While in Paris, we tried a couple of times to see the Marc Chagall ceilings in the Paris Opera. The first time, we arrived after viewing hours. We asked about how to see them and were told that there was no guarantee, unless you purchased a ticket for a performance. Visiting hours were between x and y, and you could get in for a fee... if there was not a rehearsal in progress. We planned to be in the area again for another attempt at a viewing, but, there was, indeed a rehearsal.
So we did not see the Chagall Ceilings.
As we approached Nice we thought our second opportunity to see some Chagall would make up for the earlier disappointment. Nice houses the National Museum of the Biblical Message of Marc Chagall. Our trusty GPS device lead us directly to the museum. We parked in the lot around the side and walked over to the entrance.
There we were told by the local authority that the museum was undergoing renovations and would only reopen on Thursday (the day of this writing in Florence, Italy, not Nice, France)!
The Côte d'Azur has been a wonderful break from the cold of Paris and Amsterdam. We cleaned out the van, we did all the laundry and we can move on fresh and clean. Avignon and Cassis, in addition to the old port at Marseilles, stand out as the beautiful highlights of this part of the trip--beautiful, scenic. Cassis, however, would be my favorite for living, close to the water, warm, beautiful homes, not too touristy.
Continuing on to Nice we had a lovely walk through Hyères, at Mark's Nisus connection Mike's suggestion. There we walked up the hill to what turned out to be Edith Wharton's mansion which the city bought and turned into a public garden. Looking for the entrance took us meandering through wild flowers and much green. I found many broken pieces of pottery searching for one with writing to bring home. I wanted one that said Hyères or Provence. I'm still not sure what mine says. And, happily, a bit later, we found the first sale on food. Are you surprised that we bought a number of delicacies, including raisins soaked in wine and covered in chocolate, treats which may make it home to share with you.
While I loved the Côte d'Azur beachside and marinas, I did not love the way houses are built right into the hills. While that amazes me I couldn't relate to that kind of cliffside living.