Winter Break_ Nice

.2.15.2008. _ .Day 1.

Alex and Amy threw a V-day party, so after that, I just crashed on their couch.
My bus/train to Nice was leaving at 6 a.m. so I had to wake up super early (I really didn't get to sleep at all :P).

Bus ride from Aix to Marseille: fine.
Train ride from Marseille to Nice: Don't remember. ( I was sleeping.)

The seats in the train were really interesting looking though. They were all tilted about 120 degrees. I think they had a different compartment because it was a super early morning train, but I am actually not even sure if that's true.


I arrived in Nice around 10:20 AM, and headed straight to the Chagall Museum.

The Chagall museum was a little funky looking. It was very very green too--lots of grass and trees outside. There was even a little cafe on the grass.

All of Chagall's work in this museum relates to the bible:

Dieu Cree l'Homme, 1930


*Le Sacrifice de Noe, 1932


*Abraham Pleurant Sarah, 1931


*Les Filles de Loth, 1931


*La Sortie d'Egypte, 1931

You have to love the colors and forms (and what I love about chagall!):

*Le Cantique des Cantiques, 1958

I didn't know that Chagall was a sculptor...


or that he had some stained glass pieces..


or that he did a mosaic...on a HUGE wall...

They were all very very beautiful and very very very Chagall.
I especially loved the mosaic. It was so captivating!

There was also a temp exhibition by Olga Kisseleva called Windows.
It was pretty cool.

As I was leaving, I saw this, and it made me feel all mushy.


awwwwwww.

After I visited the Chagall Museum, I walked over to the Matisse Museum.

I loved this museum. It was fantastic! I loved how they divided the rooms and how they had a really big collection. They temp exhibition, Jazz, was pretty amazing as well. Can't wait to go again in April!

As I left the museum, I checked out some of the ancient ruins nearby. I knew that I would be seeing A LOT more in Rome, so I didn't spend too much time. lol.

As I was walking over to the cemetery where Matisse and Dufy, I saw these super adorable old french men playing this game. There are multiple iron balls and you roll them to the center..or something like that..

I've seen it before in Quebec, so I'm sure it's not something that they just do in France.

I forget what the name of the game is though. I have seen people play this at the parks in Aix too.

Maybe I should try to play with these cute old grandpas/grandmas one day before I leave! lol.

The cemetery was...interesting. Instead of the usual spooky feeling, I was overwhelmed with the love that was just...so visible on every tomb stone.

Not only did each family seem to have a very rich history, but I saw a lot of fresh flowers and memorabilia. It's hard to explain, but it was very moving.

You wonder what will happen to you after you die and if people will even remember you. You're no longer present and the world moves on. But at this cemetery, it seemed like people were not forgotten. Bleh. I don't know....hard to explain...

*Matisse

*Dufy


Look how warm and green Nice is in February!



As I left the Cimiez area, I passed by the Hotel Regina.
Matisse had a flat here and used to paint here.

I met up with the Laura, Kaitlyn, and Emilie around 3:30 at the hotel. Then I took a nap with Emilie because I was wayyy too tired.

Afterwards, we went to eat Italian food, and boy, it was AMAZING! loved it loved it loved it. Too bad I don't remember where it is and will not be able to find it again..lol