Happy Easter to you all! It's been an extremely successful extended weekend here in Europe since they gave us Monday off from class (leaving me with a 5-day weekend). Thursday at 11am, my friends and I left for Nice, France, which is on the southern coast. When you see it on a map, you think, "Wow, that's just across the pond. You guys must've been able to get there sooo quickly." I caution these assumptions -- we were on trains until 10pm. We were hangry (hungry/angry) and tired but also kind of loopy, which makes everything funny. We needed funny because we meandered to Hostel Smith, where we would proceed to spend the next four nights in close quarters with a very mixed group of weird and sometimes interesting people. We weren't unsafe or anything but it was one of those places that made you wish you had brought your own silverware. You get me?
Friday was our first day in Nice so we were most concerned with hitting the beach. It has that gorgeous water that fades into three different shades, starting with the lightest at the beachfront where the water and sand have mixed, then darker, then a dark denim as far as your eyes can see. The difference between Nice and American beaches is that the beach is rock instead of sand so it's quite uncomfortable. The water was that take-your-breathe-away kind of freezing so, while I'm usually the first to want to get in, I ran back out after only having gotten in to my waste. Those that were brave enough to submerge all the way looked like a really awesome orange contrast to the turquoise blue water. There were palm trees everywhere, manicured lawns and gardens, and loooots of pretty cars. Basically, it's my dad's paradise, which is why I'm going to take him there someday. I got looots of sun, which is great because Cara has threatened me with a spray tan for the wedding (noooo!!). And by tan I mean, I have more freckles that are darkening my complexion. You understand.
We passed a place that rented rollerblades and bikes. Rollerblades are huuuge here. So we decided to participate and the rental fees were low (6 euro for 2 hours) so we played for awhile. Lots of stories of us falling off and making fools of ourselves but I'll save those for another day . . . or never.
Saturday we took a short bus ride over to Monaco!! This was probably the best part of the trip! I want to grow up and marry the Prince of Monaco so that I too can live in such a beautiful place. You can tell this is a hot spot for the rich because there are a lot of well-dressed foreigners and locals driving niiiiice cars that I feel should never leave the dealership. The huge casino is the first thing you see but obviously, we're poor so there was no gambling to be done. We ate sack-lunches on the pier in front of all the boats, fed the seagulls, and marveled at the beauty of everything.
The really cool part of being in Monte Carlo is obviously seeing the place that Grace Kelly was wonderfully present. We went to the church where she was married and buried. It's a very modern building -- it's not some antique piece of architecture or anything. We lit candles and sat to pray for awhile. Being there is a little sad, I think, because you can't help but hate that good people die too early. Danielle and I stayed later than everyone else and went through the prince's palace, too. I'd compare it to going through the White House, where you see pieces of furniture that, while important at one time, barely ever coinhabit the same rooms as the President himself. They're old rooms with lots of portraits of lineage and gifts of pottery from ancient foreign leaders. Overall, it's just a really beautiful city. I kept telling Danielle that if I'm ever rich and can afford a "summer home," that's my place. Or Nice. Or anything in between. It's really that lovely and peaceful.
Lastly, we went to French Mass for Easter. We showed up about 45 minutes early so we'd get a seat. Of course, it was all in French and there was a lot of standing involved but it wasn't unlike the Italian Masses I've attended. At the end, he said in English, "To those english-speaking people in attendance, Happy Easter and enjoy your stay in Nice." Shout out to the English! Woot woot! There were no Easter Bunnies, I'm sad to say. There was also none of Doris Aldridge's lemon cake. Even more sad. But it was a lovely Easter, nonetheless!
So I know you're dying to know if I liked the people/life, based on the Italian standard I have to compare things to so I will indulge you.
Pros for France:
1) Cuter boys
2) Better bread (I won't tell you how many croissants/baguettes I ate...)
3) They let you touch their pets
4) People don't invade your space
5) Better supply at grocery stores
6) Cuter boys
Cons for France:
.....
I must say, that I was in the South, which tends to be better no matter what country you are in. I was also near a lot of foreigners, who weren't just French but American, British, etc. But it was the best ever. You should go on your next vacay. Forewarning: The women sunbathe nude without shame. My jaw has never dropped so low.
^^My beautiful friends and I
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