Nice (France) | An Unexpected Surprise - Day 35

I feel good this morning and am looking forward to exploring Nice. My goal is to get a sense of the culture while wandering my way to some historic sites. The climate takes a bit of an adjustment for me. The night temperature only dropped 7 or 8 degrees F (4 C). The air feels heavier today and the sun is warm. Much warmer than I expected at 930 am.

Passing by Place Masséna this morning, I notice a couple of city tours in the vicinity of the Fountain du Soleil (Fountain of the Sun). The fountain has an interesting and funny history. Apollo, the Greek-God god of sun and light, is surrounded by 5 bronze statues in the fountain. The other 5 gods are Venus, Gaia, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn.

This is the Opera House of Nice. The current building, with pink marble columns, dates back to 1882.  The pink marble is stunning to see. The site is much older and a wooden opera house once stood here. It was first built on the site in 1776. The current building was recognized as a historical site in 1992 and is still used today with famous socialites still frequenting the building. 

I pass through the open-air Marché des Fleurs (Market of Flowers). The outdoor market is very popular with people from Nice. Fresh flowers, spices, and produce can be purchased daily. The place is alive with vivid colors and people. I notice that French people are soft-spoken. Although I am surrounded by them, their conversations are barely audible. This makes it tough for me to pick up on conversations and retrain my brain. I know I am right when I can think in French instead of English. The picture below is from Les Promenades des Anglais, where you can see flags of several allies of the French. 

As I round the point into the harbor, I pass the Monument to the Dead of Rauba-Capeu. A WWI memorial that recognizes the 3,665 people of Nice that lost their lives during WWI. The monument is setback into the hillside and measures 32 m (105 ft) high. Above the monument is Castle Hill District.

It is quite stunning to look at.

I notice this sculpture a bit further down the road and laugh. I think it captures the essence of Nice quite well. Titled "A Weekend in Nice". The little silver car is loaded with beach equipment.

Looking south from the north end of the Port of Nice. Mostly smaller recreational boats are moored in the harbor. On the right, you'll notice several mega-yachts. They are constantly visible on the horizon as you look out across the ocean from Les Promenades des Anglais.

At noon, I hear a loud BOOOM that startles me. I laugh at the fact that I jumped. I was expecting it but it was much louder than I anticipated. Nice has a tradition of firing a cannon from atop Castle Hill District to announce the noon hour. This midday tradition was started by a Scottish man in 1861. The clever problem solver got tired of waiting for his wife for lunch every day, so he ordered that a cannon be fired from Castle Hill to remind her to come home. 

I climb the 92 m (301 ft) to the top of Castle Hill, where I grab a fresh ham sandwich on a baguette for 5 euros. The Ballanda Tower is one of the highlights of Castle Hill and offers panoramic views. The original tower was destroyed by Louis XIV, who conquered Nice. He had all the fortifications demolished to ensure his control of the area.

After dinner, I find my way down to Les Promenades des Anglais, where a firework show is set to take place. It is the day before Bastille Day or Fête National Françaises (French National Day). Bastille Day is July 14th. Pretty awesome to be here in person for it. I'll be in Marseille, France on the 14th for the celebration.

I wasn't expecting a fireworks show tonight. It is hands down one of the best fireworks shows I have watched. The French know how to do it right. After starting near the airport, the show then transitions to the west side of Les Promenades des Anglais. An hour later, this show makes most 4th of July shows in the United Staates appear mediocre at best.