Category Archives: Carnival

The Flipside of Carnival: Police, Tear Gas and Arrests

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Best of Nice Blog

UPDATE: Did the police overstep?  Here’s the video, you be the judge. Last Sunday afternoon while the Official Carnival was in full swing in Place Massena, the alternative Carnaval Populaire (‘People’s Carnival’)was also gaining steam at Place Garibaldi.  The official Carnival had … Continue reading →

Share
Posted in Carnival, Social Unrest, Urban Hazards | 1 Comment

Nice Carnival Survival Guide

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Best of Nice Blog

See UPDATE below… The alternative Carnival Populaire degeneraged into chaos with police and tear gas! Tonight marks the start of Carnival, a festival most locals dread and avoid: “Ridiculously expensive!”  ”Over-commercialized!”  ”Ultra-touristy!”  ”Boring!”  … Au contraire!  Every year I drag some … Continue reading →

Share
Posted in Carnival | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Bataille de Fleurs

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Best of Nice Blog

The Nice Carnival’s Bataille des Fleurs is a completely different animal from the regular Carnival Corso parades:  It has its own floats (covered in flowers), a separate route along the seaside, a completely different ambience of elegance and aesthetics, and whereas it … Continue reading →

Share
Posted in Carnival, Festivals, Fun Stuff to Do | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Nice’s ‘Other’ Carnival

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Best of Nice Blog

Carnaval Populaire You know about the ‘official’ Carnival, but do you know about the unofficial one, the rough-and-tumble Carnaval Populaire?  It started in 1990 in reaction to the city-sponsored festivities, which were perceived by locals as a hollow tourism marketing ploy. In … Continue reading →

Share
Posted in Carnival, Festivals, Fun Stuff to Do | Tagged , | Comments Off

How to Become a Carnival Convert

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Best of Nice Blog

  photo: www.telegraph.co.uk This weekend marks the start of Carnival, a festival most locals completely avoid: too expensive, touristy, commercialised, and boring.  Au contraire!  Every year I drag some nay-sayer into the melee and they emerge converted:  Carnival is surprisingly irreverent, impressive, fun, … Continue reading →

Share
Posted in Carnival, Festivals, Fun Stuff to Do | Tagged , , | 1 Comment