Christmas in Nice

Tonight was the opening of the Village de Noel in downtown Nice. Priscilla and I reached the festivities at dusk, and rather than wait to hear the politicians talk (they are pushing the candidacy of Nice for the 2018 Winter Olympics), we headed for the Ferris Wheel. We had a great view of the setting sun over the sea and the horizon. Then we checked out the vendor stalls (been there, done that), bought and ate freshly cooked gingerbread, bought and ate freshly roasted chestnuts (Pris), and bought and drank hot wine (Ari). We watched a "spectacle" as they call them in French, or an ice show, as we would call it, performed by local skaters. We wandered through the children's village and saw performers and face painters. And then we went back to the Ferris Wheel, for one more ride in the darkness. All of the holiday street decorations were lit for the first time tonight; the city sparkled. It's Christmas time!