“I left my home in Madrid to travel around Europe and decided to work for a while in Northern France, in 2002. But I soon realized that I missed the sun too much. So when a friend said 'come to Nice!', I did. I love being outdoors, and Nice seemed a great place, sandwiched between the sea and mountains, with an ideal climate.
I've lived in a few different apartments over the years, but always stayed in the city center. I like to be where the action is! There has been huge investment in the city since I arrived. A new tramway, city center park and extensive pedestrianization has helped the city breathe.
A lot of tourists come here though and that is probably why there isn't a strong sense of community. Every man is for himself in Nice. I think retired people and holiday-makers have a better quality of life than those who live & work here. Parking, for example, is a nightmare. I'm lucky: my job as a physiotherapist allows me to work flexible hours and that leaves me plenty of time for music, photography and spending time with friends!
I never intended to spend my life in Nice and I still dream of going travelling again. But I've been planning my departure for years! I sometimes feel as though Nice is a spider's web: once you come, you never leave. Even now, I discover interesting places that I hadn't seen before: a bistro off the beaten track; a beach hidden by the port or a splendid Belle Epoque building that I had never noticed.”