Short Trips Part I

We drove to Nevers to see the body in a crystal coffin of St. Berndadette, the peasant girl who saw the image of the Madonna at Lourdes.  As the story goes, her body did not decompose, and it is now preserved on display.  We saw the same sort of display recently in Paris with Alan and Marie-Paule Marty of the body of St. Vincent de Paul.  Although we could not photograph the body on display, we saw some lovely areas in Nevers.

A typical soaring cathedral in Nevers.

The original windows were destroyed during WWII bombing.  They are now replaced with quite contemporary stained glass, which is a bit of a surprise in this ancient church.

France has sculptures everywhere.  Below is a sculpted family of sangliers (wild boar).

We also visited the Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa and Gardens near Nice.  If you are into gardens, this is one spot not to be missed.  There are 8 or 9 different gardens - Roman, Florentine, Japanese, etc.

 The professional shots that really show the beauty are at http://www.villa-ephrussi.com/

Then it was onto the Negresco Hotel, one of the truly historic hotels in France.  The Hotel Negresco is a famous hotel and site of the equally famous restaurant Le Chantecler, located on the Promenade des Anglais  on the Baie des Anges in Nice and named after Henri Negresco (1868–1920) who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912.  He built a sumptuous hotel of quality that would attract the wealthiest of clients. The spectacular Baccarat 16,309-crystal chandelier in the Negresco's Royal Lounge was commissioned by Czar Nicholas II, who due to the October revolution was unable to take delivery.

As we strolled the Promenade in the evening, suddenly a huge uproar began.  It turned out to be a Prom Party for the city with different musicals groups on moving platforms.  As we sat and sipped our drinks, the parade of musicians and other novelties rode past us.

 A costumed performer riding an "ostrich."

 Next blog entry, more short trips.