Completely and utterly derailed from the main purpose of this blog - to tell people "what I've been up to". Instead I've been indulging in little paragraphs of words for words' sake. I should be in fact be talking about less useless things. On the new year's eve I saw the fireworks, almost got groped, lost my phone in a crazy crowd of people and ended up not sleeping in my own bed. Just part of my glamorous life here. Inconsequential and far less interesting if you were in my place.
My first meal of 2012 was pizza, followed by 11 hours of sleep and then Nando's. I am starting off the year brilliantly though - planning to get an upgrade to my iPhone, wrote a personal statement and finished off the ucas stuff... But about what I was doing before that.
I took a holiday to Nice, a city along the coast of france. The cote d'azur, if I'm not wrong, refers to an azure coast - a perfectly apt description. Once you reach the coast it's endless, and endlessly beautiful. There's something perfect about a horizon that is untouched by boats and whatever things we put on the sea in the name of exploration and civilization.
We were quite lucky to have a hostel that is so near the coast and very convenient, in all regards. Explored a few places in the 5 days but the one thing that impressed me the most was that effortless preservation of culture and that seductive sense of place that the mediterranean coast conjures up. I don't know if natural features are necessary, for the harbour with all its glamorous boats was equally stunning.
Maybe it's the sun, really. The sun and a lack of structure, the exoticism, the lulling sound of french.
The Antiques Market is every Monday morning at the Cours Saleya, within the Old Town section of Nice. The stallowners are mostly very nice folk, telling us in broken english how to get to le chateau... The old town in Nice is not spectacular, but charming. There's a reason why I wouldn't say it is stunning, or magnificent, only because it's more of an alluring place than particularly in-your-face.
Eze Le Village has a little medieval town atop a hill - winding little roads that are impossible to not get lost in. We walking around the empty streets, vacated by the summer tourists, had good... sandwiches and continued on our way.
The Casino at Monaco is stunning - we didn't have to venture in to know it's altogether a different paradise. We took a bus down from Eze into Monaco - the little country doesn't seem to be on its own as much as just a rich little extension of France, full of glamorous women and extremely attractive policemen speaking french-laced english. Hmm.
We ended up just standing at a little viewing deck and staring out at the sea. There's not that much to do in Monaco really, unless you've got lots of money and enough freedom to play with it. But the view is enough. There's something about being on a cliff and looking down at the sea. My friend remarked to me that there's something lifechanging about attending a funeral, and I was reminded of looking out to sea. It's kind of like a little death somewhere within you.
Went to Antibes, walked around the Old town as well. We had a lunch somewhere as well - every single time we sat down to eat the food was invariably delicious. In the middle of December, as well. I realised the reason why it didn't feel like winter was because the plants were in full bloom and everyone was still energetic. Makes a big difference. Not that London is worse or anything - this place is still amazing.
Went to the harbour while trying to walk to the old fort... Looking at so many boats, no idea if that feeling is jealousy or ambition or just simply a sigh of unacknowledged desire. Maybe it's that need to marry a rich guy, or maybe it's the need to earn enough money to buy one for myself. Not in this lifetime, I've given up on that. Now all I can love is that very perfect reflection in the water.
Cannes, city of the rich and beautiful people. Nothing to do but sit at the beach and talk, to an endless expanse of sea. The thing about France is.... that you should bring someone you're in love with. It's not that much worse without, and it's good to go your first time alone, but afterwards you want to be infatuated with someone the same way you loved the view.
*****
Used to do an inner cheer when I see a hot guy. Now that I'm in art school, I do the same, just to see a straight guy. Life does change doesn't it?
*****
5iliconeator by Calvin Harris.
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