Francey Pants: "But my life, my lover, my lady----is the sea." -Looking Glass

Nice is nice! This place is beautiful. The beach is pebbly and not sandy, but I sure don’t mind because it’s a beach. I am rooming with Amanda and Chloe. The first day here we decided to start a little dinner group (because we have kitchens) with Char, Brittany and Kelli. We emptied our suitcases and then rolled them down the hill to the grocery store where we bought enough food for the week and then wheeled them back up to our apartments. Chloe moved the table out onto the patio and Saturday night I made Cuban food for us to eat, last night we all made spaghetti, and tonight we are going to cook up some fish. We have class here still, but it is so much more relaxed than Paris. This feels like a vacation. After church yesterday a bunch of us went to the Matisse museum which was great because I love Matisse. His drawings are so simple and childish, and I think that is why I love them. He spent much of his time here in Nice. We also visited the Chagall museum. I loved his surrealist stuff--with flying goats and brides and stuff. He also painted depictions of the Old Testament which I really liked.

Char, Chloe, Amanda and I (rather than taking the bus) decided to walk back to the apartments. We walked through the windy streets of Nice until we reached the beach. We walked along the beach and I saw more naked boobs than I’ve ever seen on the Sabbath. Right now there is a crazy, Mediterranean thunderstorm happening and I love it. Windows are thrown open, and there is no greater sound.

Spent the afternoon basking in the Mediterranean Sea.

We took a sunset walk into old, downtown Nice. I know I use this word a lot, but it was so charming. It used to be Italian, and it did feel a little bit like Italy. Narrow, winding streets--window boxes with red flowers, and laundry hanging to dry between buildings.

I feel Meg Ryan best expressed my sentiment as she walked the streets of Nice in French kiss, when she stopped in her tracks and shouted: "BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS, wish you were here."