Gadgets, Museums and Food

Our weather here in Nice has been exceptional since we arrived, low to mid 20's. We were scheduled for some showers on Wednesday the 15th, but none transpired, although very windy. Finally got rain on the 16th, but didn't stop us from getting out, temperature still around 20 C. Rain is expected for the next few days, after all it is spring here. On Saturday, the 18th, steady rain all day. We made a point of getting out for coffee, lunch and a visit to a local museum. Thank goodness for umbrellas and rain jackets!

"GADGETS"
Just a few notes about some of the "gadgets" we use when travelling. About a year ago, I read about an iPhone/Pad application called OffMaps. Robin and I used it when we were in New York last fall, and we can't say enough about how helpful it is. You down load a map when you are connected to the internet, before heading off somewhere (ie: Alpes/Maritimes for this area of France). I always ensure our IPhone has the phone and roaming turned off, and it has been since leaving Canada. The map application works off the GPS that is built into the phone. So for example, when we went to San Remo, I had looked up the address of the local market and bookmarked it. The application also has a guide which has some museums, banks, restaurants, transportation and several other choices of services, which helps in guiding you along. The built in GPS locates where you are in relation to where you want to go and you walk towards your destination as the GPS guides you along. No need for phone feature or Internet to be on (no roaming).

Also can't be without our tablets. Robin has his IPad and I have a mini IPad. Some of the programs we use are KOBO and the Public Library Overdrive service, which both allow us to download and read on our tablets.
Also found a BBC IPlayer app, which for $9 a month allows you access to watch English shows (love the dramas and mystery genres). We are both watching a series called "Silks" about lawyers in London. to all my gal pals who watched Adam in MI5, he is in this series and as good looking as EVER!

Robin of course, plays Words with Friends through Facebook. I don't do Facebook, but do publish this blog through Robin's page.

Crib board always accompanies us, and have also packed a card game called Phase 10 to play when we are joined by my Sister in Law, Brenda in mid June in Mazamet, France and when her daughter Molly joins us in Holland in late June.

MORE FOOD STUFF, etc !

Aioli - a garlic flavoured mayonnaise with a little olive oil made in Provence, served with fish and seafood and often with vegetables. O.K., we have all tried this back home, but the aioli here is to die for.....who comes up with these recipes? Did someone just drop a whole bunch of garlic in some mayo and decide to pawn it off on someone, then realize it really was good! Who cares.....we can tell you it is also very good with "frites", chicken and whatever suits your fancy!

On the subject of food, we shared a "tartine de fois gras" for lunch one day. Oh my gosh, was it ever good. The tartine was a thin bread/ galette, spread with caramelized onions, fig jam, nuts, roquette (similar to arugula) then topped with fois gras. The glass of red wine certainly complemented this dish. Good thing we walk into town!

Also love the warm Chèvre Salad. Something I make at home, but they have the knack of making a simple recipe into something with more presentation and varied flavours.

The French certainly know how to make pastries. Have had way too many Pain au Chocolat and other assorted pastries with our afternoon tea. Don't think a cholesterol check will be the best thing to do as soon as we we get back to Canada!

On most mornings, if we aren't travelling out of Nice, we walk into the old town for tea/coffee. Most small brasserie's offer wifi, but Robin gets a kick how the French refer to wifi.....phonetically ...."wee fee". The French also use a lot of English words....le weekend, parking lot and many others.

Also need to get used to the fact that the French use the 24 hour clock. Therefore 1 p.m.in the afternoon becomes hour 13, so one really has to pay attention when asking for timing of events, buses, etc. Live and learn the customs. At a grocery store the other day, I went up to one of the clerks and asked where the eggs where located. She looked at me and said "Bonjour Madame"..... Well now I know to start with a greeting, then ask my question!

MUSEUMS

Went to the Marc Chagall Museum, which is located in the Cimiez quarter of town. Although a small gallery, had some nice gardens and enjoyed seeing the art, along with the story of Chagall's life. Although may not be our favourite artist, still nice to expand one's horizons. I also learnt something new today.....gouache.......a technique of painting with opaque watercolours, which is prepared with a binding agent, usually Arabic gum. Now wasn't that worth getting up for!

On a rainy day, we walked to the Musee des Beaux Arts Jules Cheret, which is located in a beautiful 19th century Italinate mansion in the Belle Époque style. It was built for a Russian Princess. Unfortunately the second floor of the museum was closed for repairs, so the art, albeit beautiful, was limited in scope. Having said this, the most wonderful surprise....as we were looking at some of the art pieces in a salon, all of a sudden two beautiful operatic voices started singing, accompanied by a pianist. They were practicing for a concert that is taking place this coming Friday night. The singing didn't last long, but oh my gosh, made the hair rise in the back of your neck.

Took the bus on Friday to the fortified medieval mountain village of Eze. What a wonderful location up in the hills and the bus ride there gave up spectacular views of the towns along the coast- St.Jean Cap Ferrat, Villefranche and of course Nice. Quite a few tourists here today, as two cruise boats in the area and many tour buses. Remains of a 12th century fortified castle and the village is referred to an eagle's nest as it sits above the whole area.

Saturday the 18th, our first day of constant rain. Headed out to visit the Palais Massena, a beautiful Belle Époque building. The building itself has been restored to its previous glory and holds the history of the Massena family during the 1800 and 1900's in the area of Nice. One of the early pictures of the Promenade was quite interesting. The storyboard indicated " certain Hivernies (winter People) came back every year. They were referred to "L'Hirondelle d'Hiver" which strict translation means Winter Swalllows. Isn't it funny that my eye should catch this phrase, considering we and many of our Canadian family and friends are Snow Birds! Pictures of the Promenade dated back to its early beginnings in 1860, love these old pictures. This one is for our nephew, Sean. A notice from the town of Nice dating back to 1884, stating that citizens could no longer raise chickens or rabbits within the town boundaries due to health risks. Sean would like nothing better than to raise chickens in his backyard in Calgary!

Saturday afternoon of the big rain, had to come home and put on dry pants, socks before going out again. Went to the port pub, Ma Nolan's to meet Ken to watch the Heiniken Rugby Cup. The place was packed which was not surprising as the two teams playing were both French. Had to leave before the game ended, as we had dinner reservations. Must say, even I enjoyed the game.
Sorry to keep talking about food, but once again a "spectacular" meal at a very tiny restaurant, Oliviera. What a pleasant evening we had. We had a reservation here for last Saturday, but the owner cancelled due to a family emergency. We decided to rebook and certainly glad we did. The owner Nadin (host/waiter) and his wife Regine (cook) along with just one other assistant, prepare the most wonderful dishes using all local foods. They bought us a glass of wine as they had cancelled the previous week. Nadin thoroughly explained every dish on the menu, which are limited in scope, but all simply amazing. The menu shows from what region each ingredient/dish comes from. Can't help but get your mouth watering as he explains all the dishes. I had "Lapin sur pâtés" and Robin had "Saucisses, Lentilles du Puy". The restaurant also sells different oils and they feature oils throughout the meal and Nadin explains in detail where the various oils come from and what they should be served with, and the undertones of all the flavours. For desert, yes we indulged, we each had tiramisu, which was the only desert being served. When Nadin brought the desert, he poured some oil along the edge of the plate, which had been sprinkled with chocolate powder. I know that sounds different, but once again, the olive oil complemented this dish.

What also made this night entertaining, was the conversation we had throughout the meal with the people at the tables next to us. A table of four Canadians from Victoria (lots of laughs, they even shared their wine with us) and a young English couple who had flown to Nice for the weekend to celebrate a birthday. All in all a very enjoyable evening, capped off by a walk home....yes, it was still pouring rain! Forecast for the coming week is for further showers, but not pouring rain, we can deal with that!