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Much of a muchness
Things that make you go 'hmm'…
I’m back! Again.
Posted by on October 18, 2008
Hello, I’m back. I apologise for just disappearing but I have been for a wonderful break to the South of France with a girlie mate for a week of gallery hopping and museum visits. Oh and lots of yummy food. I took 342 photographs so I will need a while to sort them all and I promise not to bore you all with too many of them but it was such a wonderful week, I do have to share some of it with you.
I came across this sculpture outside the Museé d’Arte Comtemporaine in Nice. Quite scary really, I hadn’t realised the cult of Daddy Papersurfer was so popular in France….
The prize for the cutest moment of the trip went to this little creature (no, not DP) who we watched for ages in the zoo in St Jean Cap Ferrat. He was SOOOOOO sweet! He was trying to be like his meerkat mummy – are baby meerkats called meerkittens? I must look it up.
The Worst Menu Translation prize goes to the ‘Trastevere’ restaurant in Villefranche sur Mer for it’s translation of the word ‘pignons’ (pinenuts) in the Salade Chevre Chaud on its lunch menu. Would you like oil with those, madame?
Most Spectacular View prize goes to the view from the Botanical Gardens at Eze. This photograph does not begin to do it justice.
Most Wonderful Street Art prize goes to the various installations which follow the path of the new tram system in NIce. These figures sit atop tall posts and at night light up and change colour. I love them but they are not universally admired – some detractors call them the ‘jelly babies’.
My favourite museum is just outside the hill top village of St Paul de Vence. It’s called the Fondation Maeght and it is the most beautiful tranquil place, full of wonderful sculpture and paintings – especially by Miró, Calder, Giacometti and Braque who were all friends of the founders of the Fondation, Aimé and Marguerite Maeght. Interestingly, there is an exhibition at the Royal Academy in London at the moment featuring the relationship between these four artists and the Maeghts.
I have been visiting the Fondation Maeght for 20 years or so and have always pronounced it ‘Fondation Mekt’. I recently found out it is actually pronounced ‘Fondation Magg’. I’m not quite as sophisticated as I thought I was!
I found this photo of my youngest son, taken in front of a fountain at the Fondation Maeght about 15 years ago. The fountain is still there but the little boy is now a grown man. Happy days.
Much of a muchness 
Oh Diane, I am envious and you know you deserve it ;-) I love the Fondation Maeght, I hope I’ll manage to get there again some time in my life. BTW, I always thought it was pronounced “maaght” (with a slight hiss in the pharinx). But maybe that’s like the Beyeler – heard different pronounciations of that, too.
Sounds like a very nice trip and I’m looking forward to see more pictures!
ttfn,
Astrid
I’m so glad you’re baaack!
Nice looks magnificient; you’re making me actually want to travel!
I think the jelly babies are quite fascinating. No new art form is without criticism.
There’s a show on Animal Planet in the U.S. called Meerkat Manor. Do you get that in the UK? It’s a bit silly, but fascinating…sort of an animal reality show (but not as bad as human ones since meerkats aren’t mugging for camera exposure). ;)
I must ask dh to put some cogs (sprockets) in our salad next time he makes one. LOL!
Hugs!
fabulous photos … how blue was that sky?? :-)
I love meerkats, my partner calls me one as I’m always on edge!
Officially jealous now …….. I saw that first photo before I read what you did done wrote and thought, that’s nice …… and now that I did done read what you did done wrote, I know why ……..
Why are Giacometti’s so fascinating?………………….
[Linky love – muchly appreciated and glad you are back safe and sound]
[It’ll be a new URLy thing from tomorrow!!!! ……. I’m a tad scared ….. in a manly way of course …….. *grunt*]
Astrid – I had never heard of the Fondation Beyeler before but it sounds right up my street – another place on the list to visit! I hope you get back to St Paul de Vence – it is a magical place.
Teresa – glad to be back – sort of!
Yes , we do have Meerkat Manor – it’s narrated by lovely Bill Nighy isn’t it? I love Meerkats – such sociable little creatures and very, very cute.
70steen – it was very, very blue indeed – my favourite sky colour!
Hope your op goes well and you are up and running about very soon.
Lady B – they are the seetest little critters – I love the way one is always on guard!
DP – I did done wrote what I wrote because it reminded me of you – same profile – didn’t realise you were an regular visitor to Nice….
I only found out recently that the Giacometti men are all walking and the women are standing still. I also love the slinky dogs….
Is it going to be an early URL change? Don’t worry, we will find you wherever you are – you don’t escape that easily….
Mine 3 lol
thank you D ……deep breath as I go into the executioners chair.. but as for running? lol
Great photos and I love the Meercat. Good to have you back!
I had a pretty eventful day on my blog today, getting 670 hits (don’t laugh, my previous high was 400). Somehow, I got linked from Fox News for a silly drawing I posted the other day. Anyhow, that was the most conflict I’ve had blog wise. I’m spent.
That first sculpture there was spooky and cool.
SW – it’s good to be back. Sort of. It’s very windy and rainy here so tennis was cancelled and new puppy is getting very grubby out in the garden. It’s easy to have a little white dog out in France when the sun shines all the time :-)
That’s great news about the blog hits. Was that the ‘tortured writer’ cartoon you posted the other day? Very funny…
The sculpture is enormous and very imposing – the sheer scale of it is impressive.
wow – looks like such a fantastic trip! Great pictures!