two girls who were with us (Nicole and Ella) were excited to see how it went. I gave them a few words of encouragement and helped them with their weight belts. Funny, they were left (just the two of them) on the boat alone while everyone else was diving. Crazy! The other guy and I hangout on the boat and watch the girls in the water as they get oriented. When they submerge we just relax on the boat. I kept thinking, "I'm on a boat!"

It was LEGEN.....wait for it.....DARY!

When the girls were done they looked like they were on cloud nice. Ella was full of smiles. Nicole was overly excited and she yells, "I touched an octopus!! I touched an octopus!" It was cute! Everyone came up and onto the boat. The girls share their experiences with me. One of the French guys who spoke very little English invites us to the front of the boat for wine. The girls and I hangout at the front of the boat, enjoy the fantastic weather, talk, and drink wine. It was so much fun! Both of the girls were super cute and Nicole looked like Clementine (Kate Windslet) from the movie, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". When I told her that I think I made her day....I knew she reminded me of someone, but I couldn't pinpoint who....I eventually figured it out. When we arrived back we put our gear away and thanked the crew. The girls and I were all staying at the same hostel so we headed back together. We decided to meet-up again for dinner and drinks.

Nicole and Ella

I head down to dinner and I got talking with my bunk-mate Sam who is from England. Turnouts that he has been living at the hostel for about 3-weeks while he's trying to find work on boat. Super nice guy and great to chat with. He understood my sarcasm so we had fun talking. He even offered to share his wine with me. Great guy! Nicole, who I now call Clem, and Ella come done shortly after I arrived. We sit together, eat dinner (awesome 7 Euro steak and fries), and socialize. One of the girls who works there comes up to me and says, "You look a lot like Matt Damon". I laugh. The Clem turns to me and says, "No, you look like a cross between Matt Damon and James Bond. You know, the new one". I laughed again. We couldn't figure out the name of the new Bond, but we finally got Daniel Craig's name. A group of these girls from South Africa, who were also looking for work on the boats, were completely plastered. They were loud and obnoxious! So much so, that the owner of the hostel got after them. Clem and Ella were going to go out drinking with them and a few other people and asked if I would go, but I had to decline. I was tired! I would have loved to hangout more with Clem and Ella, but "I'm picky about who I'll share a drink with" and I wasn't up hangout out with the South African girls. They were cute, but drunk and sloppy; not interested in hanging out with them. Clem and Ella left to get ready for going out and I hung around for a while. As it turned out I began to fall asleep. I waited for Clem and Ella to come back so I didn't feel like I was ditching them, but after an hour I just had to go to bed.
Back in the room I met our new roomie named, "Sunha" from South Korea and we chatted for a bit. Sam came in and joined in the conversation as well. After chatting I finally was able to get some sleep.
Great day!