Mountain peaks in distant Alpes-Maritimes visible from the Castel above Nice, canon boom at midday, the Promenade des Anglais constructed from remnants of the old castel which blew itself up (gunpowder store ignited) and the Sewer Bank Heist make Nice more interesting than just a destination with over 300 days of sunshine each year.
The Palais de Justice photographed displaying French colours was the scene of Spaggiari, mastermind of the Bank heist and in custody after being ratted on by a gang member's girlfriend, jumping from the upper floor, softening his landing on a car bonnet, scrambling onto the back of a motorbike and making off with his accomplice. They made a film of it and he's s bit of a folklore hero. The gang tunnelled into the vaults from the sewers below and got away with 40 million.
It's a deafening bang at 12 midday all started off by a a Scotsman Thomas Coventry in 1861 who started firing a canon at middday. The French liked it and after he left Nice with his canon the tradition started up again using pyrotechnics. Only on Bastille Day is it quiet and on April Fool's Day purposely sounded at the wrong time. Nice touch!
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Hi Tom, been catching with your posts, excellent to read. Claire and I had great hols in Nice. Didn’t delve to find the facts you mention however, interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteGood of you to look in and Nice definitely a place for young people
DeleteNot sure we’re young enough but I definitely felt younger when we arrived there 😂
DeleteJohn and Claire, you must have heard the midday 'boom' go off 😀
ReplyDeleteNice looks fabulous. How was the tour?
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