A man suns himself on a beach chair. This was taken in mid-April and is as it should be in Menton - a normal, glorious day. Sunny, as it will be today and should be tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow - but two days ago the Côte d'Azur was battered by incredible freak waves from Menton way down the coast, the worst between Nice and Cannes. Strangely, there was little wind, these were simply freak waves, referred to in one of the newspapers as a 'mini tzunami,' which is perhaps an exaggeration but all the same, scary.
Waves as high as 10 metres (33 feet) battered Nice and Cannes. This is unheard of in the Mediterranean and especially in May. In Cannes, where the Film Festival is due to open shortly, some 20 restaurants were damaged and several cars overturned. In Nice, not only the beaches were closed but also part of its famous Promenade des Anglais. Happily no one was swept away although one women sustained a fractured leg. In Monaco, Larvotto Beach was battered with the sea coming right up the beach and into the restaurants, dragging the tables and chairs out to sea. In Menton too, damage to restaurants along the Sablettes.
All bad news at the beginning of the season.
Click HERE to see Larvotto Beach and damage in Monaco.
apres la pluie , le soleil heureusement...j'espere pas trop de degat
ReplyDeleteWe had heard on the international news about the battering your coasts were taking. Looking at your serene image (one of your truly amazing shots--like a magazine cover!) I can just imagine the chaos of waves overtaking this idyllic scene. I hope the businesses and people affected can appeal to their insurance companies. You may have heard of the recent flooding in Nashville, TN, where insurance companies as a matter of course don't cover flooding. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE this picture, Jilly!
-Kim
Yes, this is peaceful, yet full of foreboding, when one reads what you've written. Excellent shot and post.
ReplyDeleteJilly I love this photo: I agree with Kim, it truly is magazine cover material.
ReplyDeleteIt is even more special to me as I was there when you took it. The day was just perfect.
What a powerful contrast to your words about the storm. Perhaps a link to some of the spectacular storm photos would have been good.
Nathalie - good idea. I've added a link. Thanks. J x
ReplyDeleteGreat photo on the link Jilly - to think that this is just a few kms away from Menton!
ReplyDeleteI hope they manage to clean up the damage quickly.
Oh my! I was loving your picture, but so sorry about the waves and damage. There have been some strange occurrences world-wide this year!
ReplyDeletexoxo Pattie
Wow! Who would have imagined such a storm when looking at this picture.
ReplyDeleteA gracious, beautifully composed image here but hard news about the damage done on the coast. What are the chances of repairing the damage quickly? At least no lives were lost.
ReplyDeleteAt least, there's an emergency exit sign above the door.....maybe not the good direction to escape in case of danger as it was these last few days....(taken at the Sablettes, no ?)
ReplyDeleteKim is true, it looks like a decoration magazine photo.
I hadn't heard anything on our news about these strange waves. I'm certainly glad that no one was seriously injured.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature just reminding us that she's in control here on planet Earth!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture Jilly...very inviting. I can feel the warm sun and the soft ocean breeze...
Lovely picture, so serene and peaceful. So sorry to hear about the weird waves hitting the shorelines.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a story. I'm glad the calm has returned.
ReplyDeleteFreakish weather but this photo is suberb. Those yellow rugs leading the eye to the sea. Parfait my friend.
ReplyDeleteV