16 avril 2011
The day was clear and warm from start to finish. The trip to Monaco was going to be quite nice if for the weather alone. I was out the door by 9:12 a.m. to meet the group by 9:30 a.m. There were many more people gathered than I expected, about 10 altogether. We represented Algeria, Venezuela, United States and Switzerland. Eric, the animateur of Azurlingua, led the group. We met the 10:00 train to Monaco.
I had a lovely chat with Robert from Berlin. This day marked the end of his first week in Nice. He has a scholarship to a private university in Strasbourg for a master’s degree in finance, so he needs to work on his French.
Once in Monaco, we headed toward the castle at the top of the hill. The water was deep blue and the white yachts filled the marina of the bay. The streets are very clean – like Disney Land. The cleaning crew is always on the watch for debris. Eric said that discarding a cigarette butt onto the street results in a hefty fine. But there are plenty of poubelle cans all around. The castle has been in the Grimaldi family since the end of the thirteenth century, but the biggest section of the structure looks modern. The canons on display all around the plaza are real, but today, they would have to fire through trees to be effective. We were able to see the changing of the guard just before the noon hour.
The old town is adjacent to the castle, so we took a short walk down the street to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas that is dedicated as well to St. Dévoté. This cathedral is simple and elegant at the same time. The princes and princesses of the principality are entombed here, including Princess Grace and Prince Albert II.
The principality is preparing for a royal wedding in July, so buildings are being polished and tuck-pointed. The oceanographic museum was founded by Prince Albert I who was an explorer-scientist. He collected specimens from oceans around the world. The museum has a great deal of his collection and the history of his explorations on display.
Our last stop was the infamous Casino that is flanked by luxury hotels and shopping. I was not dressed for entering the “real” casino, but there was a small room of machines for the real tourists. The opera house is part of the casino. Standing in the hall outside the theater, I could hear a group rehearsing inside – a large chorus. That is the closest I’ll get to an opera experience in Monaco.
The only people who are allowed to live in/move to Monaco are those who are no more than three generations away from having been born there and really rich people who buy their way in.
At this time the Masters Tennis tournament is going on. The next event is the infamous Formula One race. The town appears ready for tourists at any time. The lawns are groomed and the souvenir shops are well stocked.
It was a big day in Monaco. The train on the way back was packed and I anticipated another standing-only trip back to Nice. However, a man with a large knapsack made room for me. He was an Australian backpacking across Asia and Europe over seven months. His job with a bank in Hong Kong allowed him a sabbatical year, too. His adventures must have been amazing. He’s on his way home in another few days.
That sums up the adventures of the day. There are some pictures to go with the story. Enjoy, Dear Reader. Good night.
17 avril 2011
Today was the most beautiful day of sunshine in Nice that I have yet experienced. The air is dry; the sky is so blue. This morning I recorded the ringing of the bells (les cloches) of the Russian Orthodox Church across the street from the apartment. They sound so beautiful. I hope you will enjoy hearing them.
Yesterday in Monaco I bought a braided cross of palm branch for 3 euros so that I would have something to bring to the church for Les Rameaux (the branches). The tables of braided palm have been set up outside the church for over a week. Not only palm but olive branches, too. The church does not provide the palm branches, but the system gives someone a little income at this time of year.
I met Yves and Veronica at school to attend Mass together this morning. They were good to go, even though it was quite long. The reading of the passion was done with three voices, but no congregational participation, so standing for the twenty minutes or so was even more of a “sacrifice.”
Vesna was at the Mass, too, so we connected afterwards. Along the way home, she stopped to buy some fresh veggies at the Islam market. I decided that I had to do laundry and clean my bedroom before the day became short, so I headed home first. At 3:00 p.m. I went for a walk along the beach and ended up at Vesna’s apartment afterwards. We spent the afternoon and evening together with her daughter Maria. Her younger daughter, Valeria, is to come tomorrow, but I will not get to meet her. My time here is becoming very short, and there will be something to do every evening now including packing for the next part of the journey.
There is so much suffering in the world, in any one country, in any one town, on any one street, in each person’s life. Being in another part of the world has given me a deeper appreciation of the gift that our lives are. We too often take our time here for granted. Let’s make these days matter in someone else’s life, Dear Reader. I hope your Holy Week has some holy space for reflection, too.
18 avril 2011
The weather was beautiful again, today. The laundry dried in record time. I sent off another round of post cards to family and friends and I talked to my sister Maria for a few moments as they were just getting out of bed to start the workweek. Another group of new faces arrived at school today. This week is Easter vacation for many schools, so people have come to enrich their lives with a little French study in Nice.
After school I had tea with Michele, and then I walked to the train station. Earlier in the day Michele had asked if I had a women-only compartment for my train trip. I didn’t know, so I returned to the station to ask and to see if my place could be changed if it was not a compartement femme. It was not, and my spot was changed.
Tonight I watched all of The Closer with Michele. It is fascinating to hear the work of the unknown people who do the voice-overs. Whenever possible the similar French word is matched closely with its English equivalent so that the visual of the pronunciation aligns. It gives one the sense that it was always meant to be French. However, I miss the gentile southern accent of Kara Sedgwick’s character. (Sorry, fans, I can’t remember her character’s name.)
After a little review of the day’s class work and texting Mariette to determine a meeting time on Wednesday, I am calling it a day, Dear Reader. Have
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