Travels - Carnival de Nice

We had a school day-trip to Nice yesterday to see the Carnival... it's much more family-oriented than Mardi Gras with little kids running around in Disney costumes and people spraying silly string and confetti everywhere. You had to pay to get a decent view or a seat for the parade so I spent most of the day walking around town instead. I went back to the old town market that was filled with people selling all sorts of plants, spices, olives, fruits and vegetables and the marzipan candies that are traditional in Provence.

After lunch with Meghan and Erin, I walked around the old town a bit more before heading toward the parade. On the way, a random guy stopped his bike in front of me and told me (in French) that I have beautiful eyes. I smiled and thanked him and he paused like he was expecting more. I didn't know what to say so I just smiled and he finally nodded and continued on. A bit of an odd moment, but definitely nice. Once I arrived at the parade site, there was no avoiding the silly string. Even the elderly were getting doused. One guy followed me for half a block saying something to me, but I wasn't about to stand there and get sprayed with silly string just to hear what he was saying so I waved at him to go away which he finally did when I went around the corner. Too late - my back was soaked and cold with the blue silly string... I'll have to wash my coat and scarf to get it all off. I caught glimpses of the parade over the barriers as I was walking and got a few pictures before heading into a more modern shopping district where a few stores were actually open. The street performers were out in force. People playing Native American flutes and chanting, a Michael Jackson impersonator with a tape player on full blast, guitar and bass players, and one that I took a picture of moving slowly to music with cats on either shoulder.

After about half an hour there, I headed back to the old town in search of coffee or a snack. On a particularly narrow street corner, a black man confronted me and shoved something in my face for me to sign. I feigned not understanding and he replied "English? Sign this." I don't sign anything - especially if I don't know what it's for. "I'm sorry," I told him. "I'm trying to get somewhere, I have to go." "No. Sign this." I tried to move around him and he put a hand on my shoulder and blocked my path. "Sign this." "No, I'm sorry. I have to go." He wouldn't let me by. This went back and forth a few more times before he finally glared at me and said, "You're a racist." Yeah, well, I'm sorry you feel that way.

That definitely put a damper on the afternoon... sitting by the water for a few minutes listening to some percussionists helped a little bit, but soon it was time to go. I ended up going to bed right after dinner last night since I wasn't really in the mood to do much of anything at that point.

I'll try and get this weekend's pictures up by tomorrow...