We travelled to Nice and then Florence over the period of November - 19, 2016.
1. As recommended in Rick Steves' Cote d'Azur en Provence, Sylvie diCristo is an excellent guide. We were in Nice for only 4 days and decided that the way to see some of the surroundings was to take a full day tour with Sylvie. Note cheap (500 euros, off season) but very good explanation of the history, important places in towns we visited, etc. Sylvie has been doing this for over 30 years and is well connected with the locals. 5 stars.
2. Something we did not realize (and must have missed in our two Rick Steves guides is that in France and Italy you cannot just walk into a bank and ask for change. There are a few currency exchanges that will make change for euro bills, but they charge for the service. As we were told by one local, the only way to get change is to buy something...strange!
3. We took the Smithsonian tour of Florence. Excellent.
PS Nice to have something else to focus on after the elections.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6528 posts
We always hoard change in Italy. When we were in Florence some years ago, the clerks in the stores always wanted exact change. It wasn't like that in Rome, we were relieved to find out.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks, Jane, for confirming that there really is a problem here; sometimes I wonder if we've just not asked the right question. Glad to know Rome is better. Have you been to Paris and encountered the same problem by any chance? Ben
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6528 posts
Ben, I don't remember it having been a problem in Paris.