February (part 1)!

Salut!

So much has happened since my last update, so I will try to fill you all in as best I can!

Firstly, Carnavale has started in Nice! It is one of biggest and longest celebrations of Carnavale across Europe, so the streets have been bustling with tourists hoping to join in on all of the celebratory activities. From flower and light festivals to nighttime parades, the city has become so colorful and lively. This Saturday the 25th was the final day of Carnavale that concluded with a burning ceremony of the Carnavale king, meant to symbolize a farewell to winter and welcoming of spring. I am most definitely looking forward to even warmer weather over the upcoming months!

Speaking of festivities, the neighboring town of Menton hosts a lemon and citrus festival each year in February, and I had the privilege of visiting a few weeks back. This events also draws in a large crowd of visitors and after seeing it for myself, I can understand why! Menton itself is so beautiful, but the city really comes to life with the construction of massive sculptures built entirely out of citrus fruits. It is incredibly unique - I truly have never seen anything like it before. They are quite an architectural feat, and so joyous and bright! We also indulged in so many citrus-flavored treats (which may have been my favorite part), including a phenomenal chocolate-orange spread and plenty of limoncello.

Earlier this month, I also took a study trip to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, about half an hour away from Nice. Here, we addressed some of the erosion and sustainability efforts taking place across the coastal region and had the opportunity to hike around the cliff side bordering the sea. I don't think pictures nor words do justice to the beauty of the region. On the day of our visit, it was one of the first very warm days we have had. That combined with some sensational views made for a really perfect day!

And if the beauty of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin wasn't enough, a few days later some friends and myself took a day-trip to Antibes, which is an easy train ride just west of Nice. What a treat this trip was! We strolled through the market filled with an endless amount of spices, teas, jams, and produce... it really felt like heaven. I ended up with an apple confiture infused with holiday spices, as well as an apple persimmon chutney, all homemade from a local Antibes couple... très délicieux!

Socca at the Antibes Market! A traditional Nice street food made of chickpea flour.

After a peek at the antique market and a quick trip to the Picasso museum, we set off for the Cap d'Antibes hike, a two-hour trek of ventures through outcrops and hidden beaches that concludes at the Bay of Billionaires, where mansions are perched all across the cliffside. It briefly reminded me of the mansions across Rhode Island, both beautiful and almost unfathomable to comprehend the scale and extravagance of mere summer homes for the ultra-wealthy.

a sweet visitor while having a lunch break during our hike in Antibes :)

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And on the topic of extravagance, this brings me to my next adventure to the Château de Versailles! Myself and a friend took a weekend trip to Paris from the 9th to 11th with our first stop at Versailles... and oh my goodness I think my jaw was dropped in awe the entire time. Again, neither pictures or words can fully encapsulate the extent of luxury, decadence, and pure excess of the French nobility. We made our way through endless rooms of unbelievable ceiling murals, golden ornamentation, and crystal chandeliers of truly remarkable sizes. Of course, the main feature was the Hall of Mirrors, where I learned that it was a place of social gathering made for the specific intent that royals and guests could 'see and be seen.' The entire time, I merely attempted to wrap my mind around the type of life that was lead by that of the monarchy, which was an impossible feat. Even after visiting, I still cannot fully come to terms with that level of indulgence.

The estate also consists of two smaller palaces, le Grand et Petit Trianon. While not of the same scale, they certainly did not falter in decadence or design. And despite the fact that not much has bloomed yet this time of year, even the gardens coursing across the estate were a magnificent sight to see!

The visit ended with us fully embracing our inner tourists and making a quick stop at the Angelina tea house for an afternoon treat of extra creamy hot chocolate and a patisserie. Overrated? Maybe a little. Still delicious? Absolutely!

That night, we had an incredible dinner at a restaurant called Miznon which was founded by an Israeli chef who blends French and Mediterranean cuisine into phenomenal dishes. It's most known for its pita bread, but I got the ratatouille and it did not disappoint in the slightest! The day concluded with a more impromptu visit to the Chez Papa live jazz club, and at that moment I felt deeply rooted in Parisian culture. The piano and bass duet serenaded us to classic French jazz, concluding with the classic La Vie en Rose to round out the night. What a special memory!

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The next day consisted of a visit to the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and a walk across the Seine. The Louvre was amazing (and a bit overwhelming)! The architecture of the building itself is a wonder, not to mention the artifacts inside... My favorite part was the Napolean III apartments. I can't believe I am saying it, but these apartments were probably even more impressive than that of Versailles. Talk about profligacy!

I also loved seeing The Winged Victory of Samothrace... so beautiful.

Before heading to Musée d'Orsay, we stopped for some treats at La Pistacherie, a one-of-a-kind store selling an assortment of pistachio-based sweets, although we came specifically for the famous pistachio gelato. It was well worth the visit!

Musée d'Orsay was also incredible! I could have spent at least four hours analyzing all of the artwork. I got to see some of my most favorite pieces by some of my most favorite artists, and also came across less familiar pieces that are now a part of that list as well. Even just being in the building was a cool experience! It was so interesting to see how a former train station was remodeled into one of the most famous art museums in the world.

Did you know that Degas used real strands of hair in his creation of the Little Dancer sculpture?

A fast-paced day, whirlwind day ended with a special moment eating crêpes in front of the Eiffel Tower :)

But the highlight of the entire trip was on our final morning when we took a trip to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. Right before visiting the church, we stopped for a breakfast of croissants at Mamiche bakery.... and oh my gosh let me just say I have thought about this croissant at least once a day every since I ate it. I have had plenty of just average croissants at a number of boulangeries, but this was not one of them. This was special. It was perfect. It was just flaky and crispy enough, but perfectly light, soft, and buttery, made with so much love. It is what dreams are made of. I could talk about this croissant for hours. I could write a novel about this croissant. And don't get me started on the beignets! Beautifully sweet, unbelievably light, delicate, soft.. eating it felt like floating on a cloud. Not to exaggerate but I do want to buried at Mamiche.

Also, a cool moment listening to the choir perform in the basilica! I got chills.

While Paris was also stressful (do not even get me started on the transit system), dirtier than expected (air quality... yikes), it was also full of some pretty incredible and special moments that I will always cherish. Two and a half days were simply not enough to explore all that the city has to offer!

Our flight back to Nice was cancelled due to continued workers' protests across the region, so we ended up training back which was a great experience! The train system in Europe is really so easy and stress-free, so it has been a really delightful time getting to take advantage of it while here.

After a week of midterm exams, our spring break commenced last week on the 16th, where I have spent the last 10 days making my way through Italy with visits to Rome, Florence, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Tropea, Palermo, and Cefalù. It has been quite the adventure that I feel I need to save for its own special post, so I will hopefully share all about that shortly!

I am missing all of my friends, family, and pets back home and still feeling so overwhelmingly grateful for every experience and opportunity I have had thus far. It doesn't even seem real some days! I also apologize for the delay in updates and responses, life has been so so so busy but I finally have a minute of rest to get back on top of things. I appreciate the patience ❤️❤️ I will also update the gallery with more photos over the upcoming days!

I will leave you with some photos from another perfect Nice sunset... I will never get used to this ♥️

à bientôt!

Allyson :)

P.S. Take a look at these gorgeous mimosa flowers I picked up at the market yesterday! They fill my room with such a wonderful scent and they are in season right now all across the region! So pretty!