I returned from a fantastic break in Nice yesterday. During my stay we visited Monaco, where this photo was taken, and Ventimiglia in Italy.

I tried moules mariniere for the first time, which I really liked, and snails, which I didn't. Although they tasted fine, they had a very strange texture and I couldn't get it out of my head that I was eating snails. I also had gnocchi for lunch in Italy, which I wanted to try in Venice but didn't get the chance.

We're already planning to go to Rome in September since this trip was such a success. I'm also planning a short trip to Dublin for my friends at university and I when the exams are over. Ryanair are offering penny flights to Dublin from Manchester. With taxes that means that the flights will cost just £20 return. I've also found a cheap place to stay, The Marlborough Hostel. The hostel charges less than £10 a night and provides free breakfast and internet access. I think that sounds great. Have you tried this hostel before?

Labels: dublin, formby, france, marlborough hostel, matthew watson, nice, rome, ryanair

Simon's flat in Antibes is beautiful - very Ikea. Yesterday he was in work, so Caroline and I explored the town and the harbour. We got incredibly lost but somehow managed to get back to the flat in time to go out for a chinese meal.

For lunch we found a nice little restaurant where a crazy waiter served us. He was one of the hightlights of the day. As he walked around the restaurant he kept screaming before coming over to our table and pretending to drop a cup of coffee on us. He then proceeded to tidy up a table next to ours. He picked up a half full jug of water and poured it all over the table before walking off and sticking his tongue out at us!! Later on as I waited to use the toilet he ran in and banged all the doors, making the people using the toilets think it was me. A very amusing lunch by anyone's standards. The food wasn't half bad either, I had tartar de la mer.

Today Caroline and I are travelling to Cannes for a few hours, before meeting Simon for dinner in Nice tonight. Tomorrow Simon has the day off, so we plan to visit Monaco for another day out.

It's nice and sunny too :)

Labels: antibes, caroline, formby, france, holiday, ikea, matthew watson, monaco, nice, simon

I interviewed Thibault Masson for my dissertation today. Thibault is the founder of an excellent French company named Fashion-Fox. Fashion Fox is a consultancy specialising in online marketing for fashion company's around the world.

Thibault helped answer about a million of my questions and gave some brilliant answers as well as an insight into the French blogosphere. This should help hugely when I consider language barriers and cultural differences that affect blogging.

He said that not all businesses should blog especially if they are, "Blogging about something that no one care about like the CEO's new hair cut." This ties in great with an article I have by Janet Street-Porter from the Independent called 'Just Blog Off!' about the uninteresting Waitrose blog written by the MD about his weight loss.

So I urge you to check out Fashion Fox. It's a great resource run by a great person! Also if you are interested in fashion, Thibault runs two fashion blogs Chaussure-femmes.com and Lingerie-Meets-Underwear.com

Labels: blog, blogging, david bowie, fashion fox, formby, france, janet street porter, just blog off, masson, matthew watson, not so chubby, public relations, the independent, thibault, waitrose

Thanks to Easy Jet and having a good friend with an appartment in Nice, France, I shall be enjoying a six day break during Easter for just £113.05. A bargain by anyone's standards I think.

Should be a great reward for finishing and handing in my dissertation on blogs. I just need to write it first!

Ooh la la.

Labels: blog, blogging, dissertation, easter, easy jet, formby, france, holiday, matthew watson, nice