Eze Goddess Sculptures

One can reach Eze from Nice in a matter of 20 minutes by bus. The winding road that leads you up the steep mountain, twists and turns, giving different views of the mountains and the Mediterranean with each new bend. When the bus drops you off at the bottom of Eze Village, you still have a small upward climb to reach the city itself.

Signs 2

In my second segment of signs, there is a strong theme of animals. The French seem to take their animals seriously, whether it is eating them, having them as pets, or even for decoration in their home.  I hope you enjoy the signage below. 

I know that this sign is one of my favorites of my husband. Not only does he love charcuterie, he also loves signage that draws him into them. This sign is so simple, yet refined. We did not go into this charcuterie because it was closed for the afternoon when this picture was taken, but it will always be remembered by both our stomachs and our minds with this appropriate signage.

Stained Glass of Carcassonne

Most visitors that come to Carcassonne come for a look at the life back in medieval times. This is possible with the fortified walls and ramparts that bring the millions of visitors here each year. We were equally impressed with this medieval village, but for the sake of my stained glass theme, I will skip the traditional pictures of this UNESCO site and show you another view of equally beautiful stained glass that Carcassonne provides. I will show you the stained glass in the church inside the fortified walls and then a counterpart, one from outside the fortified walls.

Signs 1

Signs are meant to catch our eye and draw us inside the store to spend money on their products. A lot of time and money used to be spent on signs and sadly, it is a dying art form in the States. Here, in France, there are not gigantic shopping malls where every store is plastered on one gigantic sign. Each shop has their way of getting your attention, whether it be a sign hanging from the storefront or a painted sign nearby. Some of these signs have been used for years and I hope, will continue to display the store's name proudly. I have been drawn to these signs and cannot help but take pictures of them. In a series of blog posts, I will take you through the signs of France. Enjoy!

Cagnes-sur-Mer

Yesterday we went to Cagnes-sur-Mer. It is only a short bus ride from Nice. But to really enjoy a portion of this town, you have to go to the top to Bourg Médiéval, in Haut-de-Cagnes. I enjoyed this little town immensely and it proved to be a great place to take some photos. Here are a few of my favorites.

View of Cagnes-sur-Mer and the Mediterranean

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicolas

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicolas

Finished in 1912, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicolas is one of Nice's most popular architectural sites. This impressive church makes you second guess whether you are in France or some how transplanted into Russia. 

Stained Glass of Saint Sernin

I have, for some time, had an obsession with stained glass windows in churches. It is something that is missing from most churches in America, but in Europe it seems that most churches have at least one or two stained glass windows featured in the smallest to grandest churches. It is a great way for an artist to depict saints, scenes, or designs without taking away from the architecture of the church itself.

Villefranche-sur-Mer

We recently went on a day trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer. It is a small town around the bend from Nice. We took this walk on a beautiful October day, where the temperatures were in the 70s. This walk has some of the most gorgeous views one can take of the Mediterranean. 

The rugged Mediterranean coastline

Picture Post 1

Some of my posts will be just photos I have taken around and about. Here are a few to whet your appetite.

Un pêcheur

Nice, France

Nice Plage

Nice. France. Do I need to say more? This is my first photo of the beautiful Mediterranean city, albeit I enhanced it just a bit. Since I have been here (exactly two weeks), I have been able to feel the sea, see the colors in every form, and experience the beautiful city of Nice.