Like swallows that, in the spring, bring good news, the NICE FAIR, the 1st Spring Fair in France, returns with a plethora of innovative ideas and concepts and one color: GREEN, a symbol of Creation and Nature. For its 67th edition, the NICE FAIR is slightly delayed in time, and its last day coincides with the first day of spring.
NICE COTE D’AZUR: THE GREEN CORRIDOR
The city of Nice has decided to undertake a comprehensive project focused on the development of a continuous urban park to create a green corridor from the National Theatre of Nice to the sea. This project will extend over the sites currently occupied by the bus station and parking garage (which will be demolished and relocated), Leclerc Square, Espace Masséna, and Albert I Garden.
The development project to be presented at the Nice Fair concerns a 12-hectare area of the “Green Corridor,” which includes:
The current Bus Station site (including the hanging gardens) to be demolished in 2011,
The current Parking Garage site (including the hanging gardens) to be demolished in 2012-2013,
Leclerc Square,
Espace Masséna and Jacques Médecin Forum,
Albert I Garden
The main development guidelines are as follows:
A green lung, in the city center
Create a green lung that will take its place as a large urban park in the city center where various activities can gather.
A link between Old Nice and the 19th-century City
Create a connection that will need to regain coherence between the river’s geography and the urban development on both banks: particular attention must be given to including the project area in a facade-to-facade reflection that takes into account the relationships between streets and public spaces on both the left and right banks.
A model of sustainable development
Commit to an approach of environmental quality and sustainable development.
A place of conviviality and well-being, a place of life and activity
Make this large urban park a living space where it is pleasant to walk, linger, and entertain oneself in a high-quality landscaped setting. Areas dedicated to festive events, games, art, and culture will be organized.
Organize spaces in the urban park dedicated to activities: festive events, children’s games, artistic and cultural projects.
A walkway will connect the various sites crossed in a quality landscaped context. The walker should feel as though they are strolling in a tree-lined park away from automobile traffic. They will be encouraged to traverse the urban park rather than move along the avenues on the sidewalks.
Attention will be given to the creation of green spaces with appropriate vegetation density.
Each site will have a defined vocation as follows:
Albert I Garden and Leclerc Square: spaces exclusively dedicated to the garden (except for the Théâtre de Verdure: concert venue).
Espace Masséna and Jacques Médecin Forum: the major venue for organizing all festive events.
Sites of the current Bus Station and Parking Garage: spaces dedicated to art, culture, and games.
Nice Côte d’Azur will also present its Eco Phyto Operation, which aims to stop the use of pesticides and promote good water quality and biodiversity. The goal is to raise public awareness of biological control and efforts in this area.
The Nice Botanical Garden will also be highlighted. It is the first garden in Nice to have received the prestigious “Remarkable Garden” label. Established in 1983, it features more than 3,000 species primarily Mediterranean over 3.5 hectares. This garden fully complies with organic farming criteria and has not used any chemical fertilizers since its creation. Additionally, this garden is classified as Zero-Pesticide.
For this edition of the NICE FAIR in GREEN… the Atrium of the Exhibition Hall will host TAHITI, which is twinned with the City of Nice. The Polynesian Accent, paced to the sound of the UKULELE, will be the theme.
TAHITI A GREEN ARCHIPELAGO AT THE NICE FAIR
TAHITI is twinned with the City of Nice and will make us dream of French Polynesia during the 10 days of the Fair. It is the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts of TAHITI that is the architect of this space.
MAEVA TAHITI
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
French Polynesia encompasses the most eastern archipelagos of the South Pacific. Its history draws from distant times, but the origin of the inhabitants who populated its islands through astonishing migrations remains uncertain. The settlement of neighboring islands began during the first millennium AD, starting from the “Marquesas” and “Society” islands, eventually covering an area now known as the “Polynesian Triangle,” each corner represented by New Zealand, Easter Island, and Hawaii.
French Polynesia extends over such a vast area that it took more than one explorer and several years to discover all the islands. The Spanish and Dutch were the first to venture into certain archipelagos during the 16th and 17th centuries. The first European to discover Tahiti was the English captain Samuel Wallis in 1767, followed by Bougainville in 1768, Cook in 1769, and finally Captain Bligh in 1788. The latter’s name became famous due to the mutiny that broke out among his ship’s crew, the “Bounty.”
Tahiti was governed by the Pomare dynasty until it became a French colony in 1880. A French Overseas Territory in the Pacific, French Polynesia has been governed since September 6, 1984, by an Autonomy Statute that grants extensive powers to local institutions. The French state is represented by a High Commissioner appointed by the central government. He is notably responsible for Foreign Affairs, Justice, National Defense, and Currency.
The President of the Country is elected by the Assembly of Polynesia and chooses his Ministers.
Tahiti, the capital island of French Polynesia, is located in the southern Pacific Ocean. Tahiti is the largest and most populated island in all of Polynesia. It is part of the Windward Islands group and the Society Archipelago. It is a high, mountainous island of volcanic origin and surrounded by a coral reef. The island consists of two parts: Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti, also called the Peninsula), which are connected by the isthmus of Taravao.
The official languages are French and Tahitian, but almost everyone who interacts with foreign visitors speaks English. The Tahitians are known for their friendliness, hospitality, and joy of living. “Ia Orana” (hello), “Maeva” and “Manava” (welcome), with these three words of welcome, the Polynesians greet their visitors with songs accompanied by guitar and ukulele, and the gift of a tiare, the emblematic flower of Tahiti and its islands. The only key word to use for such conviviality is “Mauru’uru,” which means Thank you.
ITS FAUNA
The marine fauna is incomparably rich, although some species are endangered. The diversity and freshness of seafood contribute to the richness of Polynesian gastronomy. Among the deep-sea fish are notably: white tuna, red tuna, “mahi mahi” (dolphin fish), salmon of the gods, swordfish, wahoo. The lagoon also produces an incredible variety of fish such as: parrotfish, red mullet, grouper, unicorn fish, etc. There are also lobsters, slipper lobsters, crabs, clams, sea urchins, and shrimps.
ITS FLORA
The plants and flowers of Tahiti have a significant advantage: abundance throughout the year. There are about a thousand plant species in Polynesia. Most of them are found on the high islands where rainfall, humidity, altitude, and sunlight exposure are conducive to differentiated vegetation extending from the beach to the mountains.
Among the various plants, generally cited are: Tiare Tahiti (the gardenia), the emblem of Tahiti with its characteristic fragrance, the coconut tree, an essential element of Polynesian flora, thanks, in particular, to its various functions, and vanilla.
ITS GASTRONOMY
Polynesian gastronomy is characterized by a great diversity of dishes, based on seafood and exotic fruits. The “ma’a tahiti” refers to the traditional meal, usually eaten on Sundays or holidays. This meal is typically prepared in a traditional Polynesian oven, an “ahi ma’a,” where food cooks for hours in banana leaves in a hole dug in the ground.
This gastronomy is composed of raw fish with coconut milk, “poulet fafa” (chicken cooked with young taro sprouts (fafa) and coconut milk of clams with curry), fafaru (raw fish marinated in seawater), and various fruits like coconut, pineapple, papaya, mangoes, grapefruits, bananas, starfruit, soursop, watermelon, star apples, and more.
THE TAHITI PEARL, RAINBOW OF THE POLYNESIAN LAGOONS.
Its sheen is like the bright lagoons of Polynesian atolls, its shape and roundness express the sensuality of a woman’s body. A symbol of Purity and elegance, it enchants all who behold it. It is easy to succumb to its charm… but sometimes difficult to prefer just one. To choose your pearl, trust your instinct first. To maintain its beauty, the Tahiti Pearl requires special care. It rehydrates in contact with the skin, so wearing it often is essential. On the contrary, any acid exposure can be fatal for it, the main enemies being chlorinated water, perfume, and hairspray.
A natural and unique beauty for half a century
In 1961, the head of the fisheries department in Polynesia, Mr. Jean-Marie Domard, decided to test the method invented by the Japanese for cultured pearl production.
He attempted the first graft with the help of a Japanese grafter named Churoku Muroi on the atoll of Hikueru in September 1961. This experience sparked great hopes, and Mr. Domard organized a second graft in Bora Bora in 1962. Two years later, the harvest promised a bright future for this ocean princess. Thus, the House of the Pearl, a public institution responsible for promoting the Tahiti Pearl, celebrated in 2011 the 50th anniversary of this ocean princess.
FROM MARCH 12 TO 21, 2011
EXHIBITION AND CONGRESS PALACE OF NICE
OPEN AIR SPACE
