The Port
Place Garibaldi
Church
Monuments
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| Le Monument aux Morts |
Madame Saccardi told me that first weekend all the museums in Nice were free so I hit them all in a mad dash. I didn’t take too many pictures, but if you want to see this stuff you come to Nice.
Museums and Views
I didn't just go to museums, but I ventured all throughout the city center and seaside areas. I went up Le Château (a hill across the bay from the hill I live on) where there is an archaeological dig, a huge park, and amazing views of the entire countryside, down to the port area to look at the ships, and checked out several of the plazas.
Le Château
On my way to school (it’s 11:30 AM mind you) I saw a dude just chillin’ in front of the Tabac with a beer. When I came back at 6:00 PM he was still there. Same dude! In France, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. There is no stigma about drinking, probably because it’s not some rebellious thing old people tell you for 21 years of your life that you can’t do. On the other hand, I saw a 13-year-old kid walking down the street with a cigarette; all nonchalant about it, and no one batted an eye. Wow. I was in an old book store the other day, (or librairie) where you can buy old books from a hundred years ago, and the family that ran it had a huge row right there in front of the whole store with their teen-age daughter marching to the back of the store and slamming the door.
The weather here has been Nice, with a few rainstorms and summer thunder, and a lot of east coast-style humidity (you’re drenched by the time you climb up the hill to my apartment). And overall, the people here have been extremely kind and helpful. It's hard for me to imagine receiving the same kind of help I have from strangers in America. Because we'd think we'd get killed or something. And we're probably right. I can read a lot of French now, because I have time to translate in my head and recognize cognates, but when it comes to speaking or hearing I'm total crap. I try to watch TV and understand what they’re saying, but its hard. My favorite show is their version of Do You Know the Lyrics, but they actually do it way better. Their contestants are better singers, Wayne Brady doesn't keep interrupting with all his bullshit singing, and you get to learn French pop songs because the lyrics are written underneath and they sing slower than they speak.
Well, it’s the first week of school soon so check out my pictures and . . . peace! I’m out! Till October!
