sunshine in Nice

You could think of this day as a culmination of sorts. All yearnings for spring, for warm sunshine and glorious skies realized at last. Certainly for our travels, it is the finest in a string of fine days. Temps soaring to 71F/22C, the sea showing off its splendid colors, our moods swelling with exuberance. 

It is also the last of the warm sunny days. And the end of our Nice visit. The final glory before the return to the typical highly erratic March weather. 

Let's not worry about what's to come. Right now, we are enjoying the best of the best.

 

 

What to do on a day like this? I offered two museums (Chagall, Matisse). Or, a walk through the old town and a revisit of the market. Or another excursion out of town. To Italy perhaps? To Cap Ferrat? Snowdrop chose the market and old town and I'm glad she did. It's my preference too. I want a repeat of the good rather than a new adventure. Finish off with known pleasures. Delight in what's nearby.

Breakfast first.

 

 

We always walk down the six flights, admiring and criticizing the art on the walls of this hotel. We like our fifth floor modern mix. We find the French Empire style floor to be okay. We positively hate the second floor abstract, depicting weird figures in what seem to be tortured poses.

Coming back up, we take the elevator. It dates back to the first years of the hotel and I tell her it is definitely haunted. Weird noises, creaks, groans -- definitely inhabited by a ghost. I dont think she believes me!

 

 

 

Our walk is lovely -- along the coast, always commenting on the dogs we pass, me noticing especially all the older folks with their pooches.

 

 

 

The market is of course popping with color on a sunny day.

 

 

 

 

 

We pick up some strawberries again (which she polishes off in five seconds on our return).

 

 

 

Snowdrop loved the artisanal ice cream shop in the old town. We return to it, and of course, I have to have that raspberry chocolate concoction. She stays with... chocolate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have only one errand: my reading glasses at home -- ones that I love, that I got at Izipizi in Paris one time, are held together by a paper clip. I need a replacement -- ones that are a bit stronger! And there is an Izipizi store here. She picks them out for me: dark green, gaga! They look great on you! Could I maybe get sunglasses here?

 

 

 

And home again. To the Negresco.

 

 

In time for her to catch the two hour swim period they allocate for kids.

With the late afternoon, I suggested we reconsider the art museum. Matisse is entirely doable in a short period and it offers a nice segue from the Impressionism to modern art. We taxi over with just time enough to go through it before it closes. (The museum is up in the hills and I am not looking for an hour long uphill walk!)

The museum itself is part of a beautiful villa -- not his home, but one close to it (He lived at the Hotel Regina for a chunk of his life and I should note also that he did call Nice his home for most of his adult years: the majority of his artwork was created in Nice). 

Did she like it? Some yes, some less so. Matisse's work with paper is totally agreeable.

And some paintings are also very approachable and appealing. 

Other stuff -- well, opinions vary!

 

 

 

(outside, the men play boules in the courtyard next to a mobile by Alexander Calder)

 

 

We walk back to our hotel -- a slightly shorter hike of 50 minutes. Oh, but the wind! Is it the Mistral? I don't know, but it surely is fierce, especially at the higher elevations. Still, we persevere!

 

And now I really have to motivate myself to pack. Not an easy job: our various trinkets, of course, but, too, we have to separate the stuff for Paris from the stuff for the washing machine back home. 

It's a slow process. And I have to pause for dinner. 

I'd picked Le Sejour some time ago and honestly, I do not remember why or on whose recommendation.

It was modern, it was crowded, with plenty of French people, it was fresh, it was great. Predictably, she ordered the sea bass. Second time today (she'd eaten a chunk of it at the hotel for lunch). Ah well, it's her favorite and she rarely (never?) gets it back in Madison.

Again, we skip the desserts and head for Amorino. 

 

 

Only for Snowdrop -- me, I have to plow through all the macaron the hotel gifted us. With a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, which I will pack up and take home.

Pack up... I haven't finished that job yet! Our bedtime will be pushed toward the late hour once again. But, as Snowdrop keeps reminding me -- it's vacation! Spring break!

Tomorrow, we head for Paris.

with so much love...