A series of essays.....
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| THE HOTEL WEST END LOCATED ALONG THE PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, NICE, FRANCE |
.....as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
It is with some trepidation that I view the prospect of traveling to my beloved France this September. This is certainly a first for me and has caught me off guard. Allow me to explain.
We plan our trips with adventure in mind, like many of us do. The basis for these experiences may be the discovery of a new international recipe to add to a growing culinary collection. Seeing new places and feasting on their history d'être has always worked well for Dan and me. Bringing home the joy of new friendships made along the way......is what I'd like to describe as 'simple perfection.'
The uncomplicated freshness felt by being in the south of France is predominant and, this visit will be no exception.
You see, there comes a time when nothing or no one can take the feeling of happiness away from you. When travel provides us with incalculable joy, the prospect of losing that feeling, that right, for any reason, is so beyond the thinkable that most of us deny the possibility with a French wave of the hand in front of our disdained-filled faces. Lately, I have used this unique French gesture often.
I've read stories of how rich Americans have decided not to travel in France this season for their holiday and have opted for various 'other' destinations. These Americans have sighted that terrorists tend to 'mark' the wealthy for attacks and they feel uncomfortable being their possible target.
For the record, they must have their own 'lofty' and disdainful form of trepidation.
I have never claimed that staying at the Ritz and being chauffeured from one exclusive shop to another while dining at yet another Michelin-starred restaurant each day as my idea of adventure! If seeking exclusive shopping time or eating rich food offers you an exciting, slightly dangerous good time.....C'est la vie!
And, herein lies the distinction.
Traveling for me is like moving from one enormous classroom to another. My teacher may be the antics of a small child, the perfect light of a hazy mountain morning, or the joy of sitting on an old log watching a handful of 'locals' intensely enjoying a game of pétanque (French outdoor bowling) in the afternoon heat. The language spoken might be 'Greek' to my ears, but I'm willing to learn a bit of it, employ elaborate hand gestures, and, at the very least, smile my way through any given situation. In the process of all this, if I can take away the knowledge of something new and put a smile on someone else's face at the same time, my education and spirit are greatly enhanced by the experience!
Traditionally, the last evening of our trip is set aside for winding-down, savoring a local meal, and eagerly weaving our way back through the intricacies of emotions and experiences our visit has provided us while viewing each one of them as a rich, artistic performance, full of nuance and equal importance. For us, this is a perfect segue back into reality. It bridges the gap between being in constant motion for ten days and the long flight scheduled the next morning out of Nice International Airport along the Côte d'Azur.
And then...... "On the evening of 14 July, 2016, 85 people were killed and 307 injured when a large cargo truck was deliberately driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France." ---France 24, International News
As I sat watching the news channel late that afternoon, when the initial reports of this horrendous act unfolded, I began recognizing landmarks flashing within the strobe lights of emergency vehicles. Among them, the pristine silhouettes of the white pergolas lining the Promenade, the distinctive onion-dome roof line of the Hotel Negresco, and I realized that the Hotel West End, located at 31 Promenade des Anglais, was emblazoned with identical flashing lights.
Hotel West End....beautiful and pristine clad in white marble from its enormous front columns and massive staircase leading up to her ornate front entrance with multiple 'eyes' (windows) looking out across the Promenade towards the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.....our hotel for the final night in France.
I remember feeling the warmth of my tears sliding slowly down my cheeks as I sat there watching the screen.
At that moment, I had no idea of the grave extent of carnage that had just unfolded before the entire world. There was no worldly or profound explanation for why this was happening. Everything went against the grain of every fiber of my being and my mind was incapable of comprehending most of it. It was a 'James Bond' moment where reality is undermined by an elaborate Hollywood script with 'extras' cast as broken bodies on the street and others dressed in emergency uniforms of many varieties attempting to assist them.
Herein lies the basis for my trepidation, my anxiety regarding our visit to France next month.
We will walk the path of these innocent victims of our dangerous times and see the numerous memorials dedicated to them as we make our way down this beautiful Promenade. How could we not? The signs will be everywhere and the memories still so fresh.....somber. Our hearts will enfold the spirit of our lost friends who were innocently enjoying the celebration of life, the unity of their nation, and the beauty of their surroundings!
Our last evening in France this time will definitely take-on a brand new dimension.....not measured in length, width, height, or diameter. Rather, we will be analyzing the scope and aspect of this changing world we live in.
By choosing to continue with our plans in Provence, Languedoc, and, lastly, our night in Paradise (Nice), we have already made the clear distinction and choice between the celebration of the goodness life has to offer and the genuine fear it may contain. We will never be foolish enough to discount all of the irrational people who are hell-bent on destroying life as we know it, either. We will become watchful and alert along our daily travels, yet not allow this new attitude to distract from the pleasure of being where we want to be.
During our evening meal along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, under a canopy of twinkling September starlight, Dan and I will discuss the future, as well as our small role towards the alleviation of evil in this world. We will honor those who have fallen. And, we will hope and pray that our choices will aid in making a difference for every generation of travelers, students of life, and those who appreciate our amazing world for what it has to offer each one of us!
Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
