Quiet Friday 12-05-25

We couldn’t get going today very well, we struggled out around noon and walked over to a little cafe that fronts the Promenade d’Anglais. We stopped at a place where we may have had lunch a couple years ago. It looked like the place but there are about 8 of them in a row and we can’t be certain. But it’s one that has been pretty consistently busy when we have walked past before. Once seated we ordered  a very abbreviated lunch, Deb had a salad Nicois, and I had a duck burger. Talking with our young server Deb asked if she could have the salad without the anchovies, and the server said of course. In fact she said, ‘I really like sardines but I hate anchovies myself’.  I got my duck burger and the duck was in fact shredded duck, not a burger.  It came with what I might say are the best potato fries we’ve had this trip. The greens and all he makings for the salad were very crisp and fresh as well. All in all it was a good lunch in what could have been a tourist trap. Several days ago I mentioned that I ordered a pasta dish that was blette gnocchis. Deb says I have to more fully explain the dish because it’s on so many restaurant menus where we’ve eaten. It’s called ‘Merda de Can’ which is the Nice  dialect that literally translates to ‘dog shit’, she thinks that’s hysterical. In truth it does have that sort of  

appearance but it’s quite a tasty dish. (Sorry I can’t figure out the justification above)

Following lunch we wanted to go to a museum exhibiting what we call outsider art, or naive art. Perhaps kitschy might suffice. But when we got to the bus stop for the ride over I discovered my bus pass was back in the apartment. So we opted for sitting out in the sun on the promenade and watching the sea and the beach bathers. We got quite a laugh watching a group of people out at the edge of the beach almost where the waves were breaking trying to get a picture. They were trying to pose but the waves wouldn’t cooperate. So they stood up and were talking when a wave blasted right up the beach and filled their shoes with water. We could hear them screaming as they ran further up the beach. Then they all sat down and took off their shoes and socks and wrung them out. They then set their shoes in sun to try to dry them out, fat chance.  We were chatting about the gulls and how they would mob anyone who offered food and why weren’t they looking for fish. Almost as soon as spoken we saw all the gulls wheel out a couple hundred yards and start attacking the surface of the water, they found a school of fish. They spent several minutes wheeling and diving and then settled down on the surface to digest lunch. 

Deb was lamenting her mistaken timing on events, but today all was set to rights. The concert that we showed up for two days ago was definitely presented today. It was presented in a Benedictine church that is located one block in from the seafront. It was built in the 18th century and is fairly restrained in its decorations. There are some flourishes and several paintings adorning the walls but not frescoes. The concert was sort of a pre-Christmas affair and we expected some songs of the season. The performers were a violinist and a harpist, both of whom were employed by the local opera. I think we may have had one Ave Maria, oh and a Nutcracker piece, but for the most part it was a classical repertoire from opera and symphony.  It was an enjoyable performance and a nice way to finish our day.

All the Christmas decorations were turned on for the Christmas Fair when we walked back to the apartment. We spent a little time walking through part of it and enjoying he merry makers. In the park opposite the fair they have a light show in the gardens which is very pretty.