Carneval bingo

Carnaval

It’s Carnaval here in Nice, and so here is my top 10 list of people you will see in the city over the festive period. Feel free to use this as a bingo sheet!

1. Rich pensioners – this one is an easy start, as they are everywhere this fortnight! Arriving by the coachload from all over the continent, they sit and watch the parades. Look at the rows of silver hair:

2.Italians in their furs – never mind that the sun is shining and there are people sunbathing, those from the Rivieras, whether Italian or French, still feel the cold and wrap up in their fur coats which are (probably) as old as they are.

3.French old ladies who come to feel loved when a ‘handsome young’ man hands them a flower…and will also fight you to the death for that last gerbera. Good luck!

4. The lesser spotted French person in fancy dress – this does not happen outside of Carneval, so savoure-bien le moment.

5.Japanese women in kimonos – a challenge but spotted in the zone pietonne just before the bataille des fleurs

6. Us at Carnaval – us at the Bataille des Fleurs, catching flowers, throwing confetti, dancing in the street, pure joy!

7. Us not at Carnaval – I’m normally far too British to ring my bike bell, but Carnaval forces me to ding it incessantly – straying unexpectedly onto the cycle path being a tourist’s favourite hobby. Giving up on being able to get anywhere on time and locking the bike up.

8. Scary performers who will kill your flowers – and if your name is Laura, try to stick their finger up your nose. NOT COOL.

9. The Queen – she’s pretty hard to miss. Great Britain is the guest of honour this year due to the 2012 Olympics. Bonus points if you notice that Kate and Wills are riding on segways.

10. Behind the scenes – if you stick around long enough, or happen to be walking through place Massena late at night, you will see this highly co-ordinated team, cleaning up everybody’s confetti and silly string with giant leaf blowers.  Moving like a cross between a synchronised swimming team and a group of detectives combing an area for clues.

How many did you see?

La Rome française

Last weekend was the GBU weekend away in Nimes. The weekend got off to an eventful start with the man on the radio warning us, under no circumstances, to drive in the direction we were going in. Oops. We got off the road to avoid any potential dangerous south-of-France-inexperienced-in-snow drivers and hung out in a McDo for an hour. We eventually made it there safely, and it was great to see some familiar faces from the last weekend, as well as meet some new people.

Part of the programme was a trip to Nimes, where we ran about in the freezing cold for a photo scavenger hunt. From these photos you might think that I went to Rome for the weekend, as the Ancient Roman influences on the city are still pretty obvious. Les Arènes is an amphitheatre and a mini version of the Coliseum, whilst La Maison Carrée is like the Pantheon.

This was the altar of the church we were staying at. I really loved the bright colours of the painting, and the point where the colours break out reminded me of John 3:16 and also the lyrics from the song Spirit Break Out, ‘Can you hear it, the sound of heaven touching Earth.’ We were invited to join the worship of their Sunday morning service and it was very joyful praise. There was a man there who created a painting over a few worship songs; it was great to see a talent like that at work.

It was great to have some quality prayer time with the girls (Grammar tip: prayer in French is great for practising the subjunctive!) The subject of the future (summer and job stuff) once again came up, but I know that it’s in his hands. Just trying to listen and make being silent an active, not a passive activity before Him. He is good.

Mashed potatoes and Mountain views

In our apartment here in Nice we mostly live off fruit (kiwis and apples) and vegetables (Mexican selection, frozen bags retailing at around EUR 1.99). As a result, whenever we eat a meal at a restaurant, it tastes a million times better to our little pauper taste buds.

Case in point was a couple of weeks ago, when some girls from the GBU and I went to eat at La Rossettisserie. It’s hard to find as it was formerly a boulangerie, and all of the signs outside the restaurant haven’t changed. When you do locate it, you step inside and it’s so small! There are places for about 20 diners, max. We were a group of four so we were sat round the end of a larger table for twelve with two other parties.

The cosy atmosphere is matched by the cosy and simple food. There is a choice of 4 roasted meats and 3 accompaniments, and that is it! I had poulet rôti with purée (aka roast chicken and potatoes). Delicious! Better still though, was the quality time we got to spend in each other’s company. I’ve known Emily since my first week here in Nice, but Kirstyn and Mathilde are newer friends and so it was great to get to know them a bit better. Very encouraging to be surrounded by women who love Jesus.

That weekend, a bunch of my friends had gone off to London for the weekend. I knew they would have an amazing time, and part of me wanted to go with, but I decided it probably wasn’t sensible as I live 45 minutes away from the city normally! Instead I sent them off with a list of my favourite things to do, and received a lovely picture of the Queen in return. She’s regally looking at my desk as I write (and probably tutting inwardly at how messy it is).

So, I became an honorary Canadian for the day and took a trip up to St Paul de Vence with Emily and her friends. I’d already visited but it was really beautiful to see the snowy mountains as a backdrop. I really like wandering around all the Cimitières here, if I can say that without seeming too morbid, as they are so silent and peaceful, and something about all of the pale stone is very soothing.

Vence is just one winding mountain road away from St Paul, so we grabbed the next bus to have a look around. I don’t think we gave Vence a chance to shine, as there was still some snow on the ground there, and it was really really really cold! The old town was beautiful but oddly deserted, and combined with the clouds that had rolled over and these creepy trees, the whole place had a rather eerie feel. We also trekked all the way over the Matisse chapel to find it closed¸ which was a shame as I have heard good things about it. It’s all white inside but with really colourful stained glass. I hope to return there when the weather is a bit nicer.

Last weekend was a weekend away with the GBU, the Christian student group here in France, and I’ll write about that in another post, this one is rambling enough!