Nice/a contrarian view

Despite the title of this post I am enjoying this stay, as much as any of the Rusters appreciate Nice, but do feel some more negative points can be fairly made.

It’s already been pointed out that there are plaques throughout the city commemorating the Free French resistance and a war memorial less than 100 yards from this apartment. There is no reference I have seen so far to the complicity given to the round up of the Jews in 1943 once the city was occupied by the Nazis.

This would be true to form as the French tend to airbrush this complicity from history.

Maurice Papon a prominent Vichy civil seravnt responsible for police served in de Gaulle’s first government, Rene Bousquet, head of police who assists in the velodrome round up of 1942 of Parsien Jews some of them under 6 years old the Nazis did not even want, became head of Banque Indosuez post war.

Then there is the rudeness of the service. Reference has already been made to the legendary incivilty of Nicole, owner of La Petite Maison, but let me give you another example. My morning run involves stopping at the newspaper kiosk and as English papers cost roughly double the price I am a good customer. The other day the vendor’s colleague dropped something which disturbed numerous journals on the rack. Rather than serve me he spent a good 3 minutes tidying up his rack.

Then there is the inconsideration of the Nice motorist. Last Monday the main road entrance to the Cours SalEya market, which of a a Monday becomes an antique/brick a brac market, was completely blocked by a van of a stallholder unloading. You cross even a zebra crossing at your peril. I believe they have the worst pedestrian injuries in Europe. You still often see motorists driving with mobiles at their ear.

Let me not too critical. When yesterday I had luncheon on a very warm sunny day by the beach with an ex soldier friend of mine Rory. We partook of a delicious sea bass washed down by Sancerre. The restaurant was called Blue Beach and we had a reality check when he said it was the main treatment station for the July 14th atrocity where over 80 were killed. Later we ate in the old quarter at Arcadio, a family run restaurant with hearty food, decent service and a fair price.