There is something particularly special and personal about the circle and how its curves comfortably rule every aspect of our lives.
― Kat Lahr
I spent a week in Nice and surrounding villages – and was greatly inspired by the art and architecture as well as the ongoing Carnivals. Last time we visited was in 1976…a long time ago. Honestly, I didn’t recognise anything at all, but loved what I saw. And the food was delicious.
A feast of colourful life filled our days. In fact I found so many lovely circular items, old and new, that I decided this challenge would be about Circular Wonders. For you to interpret the way you find most interesting!
This carnival in Nice is an old tradition. In 1294 it was first mentioned in writing, in 1873 it was the first carnival procession in France, and in 1876, flower floats were introduced. Today the Nice Carnival is the grandest and most important carnival (more than two weeks of festivities) in the Mediterranean area.
As the old towns and small towns here usually do, Saint Paul de Vence, Menton and Eze, offered lovely cobbled streets and wonderful art galleries, big and small. Fondation Maeght was impressive, and the Chagall museum in Nice was of course well worth a visit.
In my gallery below, the included Chagall is from his Bible series. Fête du Citron (with 140 tons of fruit used for uncountable circles…) in Menton had an Olympic theme. And every morning tables were beautifully laid on the beach – emanating strong spring vibes to a cold Swedish soul.
Wander into the center of the circle of wonder.
– Hongzhi Zhengjue
The next gallery is from the Opening Parade (this year the theme was Pop Culture) and the Flower Parade. Among the flower floats I recognised many fairy tale themes. When I said we were going to the ”Flower Parade”, an elderly French gentleman kindly corrected me – Bataille des Fleurs! Oh well, that sounded just perfect in French.
A circle is a round straight line with a hole in the middle.
– Mark Twain
Circles, half circles…skirts, dresses, hairdos, flowers, umbrellas, candy, and even a nose. Most impressive of these circular wonders, were the cycling musicians from the Netherlands – and they circled throughout the whole parade, lead by a biking conductor! There were all instruments from drums to trumpets and horns – and no one fell off his/her bike… some admirable skills there.
Come out of the circle of time
And into the circle of love.
– Rumi
Et voilá – I will end with some non-carnival flowers found in Nice, Menton and Eze. We had such a fun, lovely and uplifting week. And the icing on the cake was that –
Viveka (My Guilty Pleasures) and I chatted for a couple of hours and had a rosy drink while discussing the festivals and our outings around Nice. Unfortunately she had booked one week later than us, so this was only a short meet before we left.
Cheers!
Now we are looking forward to seeing your fantastic circles and half circles! Be sure to link to my original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Hope you want to join in!
Big thanks to John, for last week’s brilliant lessons about tools of composition – inspirational posts en masse! Next week it is Patti’s turn to host, so please visit her beautiful site for more inspiration.
https://xerith.wordpress.com/2024/03/21/lens-artist-challenge-circular-wonder
A bit late to the party but here is my submission for this challenge. Thanks for hosting.
Late maybe – but not too late! Welcome.
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Very beautiful!
Thank you!
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wow – these are wonderful – love the galleries you have created.
Thank you, Karina! So hard to choose pictures for them!
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Leya, every one of your images is charming. I especially am drawn in by the bright fruit display, and those musicians on bicycles – amazing. What fun you must have had. Thank you for sharing! Here’s my bit of whimsy. https://lindylecoq.com/2024/03/14/lens-artists-photo-challenge-290-circular-wonders/
Lindy, thank you – and I had such a good time down there. You know, the kind of fun you wish for everyone when needed.
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Here is mine for the week
Thank you, Nora!
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A wonderful gallery of circular wonders Ann-Christine!
Thank you, Aletta – happy you liked them!
😊
Hi, AC. I love your challenge and its many meanings in life, in art, in geometry, etc. Once again, your collection is visually beautiful and so well curated. The Nice carnival looks wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, impressions. Now I want to go. I’m sorry I’m late to post this week. I’m still catching up from going away last weekend. I can see how popular your challenge is! Terrific.
Thank you, Patti. Yes, it seems well received, this challenge. And I am happy you are back again, hope you had a good time!
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An interesting theme.
What a great collection, AC!
Colourful indeed!
I love the flowers and umbrella clicks.
Thank you, Philo – happy you liked those!
Welcome, AC.
Such lovely clicks!
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Following up, here is my submission to the challenge https://musinwithsusan.com/2024/03/13/lens-artists-290-star-anise/
Ah, thank you for joining in!
A lovely set, Leya. I think my favorite is the flower adorned umbrellas in the parade!
Thank you, Susan – they were truly beautiful!
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What fantastic circular wonders you were able to capture. I so enjoyed looking through your gallery. 😀 😀
Thank you, Cee – so happy to share positive and colourful pictures!
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PS. My response is here https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2024/03/09/lens-artists-challenge-290-circular-wonders/
OK, thank you! Thought for a moment it was waiting for another day or two.
Cannot imagine a more beautiful, interesting, fabulous set of images Ann-Christine. The colors and the movement in your images is amazing and I loved the closing image as well. So happy to hear you connected with Viveka, even if only for a short time. I think of her often and hope she’s well.
thank you so much, Tina! I really loved Nice adn the small towns next to it. Meeting Viveka is always a treat, but this time a bit too short. She is OK, but maybe not ”the old” Viveka anymore. I guess we are getting older both of us. Still traveling though, and keeping up with each other.
A stunning gallery. I really like the table by the ocean!
Thank you so much – it does beg you to sit down there, doesn’t it?
It sure does.
lovely circles 🙂
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Wow! A perfect time for your stay in Nice and surroundings. Lovely images.
Thank you, Rupali – it was a much needed break from the grey weather here.
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A wonderful choice for the theme, Ann-Christine! You’ve got so many wonderful examples in your galleries here, it gave me plenty of examples for ideas of images I’ve gathered over the years.
Thank you, looking forward to seeing your take on!
Thanks for sharing your images .
I found this in the thrash!
What a fun prompt!
I am glad you liked it!
This prompt was a lot of fun!
Thank you, it seems to be quite popular!
Love the prompt, love the galleries!
Thank you very much – so glad you enjoyed it!
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Stunning pictures. Did you spend spring in the Cote d’azur? It’s a lovely time there, isn’t it? Of course you know that, your pictures tell the story.
I brought together a few photos from the last twenty years for your challenge: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2024/03/11/the-wheels-on-the-bus/
I am glad you liked them – it was a much needed break from the grey and cold up here. One week only, but what a week! Just read your post – different and delightful.
I was hoping for one from last year’s Swedish summer or autumn from you, but this was colourful and pleasant that I have no complaints. Thank you for that nice comment.
I will think about posting something from last summer while waiting for this summer to arrive. Thank you for telling me, and still being content with what I chose for the challenge. ♥
An amazing post, Leya 👏 The colours & vibrancy you’ve captured in your circular world is wonderful 😃 Here’s mine: https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2024/03/11/round-round-we-go-lens-artists-challenge-290/
Thank you, Jez, hopefully it brightened something of your day!
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Interesting circles, Ann-Christine 😀
I’m especially drawn by the ones from the parade! ❤ Hmm, other than the obvious sunrise/sunset photos in my gallery I wonder what I will find when I go digging for this challenge, hohoho
Thank you, Yanti, glad they appealed to you! Looking forward to seeing your finds!
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Wow what a wonderful parade! That person with a mask and round nose is my fave haha
Here is mine, sorry if I have too much circles
https://wanderingteresa.com/a-circular-journey/
You don’t have too many – they are wonderful! I recognised only one or two though. Figueras!
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Magnificent!
Thank you!
I wish I had seen your post first, I wouldn’t have stressed so much, it was a tough challenge for me, so thank you so much for making me think. I love your images.
I am sorry if you stressed about it, but your post is just wonderful! So happy every time you are participating. Thank you for liking my post too.
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Fantastic pictures of the parade, Ann-Christine! Loved all that color.
So glad you loved it – I think we need some colour this time of the year! All we have in Sweden right now is GREY.
Your post brightened my day here in the US where the spring colors haven’t sprouted yet. I’m so impressed that your trip 48 years ago inspired us to this day! I love seeing all the colors and curves in the parade. I smiled at the nose too. The purple flower against the oranges is stunning. Thank you so much for sharing and for hosting the challenge this week. I searched for close-to-home items to put together my take on the prompt. https://www.quaintrevival.com/springing-forward-with-shades-of-my-green-with-envy-moments-this-past-week/
Thank you so much, Shelley! I try to brighten my days if I can – if it made you smile I am more than happy!
You’re welcome. That’s a wonderful goal to have on a daily basis. Yes, indeed I smiled 😁
♥
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All of these beautiful circles and vibrant colors really made me smile this morning! What a fun experience!
Thank you, Beth, I am glad they brightened your morning! We have got terribly grey weather and that week in the light and colour was a blessing!
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Wonderful circles Ann-Christine, I especially love the natural ones 💚 Our contribution for this week’s lovely challenge is also inspired by nature: https://tranature.com/2024/03/10/silent-sunday-thanking-the-mother-tree/
Nature is the best companion and friend!
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I like the nature photos.
Here is my interpretation https://deoculomeo.wordpress.com/2024/03/10/circular-wonder/
Thank you, Marina!
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Great to see more images from your visit to Nice, it’s all so colourful and cheery on another dull March day in London 😀 And so many circles! I do love a shape challenge so had fun with this one: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-going-around-in-circles/
I am happy you had fun with it! Colours and sunshine is much needed this time of the year!
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♥
Circles… they’re everywhere!
Can’t get away from them.
I like how in your photos there’s a range of feelings expressed through one theme.
I think it’s nice.
Here’s mine for this one:
Thank you – and yours was a great one!
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And this made me hungry…
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This post is an amazing collection of colours and circles, it just glows with joy. So many festivals and carnavals, thank you for sharing them as I will never get to see them in person
So happy to share! Viveka has talked about it for years, and now, finally, I went to see it. I was Not disappointed!
I love the costumes and festivities
Thank you, Nora! I thought if I should attend one great carnival in life, it should be Nice. My friend Viveka goes every year and I have seen her photos…
Wonderful post about Nice! Although I’m partial to the flower floats (the corso I’m accustomed to is not too far away from Nice, the Cavaillon corso happens every year in Mai, not at carnival time) – I really, really like the sculpture of the pairs of figures walking in a circle. My circular wonders all revolve (!) around cars: https://picturesimperfectblog.wordpress.com/2024/03/10/the-wheels-of-the-benz-go-round-and-round/
Thank you so much, Elke! I loved that circle too – and your cars were excellent.
My pleasure and thank you!
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Absolutely stunning and your images really do them justice. Fascinating that the tradition carries on. A lovely cheerful post, Leya.
Thank you, Suzanne. I try to keep it positive and this time it wasn’t so difficult!
hello a.c.,
a wonderful, great theme and interesting pictures you have chosen for the challenge i like them, especially the 1st, 4th, 6th, 10th, the Ferris wheel and the one before last.
here are my pictures for this week, https://wp.me/pfnz9O-bQ.
many greetings robert
Thank you so much, Robert – glad you are joining in!
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Gorgeously fascinating from beginning to end! Just love the Mark Twain quote !!!
Thanks! Yes – clever guy and funny too!
Nice is nice! 😀. Lovely colors and celebrations. Great to see it through your lens! My entry here:
Thank you, PR!
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What a great theme for L-A this week, Anne-Christine! I love the swirly dresses and costumes from the parade! The round table set for dining on the beach is truly inspired!
I might have a new one on Wednesday, but for now, I recently shared a round/circle challenge for Sunday Stills last November. Hope it’s OK to add: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/11/26/sunday-stills-feeling-well-rounded/
More than OK, Terri! Thank you for joining in on this with such great circles!
Thank you! This was a good challenge you came up with!
I am happy to see how many positive thoughts and comments sprung out of it!
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Just stunning, Ann-Christine! The parade is wonderful, but it’s probably the artwork and the streets of Nice that speak to me loudest. You have created a beautiful fantasy from the material you had.
Thank you, Jo, fantasy is much needed in life today!
Ann-Christine, you most definitely know how to take us down on a magic carpet ride. This was a fantastic post from beginning to end. The fruits, those flowing dresses and costumes, the flowers, and the culmination with that delicious drink. Awesome post!
Here’s my interpretation of your challenge with circles, half circles, and arches.
https://egidio.photography/off-the-beaten-path-at-devils-garden-trail/
Thank you, Egidio – I had a lot of fun both with the carnival and putting this challenge together! Now I am eager to see your take on!
A post full of wonders, indeed. Ann-Christine. Hard to pick favourites, I don’t think I’ll even try. It’s the kind of post that works as every single photo makes the whole. It sounds you had a great time in Nice, you certainly have amazing photos to show.
Here is mine:
Thank you, Sofia. I had a great break from grey and wet Sweden. I can’t believe how lucky we were with the weather. And if I should visit one great carnival in my life, it was Nice. Viveka inspired me for many years…
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Such a wonderful colourful post on yet another grey day. You certainly had a great time in the south of France.
Thank you, Jude, yes – so grateful for that week lightening up the grey back home. I still feel good after a week back home.
Interesting, engaging, colorful, and cultural is what initially comes to mind. A fun challenge! Circular wonders, INDEED! What’s not to love in all of the photos But to sit on the beach on that table would be a dream, and yes, a place to warm the soul as well as the body. Everything about the Carnaval photos were fun and I can only image how great to witness all of it. A GREAT chalenge for everyone, AC. What a wonderful trip. Thank you for this.
Thank you – Happy to share colourful and positive things – and looking forward to seeing your post on the theme. I thought if I once was going to a great carnival, I would do it in Nice. So inspired by Viveka.
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What a feast for the eyes, so many beautiful inspirational images to take guidance from. Loved the dances and clever circles in artworks
Thank you, Ritva! Happy you liked them and eager to see your take on.
What a wonderful and fun challenge, beautifully illustrated by you. Not sure if I shall have time to join in, sadly. Family from Spain arriving tomorrow for the week …
Enjoy your family, Margaret! Hope to see you in next challenge!
Thank you!
Beautiful circles of all sorts. I loved those women in their dresses. The parade and florals–all beautiful. Now I have to get aROUND to finding some circles of my own!
Looking forward to it, Anne! Thank you for positive feedback – and I loved those girls on stilts!
😊
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Clever theme, thoroughly represented, GREAT photos, and who can argue with the logic of Mark Twain? Very well done. 👍
Moi:
♥
Thank you, John – love that quote.
Nice!
Nice Nice!
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