The long 10-hour overnight flight from L.A. to Paris was made easier by getting exit row seats and sitting next to a nice Italian gentleman named Marou. Born in Milan and living in the U.S. for the last few years, he was returning home for a week to see the folks. We all spoke of France and Italy with anticipation. Of course, as usual, I channeled Oprah Winfrey, and by flight's-end I knew his whole life story and girlfriend troubles. He graciously asked us to call him, and he would give us tips when we made our way up to Italy. We just may do that!
After a short flight from Paris to Nice, we spot Hans outside of baggage claim holding up a neatly-typed sign "Jon and Carolyn Romer." Just by the look of the sign I KNEW that he had a swingin' pad! Hans is a kind gentleman of German descent who traveled the world with his family and settled upon Nice in his retirement. Hans and his wife Annie, also have a country home in the town of Montauroux, which is a 40-minute drive inland from the coast. They will be staying at the home while we are in their apartment, so I can call him at anytime if we run into trouble. As Hans drives us from the airport in style (a late model Mercedes wagon), we get our first look at the beautiful coastline of Nice — turquoise and blue waters — a true "Côte d'Azur" (Coast of blue) with small smooth pebbles, and an ocean-front promenade called the "Promenade Des Anglais" (Promenade of the English) filled with couples strolling – young and old — families, and young revelers preparing for the party to come. After all, it is "Bastille Day" and as Hans says "We are welcoming you to France with fireworks!" For those who don't know, Bastille Day commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789.
We arrive at 57 Rue du Maréchal Joffre — a 1920's art-deco building with a beautiful facade, romantic iron filigree balconies with flowers, marble flooring — gorgeous.
The front of our art deco apartment — Tres Magnifique!
We go up 3 stories in an old-fashioned cage elevator right out of the movie "Blade Runner." I like cage elevators. They have the polished mechanical elegance that only certain things that were painstakingly designed and crafted have.
Our "Blade Runner-esque" Cage Elevator
When we enter the apartment, it is even more beautiful than the photos. Photos really can't capture the light that streams through the tall 10-foot windows, the smell of the boulangerie a block away or the sound of the occasional 2-note siren only heard in Europe. We look out the back balcony into the patio and notice so much of the flora is similar to southern California -- fan palms, canary island date palms, magnolias, pines, oleander, bougainvillea. The air is slightly heavy and warm — similar to Hawaii or Bermuda. We both realize we brought too many pants. It seems that I will be living in shorts and sundresses. The extra 8 pounds that I didn't lose now haunts me.
Our "Room with a View"
Short video of the apartment
After settling in, and a short nap, we have no time to waste. We must make it down to the shore in time to see the Bastille Day fireworks! It is a perfect night. There are two bands playing on the promenade — one struggling with American blues and the other Brazilian pop.
Video of our first night in Nice!
The firework show is long and spectacular. It makes me feel very Franco-American. The party girl in me wants to stay, but Jon is dead-tired and hungry, so we make our way back and stop for some yummy thin-crust pizza and a salad. Tomorrow we will get to know Nice. But first ... sleep.
Video of Bastille Day Fireworks!
No comments:
Post a Comment