The City
In case you haven't noticed, I’m a romantic. Born and raised in a forest, I shun chaos, noise and crowds (Except for Rock Werchter), for they bring misery, stress and destruction. So being a romantic anno 2017 isn't easy, for everything happens in the City. The City is everywhere. Grey and concrete, she rises from the ground, repelling every last bit of nature, radiating only pollution. Roots are replaced by foundations, plants by people, harmony by chaos. No, I don't like cities. But if you want to work, study or make a career, you need to go to the City, because progress and prosperity awaits there. So I inevitably had to go and live in the City. But how would I survive in the fifth largest city of France?
No friend has ever heard me say "I could actually live here" when talking about cities. But despite my negative expectations and attitude towards cities, I could actually live in Nice. In fact, I absolutely adore Nice. Colourful instaed of grey, surrounded by hills and forests and larded with beautiful parks instead of factories, the city of Nice brings peace to the mind. In fact, you only realise it's a big city when you're on the Mont Boron, watching the Baie des Anges and the city skyline, or when you're waiting for your bus on the Promenade des Anglais and see the cars and buses passing by. But then, you look beyond that, and see la grande bleue, and you smile and realise you are a lucky person to witness such plain beauty.
Nice consists of two parts, the 'modern' part and la vieille ville aka le vieux Nice. The two city parts are divided by a long strip, a park, which people refer to as The Lungs of Nice. Then, there's the Colline du Chateau, a park where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city and discover the ancient foundations of the fortress that once protected the city. And all this, only a few minutes away on foot or by bus. But right out of Nice, only a 10-minute train ride, there is Villefranche-sur-Mer, or Beaulieu-sur-mer with the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat or a bit further, Eze, Cap D'Ail or even the Cap d'Antibes. One by one, they leave you breathless by the beauty and calmness they radiate. It might sound normal to you, but for a little Flemish girl, whose country basically is one big town, these places of (almost) unspoilt nature are a rare sight.
Almost, because of course, every now and then, you come across a villa worth more than you can imagine. And then you tell yourself: "I could actually live here".
But it's not just the view and the location. It's the way of life that appeals so much to me. In Nice, or more general, in the south, people actually live. It's a lesson we could learn here in the north. It's true, the Niçois take their time, more than we would want them to at times, but at least, on their deathbed, they can say they have lived. They take their time to soak up the sun, to toast to life with a ricard or a kirr. They invite you (more than is healthy for your studies) for a soirée, to be together, amongst friends. It's a magical word the French refer to as "la convivialité", and to me, Nice represents all that.
Drop a comment below!
Almost, because of course, every now and then, you come across a villa worth more than you can imagine. And then you tell yourself: "I could actually live here".
But it's not just the view and the location. It's the way of life that appeals so much to me. In Nice, or more general, in the south, people actually live. It's a lesson we could learn here in the north. It's true, the Niçois take their time, more than we would want them to at times, but at least, on their deathbed, they can say they have lived. They take their time to soak up the sun, to toast to life with a ricard or a kirr. They invite you (more than is healthy for your studies) for a soirée, to be together, amongst friends. It's a magical word the French refer to as "la convivialité", and to me, Nice represents all that.
Drop a comment below!
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