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Oh là là Côte d’Azur

Piggybacking on Laurie's business trip to Sophia Antipolis (who could resist, right?), hence will make our HQs in Antibes.
Truly looking forward to explore as much as we can, and of course Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup :)
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  • Chez Margueritte

    20. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ 🌩️ 70 °F

    Back in Da Hood
    But new restaurant to try
    Laurie can't decide between €100 or €102 glass of wine.
    Vin Rosé Provençal
    San Miguel Fresca
    Salud! Laurie saw a cute kid
    Salud! Laurie saw a cute dog
    Boeuf Tartar, fries et salade (Laurie)
    Moules Marinara et frites (moi)
    Scrumptiously delicious food!

    Now, as an info, French "Mussels marinara" has nothing to do with red sauce as we might expect. Rather it is a Provençal dish technically being moules marinières - mussels steamed in white wine and served in a sauce made from the cooking liquid with butter and shallots in itself a classic French preparation of mussels.
    That pot must've had 40 or 50 of them!!!

    Oh and my baby is sporting her new "travel ring"
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  • Last Night in Antibes

    20. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ 🌩️ 70 °F

    We made the final rounds of many streets we walked in this past week, saying Goodbye to sites and still noticing something new like this art gallery that has whimsical characters carved on the outside walls....

    As it was in the beginning, it is now in the end
    What could be better than a nice refreshing gelato? 😆😋
    Laurie opted for yet another Amarino Cherry, but I went ....with Tiramisu 😍
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  • Train to Nice

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    It was raining pretty hard this morning but we caught a small break when it tapered off and we got to Armour Caffe fir breakfast. We grabbed 2 Petit Fomules petit-déjeuners, had a small conversation with the owners, and checked out from the apartment (got another break there as rain really went to nothing!) and took a train to Nice-Ville station, arriving shortly after noon.
    The sun began to break out of the clouds...
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  • Our new place

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Since the weather was cooperating, we decided to walk to our new place on Rue des Roses.
    Since we were somewhat early, we agreed with the landlord where she would let us on to drop luggage but would need to leave in order for her to properly clean.
    There are no arguments here. By now, the sun is shining, and the sky is blue,
    Dropped the luggage we did and out we wemt
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  • L'église Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc de Nice.

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    The top thing on our list was Marc Chagall National Museum (Musée National Marc Chagall) so that's we we set off to.

    Not far away from the apartment we came upon this totally cool looking church, which turned out to be L'église Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc de Nice.
    Sadly it was closed but perhaps we'll check it out tomorrow

    Just a sliver of shots of Mice streets while walking. Another city (BTW, 7th largest in France with slightly over 1mil inhabitants) tgat reminds me of Odessa
    .
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  • Marc Chagall National Museum

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    The Marc Chagall National Museum (Chagall Biblical Message) is a French national museum dedicated to the work Marc Chagall – essentially his works inspired by religion.

    The museum was created during the lifetime of the artist, with the support of the Minister of Culture André Malraux, and inaugurated in 1973. It is also known as the "National Museum Marc Chagall Biblical Message" ("Musée national message biblique Marc Chagall") as it houses the series of seventeen paintings illustrating the biblical message, painted by Chagall and offered to the French State in 1966. This series illustrates the books of Genesis, Exodus, and the Song of Songs.

    Joking aside about Chagall that hangs in our kitchen... it's really beyond AWESOME to be face to face with these gigantic paintings and marvel at the colors
    These a collection of smaller prints incl.Paraduse, Creation of Man, Creation of Woman The Chariot of Elijah mosaic and then the Big ones
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  • Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice

    21.–23. sep. 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    The St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, Nice (French: Cathédrale Orthodoxe Saint-Nicolas de Nice, Russian: Николаевский собор, Ницца) is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral located in the French city of Nice. Property of the Russian Federation, it is recognized as a national monument of France, and it currently belongs to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. It is the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe.

    There is so much info about the place I humbly suggest to check out Wkipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodo…

    For a little clarity on Russian nobility mentioned here:
    Nicolas II - last Czar and Emperor of Russia
    Emperor Alexander II - Nicolas' Grandfather. Called "The Liberator" for emancipating Russian serfs. Killed during terrorist attack.
    Tsarevich (Crown Prince) Nicolas - son of Alexander II, brother of Emperor Alexander III and uncle of Emperor Nicolas II

    ...And lots like Laurie found a friend
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  • Cathedral 2

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    A classic situation of knowing the language.
    Although the tourists can walk in and look around the visit into Cathedral proper is done by tours, else everyone is standing behind the rope. Sort of happened to us when Laurie attempted to ask the custodian something (and in English to boot), and I immediately took over. Within seconds, we were on the other side of the rope - with other Russians Praying to various Saints and to The Lord's Mother.

    I did informed the custodian that I will snap some photos but have all intentions of Prayng ad well. And so, after playing tourist, I recited The Lord's Prayer, which us what I do all of the time in similar situations (funny thing happened- I started it in Russian, completely out of the blue and actually got through about 1/2 before stumbling and only then switching to English) and lit a candle to St. Nicolas The Miracle Worker (the Patron Saint of the Cathedral)

    And as you can see Laurie was not done with her friend 😻
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  • Cathedral Museum in the Crypt

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    Cool little collection on display including bust of Nicolas II, hussar uniform of Emperor Alexander II, as well as his death mask and hand print, photos of Villa Bermond and Crown Prince Nicholas.
    Supposedly, the bloodied shirt Alexander wire when he got assassinated is here as well, but it very rarely sees the light of the day.
    ...I actually learned a couple of new things...
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  • Turkish Kebob

    21. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    As we walked out from St.Nicolas, we could see that the weather once more turned for the worse. The sky was gray again, and the raindrops started falling on my head perhaps within 10 minutes.

    We were beginning to scope out a place to get something to it but prudently decided that getting out from the street should take priority over the cuisine.
    As we passed The Turkish Kebob we saw that although there were not too many occupied tables, there was a formidable crowd fir take out. So we decided to take a chance... and not a moment too soon as the tropical torrential downpour presented itself right when we sat down

    Simple but very delicious and satisfying food. Laurie chose Kofta, and I went with mixed Kebob.

    By the time dinner was done, the rain did the same. I made sure that it was OK to return to the apartment - it was, and we called it a day
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  • Breakfast on the run

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Who would have thanked that one may have problems getting breakfast in a large city at 8:00am, but apparently that's what's happening. After some unsuccessful tries, we just settled for (that is if you can ever SETTLE to) freshly baked chocolate and plain croissants, OJ and our usual choices of coffees at the Boulangerie's stand bar counterLæs mere

  • Return to visit La Poucelle

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    We timed it so we were at St. Joan if Arc's doors about 10 mins after they opened

    Created between 1934 and 1935, Eugène Klementieff's interior frescoes represent the stations of the Way of the Cross and are inspired by Russian Cubism , Orthodox icons and the Quattrocento.

    The church is sometimes nicknamed the " meringue " because of its white color .
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  • Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    The basilica was built between 1864 and 1879 according to the plans of the French architect Charles Lenormand , son of Louis Lenormand . It is the largest church in Nice . In neo-Gothic style, it is inspired by the cathedrals of Paris and Angers.

    It was consecrated on March 12, 1925and was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Paul VIApril 16, 1978.
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  • Place Massena

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Ornate XIXth-century plaza lined with cafes & neoclassical buildings, host to many public events, which was named for André Masséna, a French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars who was one of the original 18 Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon.
    Its layout was designed by Joseph Vernier in 1843-1844. The Place Masséna is the main square of the city.

    Now Place Masséna is full of interesting and quirky attractions.

    The 7 Buddhists sitting on tall stilts. they are meant to represent the seven continents coming together in harmony and are called “Conversation in Nice”. The sculpture us Jaume Plensa, same artist that did Nomade in Antibes

    Fontaine du Soleil - Landmark bronze sculpture of Greek god Apollo, a focus of local jokes & anecdotes since the 1950s.
    Hilarious facts-filed stuff here: https://thegoodlifefrance.com/the-infamous-stor…

    I also have to beg forgiveness from Pastor Mandy as I obviously gave her a wrong answer to her question about the red gorilla statue at the airport. Seems I was misinformed and it has nothing to do with being a mascot for one of rugby teams. Rather it's work by an Artist named Richard Orlinsky - a French sculptor and visual neo-pop artist and part of his "Born Wild" series, and here we see The Red's Yellow cousin.
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  • Prom. des Anglais

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    The Promenade des Anglais is a promenade along the Mediterranean coast of Nice, France. It extends from the airport on the west to the Quai des États-Unis ("United States Quay") on the east, for a distance of approximately 7 km (4.35 miles). It is lined by old stately buildings on one side and the beaches on the other. Its popular with bicyclists, baby strollers, and families, especially on Sundays. It has also become a favorite place for skateboarders and in-line skaters. Unfortunately it is also a site of 2016 Bastille Day attack by an Islamic extremist.

    Neuf lignes obliques (Nine Oblique Lines) is a work by French artist Bernar Venet

    Monument du Centenaire (Centennial Monument ) is a commemorative monument and it celebrates the centenary of the annexation of Nice to France, in 1793 .

    L’ Ange de la Baie ( Angel of the Bay”) unveiled in tribute to the victims of the attack of July 14, 2016 in Nice. The sculptor is Jean-Marie Fondacaro, whose work we also saw in Antibes.

    The Negresco Hotel, a 5-star luxury hotel is one of the rare survivors of the hotel industry from the beginning of the XX century and one of the last independent establishments of this class

    And if course White Bear by Richard Orlinsky
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  • Vieux Nice (Old Nice)

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    Vieux Nice is not only the historical district of the city, but also one of the tourist hubs of Nice. Located west of the Port of Nice, Vieux Nice is a bundle of picturesque narrow streets dotted with cultural venues, shopping opportunities and restaurants which yield the ideal set for a sightseeing tour, a shopping spree or a gastronomic experience.... like the Atelier in the last pic. 🤣Læs mere

  • Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur de Nice

    22. september 2023, Frankrig ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    The Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur church , also known as the Gesù church , is a Baroque-style Catholic church built in the 17th century  by the Jesuits as a chapel for their college.

    I guess I just couldn't believe that I stumbled upon it!!! The 2 churches we wanted to visit (Notre-Dame du Port and Eglise St. Rita) were closed.... do was this one but it opened the door while we were lunching - and being clearly across the street, that was that.

    This is Apostle St. James the Elder, known to some of us as SANTIAGO!!! 😁

    Try as I may I couldn't find any scallops 🥲
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