And Let it Snow..

Apart from showing you how much cool stuff there is going on around Nice, I also wanted to share with you the news that Nice has put in a bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2018. When I first heard the news I was stunned at the ambition of the Maire of Nice, Christian Estrossi; Nice doesn't at first, or even second, sight seem the most obvious candidate with the emphasis firmly on sun, sand and glitzy glamour. The fact that the city attracted British nobility including Queen Victoria in times gone by, owes more to the warm winters than the snowy ones. (though I may treasure the mental image of Queen Victoria on skis)
But once I'd put aside my prejudices, Nice has got quite a lot going for it: it has the largest airport in France after Paris, the area is packed to the brim with hotel rooms that are largely empty through the Winter and is beginning to develop a reasonable public transport network. I would say that the biggest problem is the unreliability of the snow which seems important when thinking about the Winter Olympics. Last year's snowfall was good and this year's, even this early in the season, is excellent but there have been years when the snow simply hasn't fallen.
The choice of a French candidate will happen next year and the final choice should be announced in 2011. The campaign will be interesting to follow..

Rob of Trieste Daily Photo has honoured me with these lovely awards which I'll be passing on tomorrow. Thank you, Rob, you made my day!