It Began with a Boom

Precisely at noon each day a shot goes off which is heard throughout the city.

Our second day we climbed to the top of Castle Hill overlooking the town. Of course as many who know us know that Dana always must climb to the top of buildings or hills, any reason to trek uphill is reason enough for him! As we sat resting and sipping water, a loud boom startled the you know what out of both of us. Fearing an explosion or worse, we looked around. At the next table sat a very stylish, older couple. The gentleman was tall and just impeccably French, he hesitantly said, ‘excusez-moi shall I explain’. Of course, it seems the story is that years ago, during the Belle Epoque, a very wealthy Englishman docked his yacht in the harbor. Each day he requested his wife to return at exactly noon. She was perpetually late. So, to solve his problem he had a cannon shot off at noon each day to remind her to return.

After the loud, very loud boom, the bells toll noon-it’s time to break for lunch.

To find out more about Nice’s mid day Cannon shot

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