A Day in the Old Town of Nice

Today was a walking day. I decided to head out and see the markets of the city. I was really kind of disappointed. Although colorful, it was small and not very crowded, however, the locals did come to buy.
It began with a flower market. The bouquets were brimming with color and variety. The sellers made up these huge bouquets and there were lots of flowering plants and hers. It created a wonderful scent. Next came the soaps, olive oil and herb stands, followed by the vegetable displays.

After the market, I was ready for a coffee, so I began to wind my way throught the narrow lanes of the old city. I selected a place for coffee named Granny's Salon de The. Can I pick 'em. As I sipped my coffee I realized that i was one of the few not recovering from the night before. At the talbe in fron of me was 2 rather large woman with a neatly dress and coiffed Norht African who began to pick his toes at the table. Well, I wanted to be in a place that was not touristy- I found it!
The old city is very quaint. It is not as touristy as other places but it is working hard at it-Which is too bad.
My next destination was the Russian Cathedral. Before the Russian Revolution so many rich Russian vacationed here that Czar Nicholas I donated the money to build Russian Orthodox Cathedral. It is in a quiet neighborhood north of the Train station. I got there at noon just as it was closing for the lunch break until 2PM. Good time to have lunch at a local outside cafe. I sat for an hour and nursed a ham and swiss bagette and a diet coke. I was able to watch a table of North African smoke a joint, a prostitute work the lunch crowd and just have a variety of people walk by from the neighborhood. Fascinating!
As 2PM approached I headed for the catherdral again. I stood in in line and at 2 the gate opened. However, I was denied entry as I was wearing shorts.  After a few words with the Patriarch of the Russian Diocese, I let without seeing the church. He told me that Catholic churches would not let me in, however, I was in three Catholic churches and not one of them had a problew with my shorts
It was time to call it quits and relax in my room. Of course, writing this blog is my way of relaxing.

Until tomorrow.....

The view from Granny's 

 Plaza Rossetti

 

The Russian Catherdral