GOT UP before 5am to drive to Luton airport for 6am. It was obvious at check in that this was no standard flight to Nice - four women in front of me who i didn't know definitely looked like demonSTrATOrS.
By the time we boarded the plane it was clear that around two thirds of us were going to the march. Someone brought maps of Nice and the programme for the next few days round the plane - it was certainly the first time I'd seen a plane leafleted.
Arrived in Nice and its raining! It was warmer when we left London. We get a couple of cabs to the hotel. Friendly and sympathetic taxi driver tells us that the town is empty - people have been told to get out of the city before we arrive. The streets are deserted - it's a strange feeling..
Arrive at the hotel and book in. Go and get coffee and breakfast and then off to the ATTAC photo call which involves half a dozen people diving into the sea with banners. It's still raining, but it's warmed up, and there seems to be a lot of press. Get some snaps myself.
Wander through the old town, which is picturesque and quiet. Get some lunch, buy an umbrella and head for the demonstration. We think it starts at 2 but meet the head of the march about 3 kilometres from the Assembly point - obviously it ctarted at lom Walk back to the Assembly point by the side of the demonstration, stopping to draw breath and take onolos every so often. It's an extraordinary sight.
Continental demonstrations are so different from those here: virtually everyone carries an individual flag as well as the lead banners for each contingent and then some contingents also have hats or jackets in their union colours as well.
Then there are flares and firecrackers and vans with loud hailers.
There are no police marshalling us, though when we pass the area of the conference centre there are police on every street corner. Only one or two may be visible, but I'm sure there are far more hidden round the corNice Diary