It was really nice once again today to get out of Nice and explore more of France. Antibes is a beautiful beach, although it was extremely crowded (it being Sunday, and most stores being closed) the water remained warm and the atmosphere relaxing. The day started with lunch followed by a group tour of one of the most famous museums in the world: the Pablo Picasso museum! Seeing his work was really an experience I won't forget. Picasso's paintings, as well as ceramic work, is very simple yet dynamic - there are a multitude of ways to view each piece. After exploring the chateau and walking more of the grounds the group split off for individual activities. A choice between a more touristy train ride throughout Antibes or to walk around and go to the beach was given. There are also many local artisan shops in the area. Locally made jewelry, preserves, and art is displayed in a market at the center of the town. Although I was unable to go to the market (it closes at a very early 1:30 pm) I was still able to pick up a sample trio of jam preserves. Antibes definitely caters more to American's; although there are many tourist attractions it doesn't take away from the cultural experience. The atmosphere remains French, and of course the food was delicious. A group of friends and I ventured to the beach for the rest of the afternoon. The walk to the nicer part of the beach would seem to be worth it; however, as soon as we got there we realized that everyone else had the same idea! People's towels and umbrellas were basically on top of each other and if we were in America, I do not see how anyone would be able to function or relax with one another. The French, however, do not seem to care about overcrowding. The simple pleasures far outweigh the vast amount of people around you, and honestly when I looked around, no one seemed annoyed at the excessive amount of people or even the fact that every once in a while, someones ball game might extend into another's territory. From the beach, our group reassembled and headed back over to the center of town for dinner. We were given about 45 minutes of free time afterwards, and from Antibes, we tiredly, but quickly, hurried back to the train just in time to arrive in Nice at 10 pm. The day was exhausting from being in the sun, but I would definitely recommend a visit to Antibes for anyone.
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