Bring on the Greves!!

Le Port Nice par Nuit

Its friday night and I can't believe the first week is behind us.   As Nancy noted this morning as we walked Simona to her first day of school "it feels like we've been here for a lot longer than one week".   Indeed it does!!

Sitting on our balcony I spot a lonely star shining ever so brightly in the clear black sky.    A few lights keep me company as I look out across the dark still courtyard.  The air feels crisp yet comfortable.  Its amazing how mother nature innately realizes that school is about to start and the weather begins to turn even on the Cote Azur.

Its been a great first week culminating with Simona's first day of school (Maddy had her first day yesterday).  
While there were brief flickers of nervousness, the girls were generally upbeat and excited about their first day at school.   We were quite proud of how they handled it without incident.   Maddy in particular seem unfazed by the experience, as if she were returning to her normal school after summer break anxiously looking forward to seeing her friends and unwilling to smile for dads camera.  Quit it dad she seemed to say as she turned away from the lense!!   Nancy accompanied her into the school to make sure she found her class while Simona and I waited outside.   Moments later Nancy emerged telling us that Maddy told her "ok mom you can go now, I'm good" in only the way Maddy can.   Picking her up at both lunch time and after school Maddy seemed happy but contained her infectious smile.   She simply offered that she made a friend with whom she played "cache cache" in the schoolyard.

Simona started school today and while we were almost 45 minutes late getting her there, she was warmly greeted by Directeur Vidal the energetic principal who asked whether we were coming from Canada this morning as he looked at his watch and smiled.  Funny guy!!   The grade six class parents were invited to have lunch at cantine today with their children and teachers and we were amazed at how healthy and delicious the meal was.   A choice of melon or tomato and cheese salad as a starter, the most tasty salmon with a side of mixed mushrooms and potatoes followed  by the requisite french cheese and fruit all for 6 euros per person!!!   Nancy and I wondered if there was an adult version of lunches at the kids cantine we could sign up for.  Who wants to prepare lunch when 6 euros buys a lunch like that??  

Simona smiled happily as she introduced us to Sofia her new friend and teacher, Madame (I have no clue), who she easily and without hesitation spoke to in French.    We exchanged a few pleasantries with Madame who politely corrected us that she was la professeur "pas la maitresse" when we asked Simona if this was her maitresse.   Pardon Madame!!   Madame then explained that tuesday there would be a good old fashioned french greve!!   Gotta love the french.   Not even a day into the school year and the teachers were going on a one day strike next week for some grievance or other!!   I nodded my head politely and suggested that if Madame and her colleagues need to take more time off for greves over the coming year, could they at least do it on a monday or friday so we could enjoy long weekends to travel and explore this frustratingly beautiful country and beyond!!

Tomorrow we will begin exploring with a day trip to the beach at Antibes Juan Le Pins (a 20 minute train ride) before returning home to celebrate Nice's 150 years since it voted to become part of France, a loss Italy  surely still regrets.   A big fete is in the works down at the Port with live music, food and fireworks.   It should be a blast!!

A la prochaine mes amis!!

Nice's 150 Year Celebration!

Sal