Au revoir Nice…

We bade a fond farewell to Nice and Anne-Marie who had had the mobile phone surgically removed. Heather was sad to leave Nice. There were still galleries she hadn’t been able to see, and more to explore, and she loved its energy, the light, its delight in surprise, as well how its history was honoured while still focussing on ‘What next?’ and ‘What now?’

Multiple kisses all round and we headed off in our brand new jazzy little Peugot 207. (Don’t like the colour though…sort of a dark olive green – well, Heather likes it OK).

Magic moments in Nice

• The first time we walked into our apartment and saw the view. Never got enough of it… magic each time, morning, noon, evening, midnight… Reflections on the water, watching the ferries come and go, building the wharf, watching the lighthouse at night… Watching people walking on the promenade, and dogs, and bicycles, and scooters and cars (usually not on the promenade…)
• Those first strawberries Tina brought back from the market… Maybe just the strawberries!
• The art – past and present – in Nice blew me away.
• The smell of fresh baguettes
• First taste of French butter! I may never be able to eat margarine again!
• Confiture Bonne Maman, Abricot – (followed by Peche, followed by Framboises etc etc…

This was the first time in about 12 or so years that Baroness Butler had driven on the right side of the road. That was no problem. What was interesting was driving a right-sided manual for the first time. So everything was now on the right side except for the indicator which was on the left (the opposite side to my car in Sydney).

This was the first time in about 12 or so years that Baroness Butler had driven on the right side of the road. That was no problem. What was interesting was driving a right-sided manual for the first time. So everything was now on the right side except for the indicator which was on the left (the opposite side to my trusty old Civic).

Departing in a haze of stress with Heather having frequent panic attacks thinking we were on the wrong side of the road and me trying to make sure I did the right thing, we aimed for Vence, (to see the chapel that Matisse designed and created the stained glass for), as well as nearby St Paul de Vence. Baroness Butler figured ‘Vence is just up the hill! Easy! Just find the sign and follow the road! Don’t need the GPS just yet!’

To cut a long story short, we missed the parking area for Vence, ended up going straight through it and out the other side. After circling a few roundabouts with wipers going, we ended up in St Paul de Vence, where we decided to have a bit of a wander. But it was really Vence we wanted to see. We tried once more to get to Vence – even parked the car at a place that we thought was Vence – but ended up NOT being Vence. By now I was totally Vence’d out so we gave up.

Tina and Heather