The Flower Market, Nice

As well as being a popular destination for the jet set (even Queen Victoria enjoyed Nice), Nice was famous for its flower market.

This card comes from the collection of an Artist; Antoine-François Cosyns. It seems that his friends sent him the most interesting postcards they could find on their travels., including this one.

Another postcard of the market

The unhappy princess

This is King Léopold II of Belgium with his daughter Clémentine. Before she came of age she suffered a lot because of her mother’s difficult temper. Her father gave her permission to travel without her mother which helped a lot.

The problem with being a princess is that you aren’t allowed to marry who you would like. Clémentine wanted to marry Napoléon Victor Bonaparte, who was descended from Napoléon and therefore not of royal blood. Her father threatened to disinherit her. She was already in her 30s and could feel her biological clock ticking away. Prince Napoléon and Clémentine decided to wait until her father died. She didn’t have to wait for much longer after this photograph was taken. Her father died in 1909 and when her cousin, Albert, became King, gave her permission to marry and she really did live happily ever after!

Nice to be in Nice

Two cards of Nice, where I’d very much like to be this morning as it’s cold here. The Promenade des Anglais and the Quai des Etats-Unis (United States) are the places to walk, showing off your ‘hat’ and smart clothes.

Several years ago we had a student who came to the house for English lessons, he was retired and used to be head of the toy department in Galeries Lafayette in Nice. He talked sometimes of the rich and famous customers who would come to buy toys for their children and grandchildren. One of these was Princess Grace who he told us insisted on standing in the queue to be served, just like everyone else. He also saw David Niven sometimes and he was every bit the English gentleman as you would imagine.

Nice Flower Market

This is a postcard of the flower market in Nice. I think that it’s a lovely photograph. Unfortunately the picture has nearly come away from it’s backing and over the years insects have nibbled it. The card has never been sent. I think I would have chosen it for myself too.

Pictures from the market today.