"Sunny Nice" Nice by diamond_skies

We first visited Nice in 2007. It was our first visit to the south of France and one thing I noticed was that the people there seemed just a bit happier than the people up north in Paris. Don't get me wrong - I love Paris! - but the Niçoise just seem a little happier. Must be all that sunshine.

Our first visit was the usual touring around the city, walking along the beach and making the obligatory day trip over to Monaco. All very nice and enjoyable but it was my second trip that made me realise there is a whole other world hidden away nearby. In September 2009 I took part in the southbound Transhumance in the Alpes-Maritimes and rode a horse through places I never would have discovered on a day trip from Nice. That's when I realised what a beautiful place this part of France is.

• In a nutshell:Sunny weather, happy people and on the doorstep of the Alpes-Maritimes