Who wouldn't like a city called "Nice"...🙂...though the meaning and the historical origin of this name is different. Anyway, Nice is the gateway to (and the queen of) the famous Côte d'Azur (aka: the French Riviera) region of France. For this post, however, instead of focusing on the coastal stretch to the west of Nice (which is essentially the French Riviera), I've travelled, from Nice, eastward across the Italian border (the border is <20 miles away), and onward to Genoa in Italy, for a total distance of about 100 miles, along the pristine coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea, skirting the 2 mountain ranges: first the Alps of France and then the Apennines of Italy.

I've two motivations for this post...First, I've been lately touring the (MSFS default) France quite a bit. And, from the long past, I am aware of the so-called "France VFR" that was available in our old SIMs, but, for one or more reasons, I never really got into it (though, I recall, French VFR also had a few excellent freeware (touring/VFR) a/c that I had made use of). Anyway, I've tried to make it up for myself, here in MSFS, by exploring France from the Normandy Coasts in the northern edge of the country, down across the valleys, mountains and rivers that dominate the topography of France, south to the southernmost edge along the Mediterranean Sea. 

My second motivation...after the SU15 Updates stabilized on my (xbox) system (including the City Update 7, which btw includes the city of Nice), I wished to explore the coastlines east of Nice towards Italy (I have been meaning to do it for a while). These coastal regions are indeed of spectacular beauty touched by the primary mountain range of France, the French Alps, extending northward just north of Nice, and been sea-bound in the south by the Mediterranean coastlines that I am tracking for this post (see my Cockpit VFR MAP inset). No sooner, on my route, I've passed by the Alps Range of France, the Apennines Range of Italy takes over, spread near the city of my destination, Genoa. For this flight, I've maintained steady 3,000 ft cruise, without venturing inland into these mountains, but you can spot these mountains in many of my images below, in addition, of course, to the (inviting) azure, blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

I've started out from (LFMN) Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (see my shot #1), and at the end of my route, for approaching (LIMJ) Genoa airport, I'd to revert my course (skillfully on the mountain side...🙂...skimming the Apennines, see shots below), back to westward direction (see my Cockpit VFR MAP inset). I have finally landed my Piper Seminole on the ILS Rwy 28 of Genoa airport (LIMJ).

Hope you enjoy this collection of pictures from my excursion...travelling the beautiful (southern) seaside edges of France... (and Italy) ...!

Thanks for viewing and happy flying...!

Good to see Genoa getting some play here in the sim. Often overlooked, but a setting worthy of attention for sure.

Fine set, nice shots, thanks for showing !

cheers 😉

Great shots! 😉 

John, pmplayer, Will:

Thanks very much for the comments...!!