Nice 2019: Le Carnaval

King of Cinema was this year's theme.  We went to the parade on a beautiful, sunny Sunday and the Big Heads were amazing.  And, ACTION!

We thought the King was a little nondescript this year, but the Queen was quite lovely:

Poor Harvey, he never gets a break...

Recall, Gerard Depardieu decided that he likes Russia better than France, so, salut, Gerard, mon ami:

Charlie Chaplin, done in absolutely perfect black and white:

And Hitch, complete with birds...

As always, nothing and no one is sacred.  Every public figure is roundly mocked at Carnival.

Finally, Charlie again.  This float was absolutely amazing and so popular that the organizers finally left it in the plaza so everyone could get a picture.

On Avenue Auber, animals are great.  Especially someone's parrot that screeches all day every day.  Some new people moved in across the way with two cats.  We call them PeeWee the adventurer and Popeye the watcher.  PeeWee first decided to visit the balcony next door.  We watched Popeye watch the humans trying to coax him back.  Priceless.  Next day, PeeWee adventured a little too far...two floors up and he couldn't get back down.

Meow?  Meow!  MeowMeowMeowMeowMeow!!

Popeye went inside and took a nap.  PeeWee was finally rescued through an upstairs apartment.  So disappointing that the pompiers weren't called.  That would have been a show.  Sorry to not have video.  We were laughing too hard.

We can report that while Jack Russell Terriers, Yorkies, and Chihuahuas are still very much in vogue, one now sees the rise of the Cocker Spaniel and the Shiba Inu.  Wiener Dogs are still around, and this year, Pati won the contest 34 to 29.

This year was so good, we've rented the same apartment for next year.  I mean, why not, y'know?

Nice 2019: Les Voitures

This year made up for the horrible "Beast from the East" weather we had in 2018.

For the most part, it was sunny and 60, but early on we had a few days of dicey stuff.  A thunderstorm over water is a sight to behold, and when the thunder rolls through the vis-a-vis apartment buildings in downtown Nice, it sounds like a giant bowling ball going up the street.  We kept waiting to hear the pins fall somewhere near the train station.

Nice seems to get better every year (thank you, Mssr. Estrosi).  Currently, the two additional tram lines are almost completed and the Liberte area, site of the old train station, is almost complete with its makeover into shopping, cinema, and apartments.  That project, believe us, has reclaimed an area that was running down fast...now it's a showplace.  Same thing is going on in the Plaine du Var:  run out the run down and start over with a new football stadium, shopping, tram line, and apartments, apartments, apartments.  There's even an IKEA going in out there.

First big thing was the WRC Rallye in Monaco.  We went over to watch the final arrival.

Through the tunnel...

Past the fans...

Outta the car...

And boy, was that a lot like work...

A couple of weeks later, it was the Historic Rallye, and another arrival.  Waiting to cross the ceremonial finish line:

Scenes from parc ferme:

Then it was off to Barcelona.  We can't get enough of Barcelona.  What a great place.  Of course, we had a purpose...Formula 1 testing!  McLaren's new livery:

Racing Point is still in the pink:

Red Bull stands out, as always.  Well, paint-wise anyway:

And, of course, for those who love him, Lewis:

Us, we're Kimi fans.  Leave us alone we know what we're doing.