Here I am sitting on the terrace, drinking my coffee in the sun, updating my blog, on the French Riviera.

View towards the sea from the terrace

Don and Frankie left today about 4AM. No, I didn’t get up to see them off. Thought about it but it might have delayed their departure. At least, that is what I told myself.

It was probably around a year ago when we found out that Darrel had pancreatic cancer and would most likely be dead in a year that I decided to come stay at Don and Frankie’s apartment in Nice. I figured I would need a little restorative time by myself. People asked my why I didn’t have someone come with me, but I think I need this time.

However, it was so wonderful that Don and Frankie decided to come and were here to meet me. It made the transition into the strange, wonderful world of France much easier. They have been taking French for years and, especially Frankie, talk and understand it well. However, pretty much everywhere we have gone the people have spoken enough English that I don’t think I will have a problem.

After I got up this morning, I made the bed, did a little cleaning, and started washing sheets first thing. I think this will be kind of a lazy day for me. Not sure how much is open on Sundays anyway.

Yesterday was a little quieter too. Don and Frankie had to pack and get things ready for their departure. It isn’t like just leaving a hotel for them since they own the place.

We walked to the promenade and had a quick lunch at Le Dolce Moments (sweet moments). Frankie and I had paninis and Don had a Croque Monsieur. I didn’t write down the names of the paninis, but mine was excellent. Serrano ham, chevre, tomato. Don’s was way better than the one he had the day before. You could tell just by looking.

Panini on the Prom’

Next up was the Flower Parade. This is the last weekend of the Nice Carnivale celebration. The floats all had lots of flowers and the theme had to do with music, so all but one (the big bug) were musical instruments or something to do with music. There were pretty women on each throwing mimosas (the flower, not the drink!) They must have denuded mimosa trees all across the Riviera!

Big mechanical bug that has been sitting in Place Massena. Arms and mouth moved. People were doing acrobatics hanging from the arms.

Flower Float

Horn Blower Balloon

Then we walked around town a little. Stopped and shared a bottle of wine. Came back to the apartment. Don had to hurry to a store, where he had been trying to get another lamp for the living room, to pay for it and arrange for their service to get it and put it up.

Frankie and I went to meet him at a restaurant they wanted to try. We went to the tram station and it was closed due to another parade that evening. So, we started walking. Managed to catch the tram a couple of stations away and found Don. The restaurant could fit us in. So, we started looking for another place to eat.

We ended up in Old Town at Lu Fran Calin, another Nicoise specialty restaurant. Frankie and I had the La Suprema de Volaille Farci aux Cepes with Sauce Moutard a l’Ancienne. Chicken breast stuffed with mushroom with a mustard sauce. They brought out a huge plate of food, with things on it not listed on the menu. We finally decided the things that looked like French Fries were actually Panisses, fried chickpea dough.

La Suprema de Volaille Farci aux Cepes

Then there were two things that had bread crumbs on top but soft insides. I thought there was chard and rice, and Frankie caught the zucchini in it. When we asked the waitress she said we were correct and they also had egg to hold it together. I am sure it is using up leftover risotto rice and possible other things, just like a house wife would do with leftover. It was excellent, whatever it was called, and I would like to find a recipe for something like it. Frankie has a Nicoise cookbook at home so he will look.

Don had Tofies alla Crudaoila. Homemade twisty pasta with fresh crushed tomatoes, pesto, parmesan and pine nuts. He said it was very good, too.

Tofies alla Crudaiola

We came home and they got showered and ready to leave early in the morning. We said our farewells and went to sleep. At least I did and I am hoping they did!

The adventure continues alone…