28.4.09

NICE & EZE, FRANCE, 2001

Nice and Eze are located in the south of France on the Mediterranean Sea in the Alpes-Cote d’Azur Region of Provence. Enroute from Cannes, our church group's motor coach came through both cities of the French Rivera. For this leg of the two week trip, our ultimate destination was Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Breaking up the long ride, we spent a half day at two tourist attractions in Nice and Eze.

At the Confiserie Florian Old Nice of les Gorges du Loup, we took a morning confectionery tour. The Confiserie is located in the quaint, pastel harbor area. On display in the showroom were chocolates, candied clementines and delicate, crystallized flowers: violets, rose petals, and verbena. In the kitchen tour, vats of clementines were being bathed in pure sugar. The sight of the oranges in the blue kitchen was poetic French provincial. I bought a bag and somehow did not open it until I got back to the states. I have to tell you, candied clementines are one of the most amazing confections. Crisp and sweet citrus peel on the outside and a jelly, nectar-sweet center.

In Eze, we stopped at the Parfumerie Fragonard, a laboratory factory, on the Moyenne Corniche, overlooking the sparkling sea. Eze is situated between Nice and Monaco. In the factory (which is too harsh a word to describe this pastel, low-profile building - tucked away in grounds beautifully landscaped – but that is what it is called), we took a tour of the soap, eaux de toilette and perfume making process. At the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to purchase Fragonard products from the gift shop. I bought two perfumes. My daughter chose the oriental 'Murmure' – a fragrance of rose, cinnamon, jasmine, iris, vanilla, patchouli and pepper. I chose the 'Eau Fantasque' – a light scent of grapefruit, black current buds, hyacinth, freesia and amber.

It is so true. The French have mastered many things. Two of those things are confection and perfume. Both can be found in the lovely French Rivera.

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