Clearly Nice is one of the most beautiful,
vibrant cities I've ever experienced. From its stunning coastline to the old town, the center,
and beyond, it sparkles and seduces.
I move to Nice on May 31st...from my large studio in tiny
Villefranche to my tiny dorm room in sprawling Nice. It's a tough trip, but
three people offer to help - a man (with his woman) on the hill out of town,
one young gent - getting on the train, and a woman half my size hauls my
suitcase down 30 stairs at Nice Ville station. God bless her girl power heart!
A quick taxi and I'm checking into my room. We're talking BASIC, but floor to
ceiling French doors open over a lovely garden, and it's a block to the
Promenade and the beach.
Sana directs me across the street to a small
market...with everything I want: apples, carrots, arugula, oranges, a yam,
curry powder, eggs, a baguette, crème fraîche, brie, butter, and a nice
Bordeaux Supérieur. Only $19 to fill my whole bag! (including wine) There's a
small market on every block, which I find much more pleasant than our huge
stores. I stop next door at the pharmacie for ibuprofen, and he asks if I want
200 or 400mg. I get a box of 400's (so I can take half as many) for $2.50!
Gotta love France!!
As the sun sets, I saunter over to the promenade and sit
in the sun, people watching. All ages and nationalities stroll, jog, skate,
rollerblade, bike on this grand passageway. They speak French, Italian, German,
other languages I don't understand. They laugh, talk, walk in silence. The sapphire
sea curves east and west, dazzling in the setting sun.
The photos that follow show a bit of La Table Italienne -
a delicious display of all things Italian, held over the weekend. There's a
long history of Italians here, and they're here still...doing what they do
best: olive oil, pasta, truffles, parmigiano and prosciutto, wines and beers, olives,
pastries. The tents sprawl along the Promenade des Anglais in the early summer
sun and bring Italians, Italian aficionados, and foodies from all over the city
and beyond.
Afterwards I hike up to the old Chateau, where a promontory shows
off Nice from both its beach side and its port. (there's a money shot in there
somewhere).
I'm back in school, enrolled for two weeks in French
classes at International House. I ride the bus, since it's across town - $1 (with
a 10-pass), takes about 15 minutes. After initial testing, I'm placed with six others
in an intermediate class, which is pretty intensive. During the morning break I
go up to the café on the top floor for petit déjeuner - only $2 for fresh
squeezed oj, an espresso, and chocolate croissante! Yesterday we got a little
briefing after class about Nice and its surrounds, then walked together to and through
the vielle ville.
Today I dropped by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary
Art on my way home and ended up taking more shots of the building than its art.
See it here: MMCA
