The street names in many an international city will usually tell a story. As they wind their paths through the town, defining the physical boundaries so too do they often tread a route back through time, sketching the history of the area and telling the story of the city's beginnings if not it's birth.
Many of us have strolled down a Cobblers street, a Shoemakers avenue, a Chancery lane or a Queens Boulevard. Names that paint a simple picture but when you are visiting a different country much gets lost in the translation. In this series of stories Riviera Rental Guide will take a look at some of the street names that appear on the corners of the French and Italian Riviera including the Principality of Monaco.
The most obvious place to start is in Nice. The main gateway into the French Riviera and a much loved holiday spot itself. We'll start with the street that probably defines Nice the most, the Promenade des Anglais.
The original town settlement of Nice was predominantly perched on the top of the Château hill behind city walls. It had a small cove in the area called Ponchettes but no major secure port and it was not a town that depended on the sea for its livelihood . Nice is famously referred to in history as in inward looking town with eyes secured more to the land than to the bounty of the waves.
This was probably due to the dangers that lurked during these early times as pirates and invaders were rife in the coastal waters and savage Mediterranean storms wreaked havoc on small fishing fleets. The lack of interest was based on a fear.
Several things happened that changed that and would turn Nice into the seaside town that it is today. The first was King Louis XIV comprehensive destruction of the old city walls in 1706. This marked an era when Nice was drawn back under the French umbrella, albeit not for the final time. It also served to tumble the city out of it's perched confinement on the hill top and spread out along the natural curve of the Baie des Anges.
The second event of serious import was the arrival of the first British winter visitors. Nice had not been an original port of call of the famous Grand Tour, where wealthy aristocratic children were sent to finish their education on a cultural trip of Europe's capitals and beyond. The first published tales of renowned British writer, Tobias Smollett and his discovery of the town however, inspired the first wave of Brits to Nice in the late 1760's.
The only people who could feasibly travel during that era were only the supremely wealthy so it was an auspicious crowd that gathered in the wild beauty and probably relatively impoverished spectacle of Nice during the 1700's.
The British fell in love with Nice hook, line and sinker and they soon started to build magnificent house and villas, predominantly along Rue de France and the sea front and the majestic French villas of stunning Belle Epoch architecture started to appear along the coast.
The British always were a sea loving nation and their interest in Nice's mild climate transpired to be something of a prescription note from English doctors who advised their genteel patients, those of a delicate disposition, to travel south to walk and breathe in the fresh, dry sea air of the Mediterranean. This, combined with plenitude of time the idle rich had on their hands, led to the necessity of somewhere pretty to walk, to see and to be seen, and so the idea of the Promenade began to take shape.
Initially a raised walkway along the roof of the Ponchettes between the market square and the sea front was the only area to walk without getting covered in dust and this was know as the Walk of English in the old Nicoise language, Nissart.
The route pushed out along the natural curve of the coast with no intended direction or destination, it was simply a place to stroll where the sea view was accessible. It remained unpaved and dusty for some time but the intent had been created and thereafter followed plantings of exotic gardens, beautiful private villas erected along the way and, in 1863, 30 gas lights dotted along the sweeping now illuminated line.
The Promenade was widened, lengthened, planted and built along. It was busy with coaches, cabs, horses and holiday makers. It became the centre for social gathering in the city and it has remained the heart and soul of the city of Nice ever since.
The Promenade slowly turned the city's head towards the sea, over a period of more than 100 years and showed it's inhabitants what wealth it had on it's doorstep, an abundance of dazzling light, cool sea breezes and expansive sea views. The Promenade des Anglais is still the place to see and be seen, it is the city's front garden where you will always meet a neighbour, even if you have come from as far as Britain, Russia or America.
Riviera Rental Guide has recently launched it's new easy monthly payment system for online holiday rental villa and apartment bookings.
"The system has been in place for some time already," said Technical Director, Ross Killen, "but we implemented it slowly and have been testing and refining it with existing clients to make sure that it is exactly what is required."
Riviera Rental Guide's instant online booking system has already been bringing the online holiday rental booking process up to date with technical innovations and this is a next step for bringing the entire process into the current technical age.
"The process of renting holiday accommodation online has not kept up with other online consumer businesses and customers expect to be able to book or purchase what they want when they want it, it's what we all expect now," said Michael Magan, CEO of Riviera Rental Guide, "and there's no reason why it can't be delivered. We are bringing that simple option to holiday customers and streamlining it into the way people live and communicate online now."
The easy payment option allows customers to book and pay for their holiday villas online but share the payments over a determined period of time, decided by the customer, and take the financial sting out of paying for holiday accommodation in one hit. Customers can opt to pay monthly which means that they can instantly reserve next years holiday apartments or villas from as little as €20 per month per person.
The system uses the most advanced credit card reservation system which allows for this kind of flexibility and security. Not only can customers break down the expense of their holiday but they can also organise holidays and payments between groups of friends using the company's 'VillaShare' application on the Facebook platform.
One person reserves the holiday by paying a small deposit and send invitations to fellow holidaying friends to join them. The 'VillaShare' application handles all the administration of the accepted friends by calculating the independent rates and allowing those customers to pay in instalments of their own choosing.
Lots of people are choosing to go on holidays together, families as much as groups of friends, not only is it more fun but it means you can stay in bigger and better places and share the expense. The more people you go with the more extravagant the villa or apartment you can reserve, the more memorable the holiday and the better the value.
The 'VillaShare' reservation system, combined with Riviera Rental Guide's flexible payment options takes all the headache out of organising group holidays not to mention putting an end to the awkward conversations provoked by settling outstanding money issues with friends.
"It's just the next level of service," said Mike. "We've updated the out dated and brought going on holiday into the online social arena where it belongs. Combine this with flexible, instant and secure payment systems it should make going on holiday be exactly that; a holiday, not a headache," he said.
Recommended Holiday Rental: Cap de Nice Apartment Self catering holiday rental apartment Bedrooms: 1; Sleeps: 4 Price p/n: €164.28
The summer season on the Cote d'Azur officially kicks off on the 1st May but the real star studded start to the season is highlighted by the glamorous Cannes film festival that is closely followed by the Monaco Grand Prix. This is when the real start of the season is jump started with a riot of fabulous visitors, sumptuous yachts, luxurious villas and some of the most dazzling parties anywhere in the world.
Cannes is famous for it's star packed industry parties but you can't forget that Cannes is a work function for many of the super stars that grace the red carpet and many of them do not have much of a choice regarding their presence there. It is the sunny months of summer however, that sees the stars return to the South of France's shores to really relax.
The months of July and August are the time when the yachts sail with families and friends rather than bosses and colleagues as the famous join other holiday makers to enjoy the sights and sounds of the picturesque pearls of towns that string the coast together. The parties thrown are private and relaxed but no less flamboyant.
It is not all decadence and hedonism though and there are many fantastic charity events that take advantage of the season and the high profile holiday makers taking their annual vacances. The Red Cross ball, held annually in Monte Carlo, is one of the most prestigious events held in aid of a charitable cause.
This year Prince Albert and his bride-to-be Charlene, danced the night away to the legendary performer Tom Jones. The welsh crooner set a new record as he collected his £3.1 million fee for his role at the charity event, making him one of the highest paid single performers around. With tickets starting at €1000 and a table fetching up to €20,000 it is no wonder that paying the staggering fee would not present a problem.
The generous performer is said to have donated a large chunk of it to the charitable cause but at over €100,000 per song, he could well afford to. The glamourous event takes place every year and raises huge amounts of money for the Red Cross. Singer Dame Shirley Bassey, Designer Isabelle Kristensen and Karl Lagerfeld are all regulars at the special event. This year Victoria Silvestedt presented the prize draw and Tom Jones received support from Julio Iglesias to complete the magical, romantic night in the Salles des Etoiles, Monaco.
A teenage Riviera Rental Guide customer holidaying in Villefranche this week got the thrill of her holiday while wandering in the pretty French coastal town. Villefranche-sur-Mer has long history with select visitors since the 1800s' when the Tsars of Russia and their princesses descended their ships to benefit from the mild climate, through to the rock and roll 60's when the Rolling Stones wreaked havoc during the writing of their "Exile" album.
The young holiday maker bumped shoulders with none other than the Queen of pop, Madonna who is filming on location in Villefranche. The singer has written, and is directing, her own movie based on the controversial romance between King Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson.
Madonna is no stranger to the film world but the same reverence she earns as a singer has yet eluded her in the film making industry. However, always a tenacious and fearless artist, she continues to pursue projects that challenge her and refuses to be put down or put off.
Rather than follow the route of a simple biopic of an already fascinating subject the film, titled W.E. follows a modern story that runs parallel with the historic love story in what sounds like a complicated and twisting scrip. It is a big ask for any writer to come to terms with and if Madonna can pull it off then it may earn her the recognition that she seeks from the industry.
It is of no consequence to her music fans however, who continue to flock to her and adore her no matter what. Our young holiday maker was simply thrilled to see her up close and personal enjoying the same sights and sounds of the French Riviera town as she herself was. It will make for some unforgettable holiday photo's and an unforgettable holiday experience for the youngster.
"She's smaller in real life," the teen recalled, " but she's amazing and smiled for a photo. She was wearing a big black hat and sunglasses but she was working too so she wasn't dressed up or anything."
Madonna is filming at different locations around France where the troubled Royal couple sought refuge following the kings abdication. The French Riviera became their home together and so naturally Madonna has sought out the familiar stomping ground to film in. The production has been spotted in Paris, Cannes, Villefranche and on board a very regal looking classic yacht.
Holiday makers keep your cameras at the ready as it is the starry season on the Cote d'Azur and you may be surprised at just who pops up in the back ground of your holiday snaps.
Prince Albert and his not so blushing bride have set a date for their recently announced nuptials. The Royal Monaco wedding will be held 8th July 2011. A civil ceremony will take place first, followed by a religious ceremony on July 9th 2011.
Charlene will no doubt have her pick of the best wedding dresses and the fun loving couple will find a way to celebrate their union with all their Royal subjects.
It will be a celebration to behold and even if you haven't received a personal invite then it is still a date to mark in your diary. It will be a prefect time to take a Monaco summer holiday and enjoy the celebrations with the happy couple. At the very least the fireworks will be spectacular.
Book your holiday rentals with Riviera Rental Guide for 2011 now and enjoy competitive rates for early bookings, it will be a royal deal.
Bedrooms: 2
Riviera Rental Guide has recently launched it's new easy monthly payment system for online holiday rental villa and apartment bookings. 
The summer season on the Cote d'Azur officially kicks off on the 1st May but the real star studded start to the season is highlighted by the glamorous Cannes film festival that is closely followed by the Monaco Grand Prix. This is when the real start of the season is jump started with a riot of fabulous visitors, sumptuous yachts, luxurious villas and some of the most dazzling parties anywhere in the world.
A teenage Riviera Rental Guide customer holidaying in Villefranche this week got the thrill of her holiday while wandering in the pretty French coastal town. Villefranche-sur-Mer has long history with select visitors since the 1800s' when the Tsars of Russia and their princesses descended their ships to benefit from the mild climate, through to the rock and roll 60's when the Rolling Stones wreaked havoc during the writing of their "Exile" album.
Prince Albert and his not so blushing bride have set a date for their recently announced nuptials. The Royal Monaco wedding will be held 8th July 2011. A civil ceremony will take place first, followed by a religious ceremony on July 9th 2011.