Sunday, Sunday

We had a great day today.  This morning after breakfast, we got on the bus at 8:30.  We went to a small mountain village called Saint Paul de Vence.  They call it a
"mountain village" but the mountain is not what we usually think of when we think of the Alps.  Les Alpes Maritimes are not the snowcovered Alps that we usually think of -- they are smaller rocky coastal mountains that share the Mediterranean weather of the area.  St. Paul de Vence is a small village with an intact medieval wall.  We went to mass in a small chapel that serves a Benedectine convent.  It just so happened that there was a baptism during mass that day, so... that was interesting.   The kids got a chance to use some of the prayers that they learned in class, joining in with the Sign of the Cross, and the Hail Mary, and the Our Father.   After Mass, we walked the rest of the way up to the town. Kaitlyn and Emily went with one of the other teachers into the Fragonard store right by the city gates.  (Fragonard was the parfumerie that served Marie Antoinette and their "factory" is close to St. Paul de Vence.)   Kyle went with me on a mini-tour of the old town.  Kyle has really enjoyed using the spring-fed water fountains that are all over in this area of France and St. Paul de Vence is full of them.  They are really fresh and cold and the water tastes SO GOOD!  It was a hot day, so Kyle had the chance to refill his bottle several times as we walked out on the ramparts, explored the cemetery, and wandered through the little winding streets looking for the surprises that wait just-around-the-corner in these historical little towns.   For me, they are like the "easter eggs" that game designers hide in games.  I know that they are there, and it is just a question of exploring them and unlocking the secrets of the town.   Each time I go to an old town, I look for them.  If I don't have enough time to find them all, and it is a really cool town, then that town might go back on my list of towns to be sure to come back to.  Our one hour visit after mass (which was loooooong due to the baptism) was not long enough, and St. Paul de Vence was a fascinating town, so now that one is is on 'the list."  All too soon, we met back at the bus and made the short drive down the mountain to visit Cannes, where they have the famous film festival.  We saw the building where the celebrations are held for the festival.  We walked a little farther to see the handprints of the stars which are set in the sidewalk and are the French equivalent of the stars on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame."   Afterwards, we had an hour for lunch and then we all met up again.  Kaitlyn and Emily went with the other groups to the beach at Cannes (it is LOVELY!)  while Kyle and I took the short ferry ride out to the tiny island of Sainte Marguerite.  Only 3 miles long and 900 feet (about three football fields) wide, the history of Sainte Marguerite begins around 2000 BC with a Greek trading post.  Around the time of Christ, the inhabitants of the island welcomed in the Romans and willingly joined the Roman Empire.  There were water works built at that time that exist to this day, and there is now a museum of Greek and Roman artifacts located in what was an enormous vaulted Roman cistern which was used to hold trapped rainwater and supply the island with fresh water for drinking and washing.  During the time of Louis XIV, when he was beefing up security against the Spanish and asserting control over the local aristocrats (he was the consummate absolute monarch), he built a military station on Sainte Marguerite.  Only about two miles out in the Bay of Cannes, it made attacking Cannes by water nearly impossible as the Spanish Armada would be trapped between the cannons of Cannes and the cannons on Sainte Marguerite.   With about 600 soldiers stationed on the island, it was also a great place for a prison, and it was where political prisoners were usually held.  I don't know if you have heard of the story of The Man in the Iron Mask (A novel by Victor Hugo, from which they made a film a couple of years ago...) but it is based on a true story of a historical figure.  Sainte Marguerite was where he was held for the first few years of his 40 year captivity, before he was moved to the Bastille.  We saw his actual cell and Kyle took some really great pictures.  It was very interesting.

At the end of the day, we reboarded the bus and headed back to Nice for a late dinner.  We went to a seafood restaurant.  (Going to a seafood restaurant when one is on the coast of the Mediterranean is ALWAYS a good choice!)     I was proud of the kids because they all tried something new.  Kaitlyn ordered the "Mixed Fish Platter"  -- sea bass, mussels, shrimp, and two other kinds of fish, served with regional vegetables and rice pilaf.  I showed her how to eat mussels the local way (It is just the best way to eat mussels!  So trouble-free!)  Emilie had pasta aux moules and she also enjoyed the mussels.  Kyle bravely ordered duck, which is very popular in the region, because he "had never tried it."  They all really enjoyed the meal, and I was proud of them for trying something new.   After dinner we went for a walk, down to the beach and watch the waves come in.  The weather was perfect, warm with a light breeze and the moon reflected off of the Mediterranean as the lights of Nice sparkled back at us across the bay.  After a while we strolled home in through the warm summer night, enjoying the sights and sounds of evening in the French Riviera.  We went to bed earlier than we might have liked, but later than we probably should have.  (Morning comes early when you are touring France!)