France: Nice

Well before I get to Nice, let me update you on the other goings-on. We had another cooking lesson last night where we made this amazing salad! It had hot chevre cheese with bits of cooked ham and garlic croutons (which we made). The entree was dourade fish with carrots and tomatoes on top. For dessert we had a flan-like pastry. It didn't really taste like much, except eggs. And of course rose wine. They really don't get tired of that out here.

The night before we actually had a wine tasting dinner with our cooking instructor and the man who gives WT lessons. I didn't really like any of those selections. But I tell you what I DO like, maybe a bit too much - the bread! It's to die for.

So Nice... we went to the Matisse Museum and got a tour. It was really interesting seeing his first work and one of his last - the tremendous difference in the two. At the beginning he painted dark colors and huge masterpeices. Towards the end they were simpler and more colorful. He built this chapel and did all the artwork for it - I'd love to see it some day. It was beautiful (the pictures and the scale model). It's sad though that he didn't make it to the chapel's opening (he was old and sick by that time). Did you know that he was still painting well into his 80s?? Impressive. I'm disappointed we couldn't take pictures even without the flash. It was also cool b/c all the works in there he decided to give to the museum when he found out they were going to build one for him. So the stuff we saw was what he wanted to be remembered by. And then in some instances his family donated the things he painted (i.e. this golden chair..). I really like museums. But I think my favorite would have to be "Sa femme a l'ombrelle" http://www.net-provence.com/artistes/matisse/femme-ombrelle.jpg . I like this one because he uses the "dot technique"! Crazy how he became known as the leader of the "Fauves" (wild beasts) because he was a pioneer of bright(er) colors. Hm.