21st Chapter – Cannes Winter
Antibes, Thursday, February 27, 2025
We took the train to Antibes around noon to explore the town again and have lunch.
We were there for a 5 PM meeting of Democrats Abroad at a local watering hole (La Fabrique).
Many people are concerned about the dismantling of the US government.
Vallouise, Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Rebecca joined some new friends in Vallouise for a book club meeting. They discussed Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Winner of the 2024 Hawthornden Prize
Shortlisted for the 2024 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction
Shortlisted for the 2024 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction
Her host, Marie Christine, served a delicious lemon pie and offered free lemons from her tree. Rebecca has a delightful time.
Nice, Sunday, February 23, 2025
We joined our friends, Bruce, Sheila, Mark and Veronika for lunch in Nice at Gaglio restaurant (10 Bd Jean Jaurès, ) before heading over to the Nice Carnival celebration.
The Nice Carnival takes place over two weeks and three weekends in February, attracting several hundred thousand French and international spectators each year.
The Carnival alone justifies a trip to Nice. It is considered the third most important Carnival in the world, after Rio and Venice.
It was a colorful affair in a sea of confetti and streamers.
Menton, Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Rebecca and I joined our friends (Bruce and Sheila) for a trip to Menton, a little village just outside the Italian border to view the annual Fête du Citron. It features large exhibits made of lemons and oranges. This year’s theme was “Journey to the Stars”
The “Fête du Citron®” (Lemon Festival), an unique event in the world, attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year. For more than 15 days, come and enjoy the zest-flavored of Golden parades and Night-time parades(parades of citrus floats and animated by groups), admire the Exhibition of citrus patterns in the gardens Biovès.
We wandered around the exhibits, and town and then caught lunch at a local restaurant. Menton has its own special appeal.
Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monday, February 17, 2025
Today we joined our friend from Nice to visit Veronika and Mark in Villefranche-sur-Mer for their annual Conbat Navel Fleuir, a nautical celebration.
The Combat Naval Fleuri has its origins in 1902 , a time when carnival celebrations were in full swing on the Côte d’Azur. While other towns were organising flower battles, Villefranche-sur-Mer innovated by combining its maritime identity with the local floral wealth. Thus was born the first flower battle on the water , attracting crowds from all over the world from the very beginning.
We were treated to a nice lunch at Veronika and Mark’s house after which we walked to the port for the festival. The town was crowded and festive.
There is a parade after which the boats cruise near the shore and toss flowers to the onlookers.
After the visit, we returned to Nice and brought Rebecca’s coffee maker to the store for an exchange as it wasn’t working correctly. They were very helpful at Ubaldi negotiating with Phillips to arrange a return.
Nice, Saturday, February 15, 2025
Rebecca has been long overdue for a new MacBook so today we took the train to St. Laurent du Var to visit the Apple store in the CAP 3000 mall, it is just outside of Nice. There she scored a new computer with an International English keyboard. NOTE French keyboards have a different key arrangement and diacritical marks.
We also bought new sunglasses while there.
We then took the train to Nice to catch dinner with some friends (Paul and Justine) from upstate NY who have a place in Vence. We ate at a Lebanese restaurant that had belly dancing. It was a fun evening.
The Nice carnival is in full swing, so the place was crowded.
Cannes, Thursday, February 13, 2025
I attended an AI conference in Cannes today and walked the exhibit floor. There were a lot of interesting Artificial Information applications being promoted
Cannes, Wednesday, February 12, 2025
We were treated to a morning rainbow.
It was a nice way to start the day.
Cannes, Tuesday, February 11, 2025
About a year ago I met a nice couple from Boston (Gardner and Dayne) at a tram stop in Nice. We exchanged information and promised to keep in touch. They have a house in Nice.
Today Rebecca and I met them for lunch in Cannes. We had a delightful lunch and conversation.
It was great to see them again.
Ventimiglia, Friday, February 7, 2025
We took the train to Ventimiglia Italy to visit the Friday market. The trip takes 1H/35M and costs about 15 eu each.
Rebecca scored a few new purses, and wearables. I loaded up on sun-dried tomatoes which are excellent there.
After the market, we had lunch at Geppy’s Bistrot and later explored the town.
We also finally located another bistro that we had eaten at during a previous visit – Pantificio, Via Roma 38, 18039, Ventimiglia Italy
Cannes, Thursday, February 6, 2025
Rebecca and I strolled to her language school to check on schedules. We also played around at the school pool table.
Later Rebecca visited a local library and I stopped at Aldi for some resupplies.
Nice, Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Today, we took the train to Nice to visit the CADAM (official office) to check on our VLS-TS (visa) renewals. We arrived at 11 AM to line up for the 1:00 PM queue for people without appointments. They are only open a few hours a day for folks without appointments. Their online appointment system is not very functional so we took this route. We were able to get one of the few seats to wait.
My Visa was complete so I paid the 225 eu fee and received my updated card.
Rebeca’s visa is still being processed but we were able to get another extension of her temporary visa to keep her legal.
From there, we took the train to St Laurent du Var to visit a large mall (Cap 3000) where the Apple store is located.
Rebecca is buying a new Apple notebook as her 10-year-old model is not up to current tasks. While there, I checked out the new Apple Vision headset. It was a very interesting experience.
We caught a quick lunch near the beach and headed to the store. One of our needs is to have an English keyboard as the French ones arrange the keys differently. She will probably order one online from Apple and have it delivered.
We left at sunset and were treated to some great lighting.
Nice, Saturday, January 25, 2025
We took the train to Nice to have lunch with our Friends Bruce and Sheila and enjoyed a nice pizza at their flat. After lunch, we took a bus to the Musée Archéologique de Nice-Cimiez
This site museum is located on the hill of Cimiez, ancient city of Cemenelum, capital of the roman territory of the Alpes Maritimae. This major archaeological site shows the remains of three complete thermal complexes (1st to 3rd century), streets, a residential area with its shops, as well as an amphitheater. There is also a paleo-Christian group consisting of a cathedral and a baptistery corresponding to a last manifestation of urban life in Cemenelum (from the fifth century).
After, we walked next door to the Musee Matisse.
In a fully renovated Genoese villa set in the olive grove in the Cimiez Gardens, this single-artist museum follows the artistic development of the painter who lived in Nice from 1917 to his death in 1954.
The Matisse Museum houses the donations to the City of Nice of Henri Matisse and his heirs. The collection, rich in nearly 600 works, traces Matisse’s artistic research from the 1890s to the cut-out gouache papers of the end of his life. The museum also preserves the artist’s personal objects, which allows us to enter into the intimacy of his creation.
Then it was up the hill to the Monastère de Cimiez
In the 9th century, the Brothers of the Abbey of Saint-Pons built the Monastery of Cimiez. In 1543, the convent of the Franciscan brothers was destroyed during the siege of Nice. Three years later, they bought the Monastery from the brotherhood of the Benedictines. After the Revolution, the army turned it into a barracks and later into a military hospital. It would subsequently resume its original vocation under the Sardinian Restoration, and becomes a parish church under the direction of the monks. In the 19th century, the addition of neo-gothic facades and porches, gives it its current style.
As a consequence of this rich past, the Monastery is now listed as a Historical Monument.
In this 15th century church, you can admire three major paintings of the primitive Niçois painter Louis Bréa: a Pietà, the Crucifixion, and the Deposition. Also worth seeing is the imposing carved wood baroque altarpiece. The museum traces Franciscan life in Nice from the 13th century onwards and houses fascinating frescoes and works of art.
The garden of the Monastery, with its rose garden and Mediterranean plants, is beautiful with a view that embraces a large part of the city, all the way to the sea. Henri Matisse, Roger Martin du Gard and Raoul Dufy are buried in the adjacent cemetery.
We then returned to Nice for a coffee and were joined by Veronika and Mark for dinner.
The gang is all here.
Antibes, Friday, January 24, 2025
Today was a bright sunny day so we took a short train to Antibes.
We chatted with an artist gallery owner (Urbani Art) and explored the town with a mandatory stop at the English bookstore.
Cannes, Thursday, January 23, 2025
I caught some cool lighting off the patio today.
Cannes, Saturday, January 18, 2025
Tonight Rebecca and I attended the American Club cocktail event in Cannes. We walked over with some new friends that we met last night. They had 80 people register and it was a lively event.
Cannes, Friday, January 17, 2025
Rebecca and I joined a coffee with the American Club in downtown Cannes. We were able to make some new friends and introductions.
Cannes, Thursday, January 16, 2025
We enjoyed some spectacular morning clouds.
Cannes, Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Our friends from Vence came to town and we gathered for lunch. It was a joy to see Paul and Justine again.
Cannes, Saturday, January 4, 2025
We received a nice invitation from my former boss (he hired me) when I was at Scientific American Magazine. Peter was in town to visit some friends and invited us to join him for lunch at the Carlton Beach Club. We had a delightful time.
Cannes, Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Happy New Year from Cannes
Villefranche / Tuesday, December 31, 2024
We had the pleasure of spending time with our friends from Nie and Villefranche for a New Year’s Eve afternoon.
We (Rebecca, Bruce & Sheila) caught the bus from Nice to Villefranche to visit Veronika and Mark. They were great hosts.
Cannes, Friday, December 27, 2024
We enjoyed our London vacation but were also happy to be home again to warm temperatures and sunny skies.
London Weather for the week
Cannes weather for the week
Redhill/London/Paris/Cannes, Thursday December 26, 2024 – Boxing Day
Today is Boxing Day, when Democrats and Republicans iron it out after being forced to have dinner together at Christmas. Actually there is another explanation.
Often referred to as a “second Christmas,” Boxing Day is mainly celebrated in the United Kingdom. It’s a day focused on promoting donations and gifts for the most vulnerable groups, and with football as a part of the tradition, it has become a special occasion for enjoying thrilling matches
Out return home required an Uber to London St Pancras station (1H 30M), the Eurostar via Chunnel to Paris Gare de Lyon (2H/20M), a short metro (2 stops) to Paris Gare Nord, and the TGV to Cannes (5H/20M). It may sound like a difficult journey but the European trains are very comfortable and clean. We feel that it is actually easier than flying to Nice.
The trains were fully booked due to the holidays. We wore our masks as many people were coughing.
St Pancras station.
Uber to train station.
Redhill, Wednesday, December 25, 2024 – Happy Christmas
We made a Christmas chicken for dinner and relaxed at the apartment. We return to Cannes tomorrow.
London, Monday, December 23, 2024
Today was visit the British Museum Day. https://www.britishmuseum.org/
There was a line three blocks long to get in with tickets. I walked around the block to find the no-ticket queue where there was no line at all.
One could spend a week in the BM and just begin to scratch the surface of interesting things there.
After the visit, we caught a quick bite at Rosa Thai and then headed to a play, “Back to the Future.” We were impressed with its staging.
Our original seats were OK, but a bit disappointing so I returned to the box office and asked to be reseated due to a “rather large lady sitting in front of us”. They bought the story and moved us up several rows to much better seating. Then as the curtain came up I noticed that a few rows ahead were two even better seats. We relocated there at intermission.
London at night.
Greenwich, Saturday, December 21, 2024 – Winter Solstice
We took the train to Greenwich for a day trip. Upon arrival at a Greenwich stop (but not apparently the Greenwich stop) we took the tram over the river to visit Greenwich. Upon landing on the other side, we were informed that we had just left the correct side of the river. An accommodating tram employee allowed us to retrace our step on the same ticket.
Being rather unsure of the direction we wanted to go we engaged a taxi into town. Once there it was time for lunch.
Rebecca opted for Thai and I went for Pizza. After exploring the local market we headed up to the Royal Observatory.
There we saw many cool things including the Harrison watch which solved the Longitude problem. Rebecca stood on the Prime Meridian.
Read about it here – https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/harrisons-clocks-longitude-problem
We also enjoyed a great view of the city from the observatory hill.
We took the train home.
London, Friday, December 20, 2024
I visited a local charity shop and invested 9 pounds in a warmer coat as a defense against the chilly weather. It performed well and earned the investment.
Rebecca relaxed at home and I returned to London to explore and shoot some pix. The town was packed with Christmas shoppers. I also treated myself to a sushi lunch at Sushi Eatery. 40 Firth st. A bit overpriced at 28 pounds but I contributed to a local shortage of Salmon dishes.
London, Thursday, December 19, 2024
We took the train downtown to have lunch with a former colleague from my days at Scientific American in the mid-1980s. We make it a habit of getting together every 40 years or so. Roy at 87, was every bit as sharp and charming as I remembered. His current hobbies include water painting which he is skilled at. We regaled with stories of the good old days, many of which were true. It was very nice to reconnect.
After lunch we explored more of London, enjoying some of the Christmas lights. Rebecca invested in some warmer tights and we stopped in at a significant number of bookstores on Rebecca’s behalf. The weather continued to be aloof and challenging.
We made good use of the London tube.
Redhill, Wednesday December 18, 2024
Wednesday was a local day of relaxing with the pooch.
Redhill/London, Tuesday December 17, 2024
We took the local train to London Bridge station to explore London on a misty, overcast day that could have been a bit warmer if it had tried a bit harder.
Getting off the train we viewed the Shard a local landmark and walked randomly toward the river Thames. Our first encounter was Borough Market. It was packed with Christmas shoppers. I scored some incredible raspberries and Rebecca bought some fancy nuts.
Our story began 1,000 years ago, when a market took shape at the foot of London Bridge. Since 1756, we’ve been in our current location, run by a charitable trust on behalf of the community. Today, our mission is to show that food can be made and sold in ways that are better for people, for the planet and for the sheer pleasure of eating.
We decided to visit our favorite pub near the British Museum (The Plough) for lunch. Rebecca had the Shepards pie and I the Fish and Chips.
From there we proceeded along the river, traversing to Covent Garden market.
Once home to the world-famous fruit and vegetable market, Covent Garden’s Apple Market continues to support market traders, offering a range of unique handmade crafts and goods throughout the week.
From Tuesday to Sunday, the Apple Market is filled with handmade jewellery, prints, watercolours and beautiful crafts and every Monday, you’ll find one-off antiques and collectables.
In spite of the weather, we enjoyed our explorations.
Redhill, Monday, December 16, 2024
We decided to make our first day local so we took Alice for a walk, dropped her off and walked to Reigate a nearby town.
There I visited a local British Heart Society thrift shop and invested 10 pounds in a dark suit which I needed for no apparent reason. Rebecca visited local bookstores and we had a light lunch.
Returning we hopped on a local bus. We quickly discovered that we were heading the wrong way so we got off and corrected our return journey.
After that adventure, we stopped at the local supermarket, Sainsbury to stock up on some provisions. We were delighted by the selections and prices.
Cannes/Paris/London December 15, 2024
Today we began our 10-day trip to London via Paris. We are housesitting for a friend and her Westie (Alice)
We caught the 8:33 TGV in Cannes to Paris Gare de Lyon (5H/20M), took the metro to Paris de Nord, and then the Eurostar via the Chunnel to London St. Pancras station (2H/20M). From there it was a local train to Redhill. We arrived around 20:00. It sounds a bit long but it is an easy trip in comfortable trains traveling around 175 MPH with interesting scenery along the way.
Upon arrival, we had dinner at a local Redhill restaurant.
Antibes, Thursday, Dec 5, 2024
We traveled to Antibes to have lunch with Aurica who we met through Democrats Abroad. Before that, I stopped in at a gathering of the American Club group at a nearby restaurant and met a few new people.
Cannes, Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024
Our new piano arrived today and Rebecca gave it a workout. It will get more attention this winter after our travels.
Nice, Thursday, Nov 28, 2024 – Happy Thanksgiving
We took the train to Nice to join some friends for Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to Sheila and Bruce for hosting, and Veronika and Mark for being part of the celebration.
I visited Ikea in Nice earlier that day to pick up a few things while I was in town.
Cannes, Monday, Nov 18, 2024
We get some lovely lighting off the terrace.
Cannes, Friday, Nov 15, 2024
Rebecca had her arm x-rayed and imaged. It does not appear that there are any majoy issues that will require surgery but her physical therapy will continue.
Cannes, Monday, Nov 11, 2024
Today is a French holiday.
Rebecca began her massage treatment for her sore arm. She wrecked it several months ago. Her therapist is a very nice Spanish lady who is excellent.
Cannes, Friday, Nov 8, 2024
We had a doctor’s appointment in Cannes (35 euros) to find that we both have a flu virus.
We will be lying low for the next few days to rest and recover.
Cannes, Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024
We awoke to the news of Trump’s reelection. Not what many of us expected.
We moved to France primarily for better weather, health care, and affordability being primary reasons, but we will not miss the political side of the US. Rebecca was upset all day. It will take a few weeks for the data to be analyzed regarding this election, but the speculation began immediately.
One can only imagine the chaos that is ahead.