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!
- 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?
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