A Walk to Chapel Saint Lazare - 1

Today I'm inviting you to walk with me in the village of Gorbio. No, we are not walking to the top of the old village (that's for the future when we've built up some stamina).

Today we'll walk along Chemin du Doyen Pierre Rochard to the tiny XII century Chapel Saint Lazare. You'll not need proper walking shoes, but ladies - no heels - and for those that don't do hills, worry not, this walk is pretty much flat all the way although the track gets just a little rougher later - but it's easy. We've left the main square and the Mediterranean is to our right, way below. We are 7 kilometres from the sea at an altitude of 370 metres.

The walk would normally take about 15 or 20 minutes, ambling along at our pace, putting the world to rights - as one does on gentle walks - but of course it's going to take us quite a few days. I hope you'll come back tomorrow and the days to follow - I promise you surprises, stupendous views, a knight in shining armour (really) and of course a dragon. And if you are really good I'll show you the tea-cup tit lady.

The photograph above shows the true beginning of the walk - straight ahead, don't turn left. You'll need walking boots for the left turn!

Webb Ellis - Inventor of the game of Rugby

This is the grave of the Reverend William Webb Ellis, known as the inventor of the sport of Rugby. William Webb Ellis, as a schoolboy and....

with a fine disregard for the rules of football as played at his time first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the rugby game.'


Wlliam Webb Ellis eventually became Rector of St. Clement Danes Church in London and died in Menton in 1872. He lies in the beautiful old cemetery above the Old Town.

A plaque on his grave says 'To William Webb Ellis who gave rugby to his school and then to the world.'

It should be mentioned that this is apocryphal as there is little in the way of evidence to substantiate this view, it is however, the popular view. So much so in fact that the international committee named the Rugby world cup the "William Webb Ellis Trophy".

This year France plays host to the Rugby World Cup, and in honour of this, the town of Menton yesterday unveiled a statue to the Rev. William Webb Ellis (I'll be taking a photograph for you). In addition there is a series of 25 written and illustrated panels, dedicated to the sport of Rugby - these start at Menton railway station and finish at the cemetery.

The Mayor of Menton in his speech last night, said of his grave - 'He made a good choice for his eternal rest' - and so he did with the view of the Old Town and the Mediterranean.

A Swim at Dusk

Bastille Day, July 14 - a last minute swim before getting ready for the evening. The water on the beach isn't from the sea but from the showers that are out of shot and slightly further up the beach.

Ma Ville est Tango

Each summer for four wondrous days, Argentinian Tango comes to Menton! There are concerts, displays, lessons and dancing in the streets. Each night between 6 and 8 p.m. at the Place du Cap aficionados can enjoy this sensuous dance. You can read more at the official website here. Here's how a few dancers spent a part of yesterday - Bastille Day.

Raza and the Tour Lascaris

Last night the village of Gorbio was choc-a-bloc with people for the inauguration of the restored Tour Lascaris, originally built betwewen the XII and XIV centuries. Part of the ancient Chateau, it has undergone extensive renovation having been pretty much derelict for years. This is something totally fabulous for the village as it now has a dedicated space to display art and superb it is too.

In the photograph you see, sitting, the well-known Indian artist Raza, who has lived in Gorbio for thirty years. You can read more about him, one of India's most famous artists, at this link. Sadly, Raza's wife, herself a brilliant artist, died a few year's ago and many emotional tributes were paid to her last night. Last night, we heard that Raza, now 85, has generously donated many of his paintings and also some of his beautiful collection of Indian sculpture to the commune of Gorbio. These are displayed in this first exhibition to be held in the Tour Lascaris. To the right in the photograph, and about to grab the microphone, is our mayor, Monsieur Michel Isnard, himself an artist and art teacher, and to the left is the mayor of Roqubrune-cap-Martin, Monsieur Patrick Cesari. Dignitaries were there representing Prince Albert of Monaco and the Indian ambassador to France was there too.

Below you see Raza ascending the staircase to the first floor of the exhibition. There is also an entrance below. Later, from my friend's house above the village I looked across to the Tour and saw the balcony - see the third photo - full of celebrating villagers.

The beautiful cross, by the way, was a gift made by two artisans of the village who work in wrought iron.

L'autoroute

Look at the hillside and you can see a section of the A8 autoroute that runs along the French Riviera and into Italy. Some is hidden in the many tunnels that go through the Alpes. An amazing feat of engineering or a blot on the landscape? This photograph was taken from the Port de Garavan which almost adjoins the Italian border.

A Painted House

The light was just right this morning to photograph this painted house. I've tried getting the detail in the past and it's never worked, so let's have a day away from the beach and see what the centre of Menton has to offer. You can see more of the house below and you can see what is standing in front of it - at this link.

Volley ball anyone?

Fancy a game of volley ball on this beach below the Old Town? It's dusk, it's getting a little cooler, why not?

Jumping for Joy

This is my first effort at a night photograph and there's much to learn! Maybe it's not even possible with my little camera - a Canon Ixus 850 IS. (If anyone knows, please tell me)

You can see one of the steeples of the old town in the top right-hand corner. This bouncing bed (I really don't know what they are called) is on the edge of one of the beaches below the Old Town. I like that the three girls were all in the air at the same time and obviously having such fun. Their respective parents were outside the caged area, calling out words of encouragement.

Dogs at Dusk

This lady is exercising her dogs on the beach. She's in front of the private beaches, but the entire area along the water is open to all. I'm not at all sure she has the right to exercise her dogs here - there are three special beaches which allow dogs and I don't believe this isn't one of them. However it's dusk and this is France and rules are made to be broken! She wears a wide strong belt contraption around her waist and the three Huskies drag her along, as you can see in the photo below. Her fourth dog runs free. This was one joyous lady with four very happy dogs.

Cheek by jowl

Still on the discussion of public versus private beaches, here you see, in the foreground, a small part of a crowded public beach. In the background, you can see the coloured sunshades of the various private beaches, one of which you saw yesterday - and another the day before. You can see another view of this public beach here.

Private and public beaches

Here's a photograph of another private beach. Following on from yesterday's post on the subject, and the resulting comments on the correctness of there being such a thing as a private beach - with which I totally agree, I have added the following paragraph to yesterday's post but here it is to save you looking back.

To clarify the term 'private beach' - there are nearly a dozen private beaches in Menton, where you rent sun beds, have bar service and can eat lunch in the restaurant. In spite of the many private beach areas, there are many free beaches (such as the Plage des Sablettes). However, the entire beach front along the water - private or public - is open to public access.

The cost of hiring a sunbed for the day is around 10 euros - some a little more - and less for half a day, of course. Many consider this well worth it for the comfort and space and convenience of the bar/restaurant/toilets. The public beaches are always very crowded in summer. I'll post a photograph of a public beach tomorrow.

Plage l'Helios

Some of the beaches in Menton are private - you can hire a sunbed for the day, have drinks brought to you, you can eat in the restaurant - there are showers available. And best of all, you have a view of the beautiful facade of the Old Town from the beach.

To clarify the term 'private beach' - there are nearly a dozen private beaches in Menton, where you rent sun beds and have bar service and can eat lunch in the restaurant. In spite of the many private beach areas, there are many free beaches (such as the Plage des Sablettes). However, the entire beach front along the water - private or public - is open to public access.

Fancy a coffee?

We're back in Sospel today - the mountain village 20 kilometres from Menton. Here's the Bar Central. Fancy a café? A biere?

Port de Garavan

There are two harbours in Menton. The port of Garavan is nearest to the Italian border and is where this photograph was taken. Don't you love to walk about a port and look at the boats and the boating people?

A stroll at dusk

It may be that this photograph isn't very sharp. I took it at dusk and have much to learn on this camera. Menton used to be known (and perhaps still is) as a town of the troisème age (in another words: a retirement place). If you look at the strollers in this photo, you'll probably agree. However, whilst people do retire to Menton, it's still very much a vibrant town with much to do for every age group who lives here. Families comes to Menton on holiday. Young people looking for more nightlife go to Monaco or Cannes or Juan-les-Pins.

Beer Shop!

You don't expect to see a 'Beer Shop' in the Old Town on Menton - especially one that opens at 5 in the morning. This house is not far from the one with the hat on the gate! Perhaps there's a connection. You can see more of the front of the house below - notice the gargoyle above the door. I wonder who lives here?

Daily Photo Theme Day: The Colour Red

In choosing 'something red' from Menton, I was spoiled for choice: restaurants with red tablecloths, baker's shops with a red oleander outside, red clothes hanging out to dry from an ancient window - and all prettier than this photograph - but somehow the word tabac takes me back to my first trip to France from England, where I lived at the time. I was 18 and went to Paris and then took le train bleu to Cannes. That's when I fell in love with France and why I came to live here 16 years ago and why I have absolutely no intention of leaving - ever.

Do please visit other Daily Photo bloggers who have seen red in their city. A total of 100 are participating in today's Theme Day. You can also take a look at the Daily Photo portal.

Shanghai, China - Mumbai, India - New York City (NY), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Hamburg, Germany - Stayton (OR), USA - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Hyde, UK - Oslo, Norway - Brookville (OH), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Joplin (MO), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Selma (AL), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Seattle (WA), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Evry, France - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Boston (MA), USA - Grenoble, France - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Hilo (HI), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - La Antigua, Guatemala - Brisbane (QLD), Australia - Singapore, Singapore - Tel Aviv, Israel - Hong Kong, China - Sequim (WA), USA - Paderborn, Germany - Saarbrücken, Germany - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Tenerife, Spain - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Sydney, Australia - Naples (FL), USA - Cologne (NRW), Germany - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Mainz, Germany - Toruń, Poland - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - North Bay (ON), Canada - Jakarta, Indonesia - Montréal (QC), Canada - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Baziège, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - New York (NY), USA - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Sharon (CT), USA - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Villigen, Switzerland - Chicago (IL), USA - Torquay, UK - Brussels, Belgium - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Cape Town, South Africa - Paris, France - Seoul, Korea - Manila, Philippines - Milano, Italy - Austin (TX), USA - Chennai, India - Madrid, Spain - Seoul, South Korea - Wailea (HI), USA - Toronto (ON), Canada - Ajaccio, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Zurich, Switzerland - Sydney, Australia - Budapest, Hungary - Moscow, Russia - Auckland, New Zealand - Torino, Italy

A swim anyone?

We're walking down the Old Town today, not up! - not much further and we can jump in the sea. Ready?

Dieu X deux

Walking up to the top of the Old Town the other day, this shot presented itself - one I'd not seen before - showing the steeples of both churches. This was taken from the cemetery.

'Don't forget your hat, dear!'

You can imagine it, can't you? 'I've put your hat on the gate, darling!' Does this hat belong to an old man, whose wife worries about his bald head burning in the Menton heat? Who do you think owns this hat? I don't know the answer - just snapped it walking up through the Old Town to the cemetery. Below you see more of the house.

Clean up time

This craft is owned by the water company so I presume the operator is picking up rubbish and so cleaning up the sea for the bathers. The truth is I'm not really sure but can't think of another reason the water company would be here. Can you?

The coconut man!

This young man, with his bright clothes and straw hat, is selling slices of iced coconut on this family beach, which is always crowded in summer. You can see the facade of the Old Town on the far side.

Pur-sang Arabe - 2

No - I didn't take this photograph. Let me introduce you to my friend, fellow dog-lover, and first Guest Photographer, Katie de Gea. Katie lives in the Var and is a brilliant artist and web designer. Take a look at her work on the Pension Milou website.

Not only did we spend two brilliant days at the Arabian horse show but with Katie, I discovered areas of Menton I didn't know existed. She also explained the intricacies of my camera (a Canon Ixus 850 IS) so hopefully, what I've learned will be evident in future photograhs! Katie's camera is a Canon EOS 350D. Thanks for a great weekend, Katie!

Pur-sang Arabe

Every year Menton hosts a prestigious two-day show - the Menton Arabian Horse Championships. To see these magnificent horses strutting their stuff on the beach and in front of the backdrop of the beautiful Old Town was mind-blowing. I have to say I had tears in my eyes watching these amazing creatures. This year there were horses from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Italy, Qatar, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and of course, France.

Gorbio village - 2

This shows Gorbio village from the other side - see yesterday's post. Below you see the main road to the village from Menton, taken from the car window. The light could have been better for these photos and one day, I'll get it right! In fact there's another good shot to be had on a walking track that goes to one of the chapels - more for the future, when I get my walking shoes on. All around Gorbio is great walking country and many visitors come here to do just that - walk.

Gorbio village

Gorbio is one of several hill villages near to Menton. You can photograph Gorbio from either side - indeed from several angles and tomorrow I'll show you a photograph taken from the other side of the village, where the houses tumble down the hillside, rather like Menton Old Town - but smaller of course. This is more or less the view I see when I walk up my track to the mailbox. The large house on the left is the original Maison de Maitre. Sometimes I wish I lived in the old village itself - far greater sense of community I'm sure - much lugging of wine up the steep walking street though (no cars can get into the village, the roads are far too narrow) - so hardly the place to look after other people's dogs, which is what I do.

Stairway to heaven

Stone steps just off the cobbled road that leads to the top of the Medieval village of Gorbio.

Le Bastion, musée Jean Cocteau

The Bastion is a small fort, built in 1619 by Honoré II, Prince of Monaco, to defend the bay of Menton. Jean Cocteau, after he had decorated the Salle des Mariages, had the idea of restoring the abandoned fort as a setting for his work. The staircase, tapestry, pebble decoration were all designed by Cocteau himself. The Bastion is situated below the Old Town and in this photograph you are looking towards Italy. You can see photos of the inside of the building and some of Cocteau's work - here.

Discussions are now underway for a purpose-built Jean Cocteau museum which is to be built in front of the main market building. Many think this a good idea except the people who play boules - their club house and the area they play boules will disappear. They are anxiously waiting to hear where they will be rehoused. Progress?

Facade - 3

When I went out on a boat on Sunday, the idea had been to take this shot - but on a beautiful day. It would be so much better with sunshine glinting off the houses. No matter, I still like it and actually love the wild sky. Hope you like it too. I'll get it right eventually and then it will, hopefully, go into my header.

Power walking

We're told the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest in the world - all those fresh veggies, fish and olive oil - and that's why the locals live so long. I'll tell you why they live so long - apart from their diet - it's because they have to walk endlessly up and down the hills. Take this lady walking up a very steep and long hill. She eventually took a well-deserved rest, outside the old town walls in Sospel. Her dog, mind you, a rather chubby Miniature Pinscher, looks as if he might not be fed a Mediterranean diet...

Messing about in a boat

Remember I said I wanted to photograph Menton Old Town from the sea? So today was the day. Picnic packed, wine in the cooler, bikini in the bag - found my friend's boat in the harbour of Garavan. John dropped anchor in a pretty bay in Italy, not far across the border. And then it rained - and rained - and rained. And you can stop laughing, Isabella!

Meanwhile, here's a boat I snapped whilst we were moored - you can 'just' see part of Menton Old Town in the distance. And look at those clouds - and this was 'after' the rain.

Un miracle?

The intention today had been to show you more photographs of Sospel - however, here is a small diversion. Last night I went out to dinner in Menton and naturally gave myself time to take a few photographs for you, before meeting up with friends. During the afternoon, we'd had one hell of a storm with probably the most rain I've seen fall in such a short time, so it was surprising to see this sand sculpture pretty much intact. Naturally I took a couple of shots in the falling light.

Today's edition of Nice-Matin features almost the same shot with the heading: Un miracle? Le Christ en sable qui décorait la plage du Fossan a résisté a l'orage... so I reckon if it's good enough for Nice-Matin, it's good enough for us.

You can see the sculpture to the left has disappeared and the one to the right (out of shot) is very blurred in outline. So is it a miracle?

A river runs through it

We're still in Sospel but in a few days, we'll go back down to Menton. We'll be back though as I've much to show you of this mountain village. Here is a view taken from the bridge I posted here. Would you think it heaven to live in one of these houses or apartments with the river below? Or would you rather live with a view of the Mediterranean?

If you had the choice, would you live in a city, by the sea, in the mountains or perhaps by a lake or river? What's your all-time favourite dream of where to live? Perhaps you are lucky enough to live your dream already?

Across the bridge

We're across the bridge now. There's a small restaurant here - run by two young women. One cooks and one serves. We decided not to sit under the umbrellas, choosing instead to take a table inside the archways, out of the sun where we had omelettes and salad and good crusty bread.

A view from the bridge

Come with me for a walk across the 12th century fortified bridge in Sospel. Here we are half-way across. Tomorrow we'll walk to the little restaurant you see in the distance.

A quick slurp

Driving out of Sospel (see yesterday's post) I suddenly came across a couple moving their cattle. The dog did most of the work but at one point grabbed one quick slurp of water from a puddle - it was a hot day - but didn't allow himself more than a second to do it. His master controlled him with hand signals. Lovely dog, a mix of some sort and not much sheepdog evident. Sure knew what he was doing though.

Sospel

Menton is surrounded by glorious hill villages. Gorbio has been featured a few times as it's 'my' village but there are others: Roquebrune, Castellar and St. Agnes - to mention just three more. You'll get to see them all as time goes by - tra la la. And more. This is the first posting of Sospel which is 20 kilometres above Menton in the Bévera valley, and therefore not a hill village. You drive up a stunningly beautiful mountain road, very twisty road driving - the things I do for you! Sospel used to be a staging post on the Salt Route and in this photograph you see the fortified bridge, built in the 12th century and used as a Toll bridge for travellers. I had an omelette in a little bar just over the bridge and drank a toast to you all in Perrier - wasn't I good? Wine and driving windy roads don't go together. Let's face it, wine and driving anywhere doesn't go together.

Vide grenier

There's a vide grenier on in Gorbio village today. Everyone turns out their attics to raise money for the village children's sporting activies. The large tree in the centre is an elm that dates back to 1710. If you click on this following link, you'll find a good way to get a Tall Drink.