We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to go to Nice Carnival 2014. Under the bluest of blue skies we spent a fun afternoon watching the creative, witty and satirical floats pass by united under the theme of gastronomy.
Being our 5th or 6th time at Carnaval we recognised some of the regulars – the roaring dragon, the confetti seller who comes to the school fête, the OGCN (Nice football team) supporters with balloon boobs, the man dressed as a caveman hauling a ragdoll around, the Italian flag throwers – we felt like real locals. As always the floats represented contemporary issues and cultural icons. Amongst others Angela Merkel could be seen devouring Portugal, Spain and Greece.
François Hollande sat on top of a pile of stinking “Holland’s cheese” representing unemployment, taxes and retirement age. Mother Theresa could be spotted along with Coluche and the “Restos du Coeur” and the famous chef Paul Bocuse was portrayed Shiva-style with 8 arms surrounded by Buddhas. There were floats touching upon GM food and industrialisation as well as plenty of lighter themes focusing on wine, fine dining, cakes and the enjoyment of food in general.
If you want to find out more about Nice Carnival click here for to a piece I wrote last year. Today I leave you with some images from the 130th Carnaval de Nice in its gorgeous setting by the azure Mediterranean sea.
Did you know there’s a festival all about lemons on at the same time as Nice carnival every year? Find out more in this related post: Menton’s Lemon Festival
Interested to find out more about Nice carnival? Read this related post: Battling with flowers and the meaning of Carnival
Have you been to carnival somewhere in the world? I’d love to hear from you.
OH WOW Phoebe,
I feel like I’ve been to the carnival too with those fantastic photos 😀
They are so vibrant and alive!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Waving from a sunny Bonnie Scotland!
Thanks for popping by, I’ll be sure to take a look at Rijecka carnival when you’ve written your post.
Thanks Sally! 🙂
You have some lovely, lovely shots of this colourful carnival. You’re lucky to have had such a brilliantly sunny day and blue skies. I was at the Rijeka carnival yesterday but the skyscape was cloudy and grey… I’ll be posting my photos later on today, so do stop by my window again if you’d like to have a peek!
Hello Phoebe,
I’ve visited Nice once and loved my short time there. Your photos are so lovely–so detailed, and I love, love, love that blue sky!
Happy 1st Blue Monday!
Carnival figures are always wierd Rosie! Don’t have to have English eyes to think that!!
Wonderful photos of what looks like a wonderful Carnival – even if to my English eyes some of those figures are extremely weird.
Muchà Âsimas gracias! Que alegrà Âa saber que tengo una lectora en Chile.
Hey Nina, you’re right, 900 kms isn’t so far, we drive to UK at least once a year and Paris often too, see my post I wrote on this for tips on where to break the journey if you decide to drive. You know where to stay when here too don’t you? Lou Messugo of course!
https://loumessugo.com/driving-to-the-south-of-france
Thanks Rosemary, delighted as always to be included. And you’ll see I shared your post on aimer/adorer too. Great minds think alike this week! 🙂
Que maravilla de fotos. Que bonita fiesta debe ser.
Saludos desde Chile
Maru
Stunning photos, Phoebe. And just in time for this week’s Blogger Round-Up!
Looks wonderful. I never knew carnival in Nice was so cool! Nice is ‘only’ about 900 kilometers from where we live (Bruges, Belgium), by TGV is easy to reach. After reading your post: I know now where I’ll be celebrating carnival next year. 🙂
bien dit jeff! 🙂
Hey Wren, we were covered in “stuff” – silly string and confetti!! But it’s part of the fun, especially for the kids. I didn’t know about Blue Monday, thanks fo rth eheads up. I’ll link up next week!
I also really like the last one! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for hosting the linkup! 🙂
Un joyeux bordel organisé, j’adore!!
I love your photo essay of the Nice Carnival! it looks a lot more civilised than some of the ones in Belgium we used to go to, we’d be covered in ‘Stuff’ and need to vacuum the car out for days afterwards – all part of the fun 🙂 Wonderful blue skies have you ever considered linking with Blue Monday, you’d have a perfect post here!
Have a wonderful week
Wren x
Three photos were a standout for me. The confetti and crowds. The blue/purple insect wings looking into the sun, and the last one with the vapour trail. Such a colourful event and perfect weather.
I love going to festivals and parades to enjoy and also photograph amazing moments and you have captured some wonderful moments and yes what a gorgeous day to be there, thanks for sharing this and linking up with us today at Travel Photo Discovery