Les Anciennes Fleuries - MG + 3

Everyone proudly poses in front of their cars. Here you see grandfather, daughter and grandchild in front of their MG - obviously a newer model than the one we saw the other day, but still a minimum of 25 years old - as are all the cars are at this concours.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Fiat 600 Jolly Ghia

"In 1958, Fiat shipped a number of Fiat 600s to the Italian design house, Ghia, for conversion into the Jolly. Featuring wicker seats and the option of a fringed top to shield its occupants from the Mediterranean sun, these cars were originally made for use on large yachts of the wealthy. Arisototle Onassis owned one.

With a cost of nearly double that of a standard '600' they were made in a very limited production. It's believed that fewer than 100 exist today, each one being unique. 32 Jolly cars were used as taxis on the island of Catalina off the coast of Los Angeles in the years 1958-1962." - Wikipedia

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Belle

This lady was taking a rest on the wall by the fountain, watching the crowds milling about the cars and waiting for the time when her car would be judged. I never did see her in the car, but I'm pretty sure it was one of the beautiful Hotchkiss.

She was happy to be photographed - she wore a long flowing outfit perfect for the occasion and the car - and when finished I told her, 'Vous êtes belle, Madame.' And indeed she is.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - MG

Not only a British car but a car with British number plates. An MG. I don't know the year but I'm sure someone will tell me.

My first car was an MG. A TA, I think, it was. Anyway it was registered in 1939 - cost me £80. I drove it around Chelsea with bare feet, a mess of hair on my head. We were called hippies in those days! I drove the car till it would go no further and couldn't afford to get it fixed. Should have kept it - be worth a fortune now.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Fiat 500

Pretty sure this is a Fiat 500. So tiny, isn't it? They were made between 1957 and 1975. Their predecessor was the Fiat Topolino and you'll be seeing one of those too, decorated with palm trees!

I have a friend in Monaco, well over six feet tall and he used to drive around in a purple version of this car - a tight squeeze you might say and you'd be right. One day it died in a fire. He loved and mourned that car.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Renault Torpedo

Here you see the car that yesterday's young lady was getting ready to accompany. It's a 1925 Renault NN, Torpedo. The owners bought the car in 1982 and since then they've changed the tyres, the car has been repainted and a small amount of work has been done to the engine. Meanwhile, they buy parts for the car directly from Renault or from enthusiasts.

In the last photo, you see the car ready for judgement. The judges are sitting off to the left, out of shot.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Make-up mirror

A motorbike mirror. A pretty girl puts the finishing touches to her macquillage. She knows I'm photographing her and can't stop giggling.

What car is she about to adorn? Note the style of headdress, the fur, the glove.

Do come back tomorrow to find out.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Hotchkiss

As you can see, this gathering of ancient cars is very popular in Menton. I've not heard of a display of cars and flowers before. Have you? These three Hotchkiss cars show different choices in flower arrangements.

Hotchkiss cars were made between 1903 and 1955 by the French company Hotchkiss & Cie in Saint-Denis, Paris - a company started by an American engineer, Benjamin B.Hotchkiss from Connecticut. The badge for the marque showed a pair of crossed cannons, evoking the company's earlier history as an arms manufacturer during the Franco-Prussian war.

Les Anciennes Fleuries - 1912 Zebra

Yesterday, the Automobile Club of Menton held its annual concours of classic cars - but with a twist - dressed up with flowers. It's a annual competition that considers the car, the flower arrrangements and the costumes of the drivers. All the flowers were provided by the florists of Menton and of Roquebrune-cap-Menton.

There were 25 cars exhibited - a real mix from a Mercedes 190 SL to a Cinquecento Topolino but no vehicle was less than 25 years old.

Here you see the oldest car exhibited, a Zebra of 1912. This particular car was buried in the ground during the war. Click on the link to read more about the model.

Tomorrow - a Hotchkiss.

Love in the afternoon

"France is the only place where you can make love in the afternoon without people hammering on your door"

- Barbara Cartland

So you'd like to own a boat?

As you can see, owning a boat isn't all lazing about, sipping champagne and cultivating a tan. This couple spent Easter Saturday working on their boat in the old port of Menton.

I wouldn't be taking the photo today - we've had rain for two or three days and Gorbio is in thick fog. Sunshine tomorrow - according to the meteo. Hooray!

Restoration

We are walking down from the Château in the village of Gorbio. As you can see new steps have been built on the left. In a medieval village, restoration is always needed. Occasionally you see work that is far too modern and stands out like the proverbial sore thumb. In this case, the steps appear to be made of stone and hopefully will soon weather down and blend in with the centuries old walls.

Life's a beach

Louder than gulls the little children scream

Whom fathers haul into the jovial foam;

But others fearlessly rush in, breast high,

Laughing the salty water from their mouthes--

Heroes of the nursery.


- Robert Graves

The hand of an Italian

As we all know, Italians talk with their hands, not just their voices. Look at this man - he's standing, talking to a group of men who are sitting on a bench in front of him. You can see the head of one of them. That hand never leaves his chest except to express what he is saying.

I used to go to an Italian hairdresser and if he was talking to someone else in the salon, I got my hair washed with one hand. He was incapable of talking without using at least one hand. I adore Italians! And of course, Menton is so much Italian - all the French here speak Italian. You cross the border and they speak French. And many of the businesses in Menton are run by Italians or families that were originally Italian.

Do you use your hands when speaking?

Fire over Menton!

A couple of hours after I took the main photograph a fire devasted 50 hectares of land above Garavan. Had I remained in Menton just a little longer I would have had a photograph for you but back home in Gorbio, I don't see this part of the town. In the smaller photograph, taken a few days later, you can see the burned forest behind the church spires. With fires so early in the year, it doesn't mode well for a fire-free summer.

One of this blog's readers who visits Menton regularly wrote soon after telling me he'd seen the fire on the Menton webcam. I didn't know there was a webcam so am most grateful for the information. Thankyou, Don. You'll find a link on the right hand side of this blog - or click on the link. It seems you get control of the camera, which is located at St. Agnes, for 2 minutes. You then get a choice of 10 locations to view, with zoom control too.

Note: this webcam isn't working at the moment. I'll add it to the sidebar when it's working again. Technical problem!

The beach webcam, tho, always works although it's less impressive and with just the one view along the beach to the Old Town. See link on right.

Lunch actually

Lunch and love by the sea in Menton - Italy in the background.

I've not shown a Black and White photo before - so many thanks to Chuckeroon from Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo who suggested it for this one. And of course to Eric from Paris Daily Photo for the inspiration following his romantic Parisian marriage proposal.

My kingdom for horse...

Meet Sophie, a gorgeous laid-back Golden Retriever with her proud young Italian owner. This was taken in the port of Garavan. To see a close up of Sophie, please click on the link.

There a quiz on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today. Do please visit - click on the link for The Great Great Monte Carlo Swimming Pool Quiz.

Rue Longue - 11

Here you see the far end of Rue Longue, near to Porte Sainte-Julien. Work at this end of the street is complete. Here, you'll find the restaurant, A Braijade Meridiounale.

We've visited this end of the street before - indeed, this part of Rue Longue has been finished a long time - but today, the restaurant is all decked out with plants and umbrellas - a welcoming sight amidst the chaos of the rest of the street.

Rue Longue - 10

Wires and pipes everywhere on Rue Longue. Below, part of the street still has no surface (this is the area immediately below the steps that go up to the Basilica, so it's unavoidable for the tourists. Let's hope it will be finished soon. Tomorrow, you'll see the end of this street - the only part that is finished.

I don't normally show you photographs of friends or of my own personal life, but I had a very handsome young man visiting with friends over the weekend. I asked if he minded my publishing his photograph and he didn't. I suppose if you are good looking, you don't mind showing it off - click on the link to view.

Rue Longue - 9

We've walked a little further down the street. I met a lady who lives at one end of Rue Longue and walks back and forth each day to her business, which is at the other end. I said I thought there'd had been great progress. She shrugged as only the French can shrug - and rightly so. The work has been going on, way beyond its original promised finish date. I believe many problems arose as they dug up the street - problems that couldn't have been anticipated? It's still supposed to be finished for the main tourist season but hey, we are in April already. She said it's hard with all the dirt and the noise of the work. I can imagine!

This street will be fabulous when it's finished and will breathe new life into the Old Town with shops and restaurants but you'd not want to be living there at the moment.

More tomorrow.

Theme Day: Water

To these small boys, water means sea, means fishing. Is there a small boy anywhere in the world who doesn't love to fish? Here are just two in the Menton port of Garavan.

Today is Theme Day with 179 other cities taking part. Do click on their links below to see how City Daily Photo bloggers throughout the world over have interpreted the theme of water - there are so many inspiring and wonderful photographs - do go visit.

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Rue Longue - 8

A reader, who stays in Rue Longue when she visits Menton, has asked how the renovations are coming along. Last year there were times were it was almost impossible to get from one end to the other. Please click on the link to see how it was then.

Well - there IS progress but you'd not want to be wearing high heels! More after tomorrow's Theme Day.

Three's company

Life on the seawall. Maybe the small photo, where all three members of this family are looking at the same thing, is better than the main one? However, the larger photo shows the dog's profile.

Slurp!

Yesterday, lunching with a friend (ravioli aux artichauts) at an outside table at Restaurant Le Balico, I turned my head and there was this little boy, sitting a few feet from me on the stone bench. The bench is separated from the restaurant by a row of plants - which is why he's crowned with a weeping fig.

The restaurant you see behind him - across the square - is Restaurant Le Lido.

I think he's enjoying his ice-cream, don't you?

If you'd like to 'Tiptoe through the tulips' with Tiny Tim, please click on Monte Carlo Daily Photo.

Note: Since posting this, sadly Le Balico has been sold and is now under new management.

Le Café du Vieux Port

Good Friday - last Friday, in fact. 10 a.m. Breakfast looking out over the old port.

Lucky Black Cat

This black cat sleeps all day on the rocks just the other side of the wall near to the Bastion. I've often seen him there and have photographed him and all I ever get is a silhouette because, as here, the light is wrong. I was watching him, looking at his world and thinking his cat-thoughts, when suddenly he got very animated when a lady and dog came along. The cat obviously loves the lady, the lady brings him food - her little bichon is quite happy about it all. And once our hero had finished his treats and been made a fuss of, he took himself off and sat a short distance away.

This was taken on my first day with the new camera, so I apologise for the shadow but it was 9 in the morning with the sun in quite the wrong place and I'd not yet mastered what this clever camera can do - still learning... That's Italy you see in the background, by the way.

Have you noticed we seem to be on a 'Wall by the Sea' series?

If you've been following the Art Series in the Casino Gardens on Monte Carlo Daily Photo - today is the final day. If you like gardens and if you like words, you'll love it! This is my absolute favourite of all the installations.

The Paraphernalia of a Picnic

People love sitting on the wall near to the Bastion. And how organised this couple are: rug to sit on, mugs, flask, looks like wooden plates, cutlery.

Personally I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of lugging all the paraphernalia. Great to sit on the wall and ponder the view but then I'd want to find a table outside a bar, order a noisette and a brioche sucré - and watch the world go by. Wouldn't do for us all to be the same, tho, would it?

A hodge-podge of colour

Part of the facade of the Old Town taken from the far side of this beach. I've photographed the Old Town from this position before - for instance the banner of this blog - but with the new camera I have a far stronger zoom. Still learning the camera tho but don't you love the hodge-podge of colours and shapes and levels? I was shooting pretty much against the sun and for some reason, the effect is a little washed out but I still love it. Do you?

Chico

It's not only people who like to sit by the sea in Menton. This little dog - his owner tells me he's a mixture of a Westie and something else - is called Chico. I think he looks a little like a paler version of Isabella's lovely Truffles (Naples Daily Photo) - Truffles is a Bichon Havernais.

Twenty seconds...

Kids are wonderful! Twenty seconds - exactly twenty seconds - separated the main photo from the smaller one. In the first, they are turned to each other - I wonder what they are giggling about. In the smaller photograph, they are ignoring each other. Click on the smaller pic to enlarge it.

Taken yesterday afternoon in Menton with my new camera: a Pansonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, which is a 'bridge' camera or an 'ultra-zoom.

I'd like to dedicate this post to Chuckeroon of Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo.

Chuckeroon has 'held my hand' over the choice of camera, he has answered endless emails and is still answering them. I have much to learn. I thank you so much for your time and expertise, Chuckeroon.

Happy Easter everyone!

Fête du Citron: Corso - Finale!

Our last day at the Corso. This is not a reprise - all these floats and dancers you've not seen before. The floats represent the Island of the Pirates, the Isle of the Rising Sun and and the Kiwi bird from New Zealand. The dancer in the second row is from Columbia and below her a Maori performer from New Zealand, giving us that 'look.'

There are still more acts, more dancers you've not seen, more marching bands, a Blues Brothers group, two more local folklorique groups and of course, girls, girls, girls. But enough already! There were three Corsos and we visited the final one on March 3. The Fête du Citron is over, the lemons and oranges have been sold off for juice, jams, jellies, wines and liqueurs. Even the orange trees in the streets of Menton are now being pruned - all 1400 of them. 40 municipal gardeners are hard at work.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to visit the Fête du Citron and of course, thankyou so much for your welcome comments.

So back to normal life in Menton tomorrow. There's so much to show you - more hill villages, joys across the border in Italy but now - I'm off to Menton with my new camera. Come back tomorrow and see what it produces. If I can make it work, that is!

The sun is shining over the sea - it looks like it will be a beautiful day - Happy Easter everyone!

Fête du Citron: Corso - Giants!

These giant creatures are motorized and whiz from one side of the street to the other at great speed, stopping just before they crash into the crowd. Scary stuff and possibly a little dangerous, hence the security man you see in the smaller photograph. There are half a dozen of these creatures - one naturally enough: a wild boar.

Tomorrow - the last day of the Corso. Do come back for the grand finale!

Fête du Citron: Corso - what a mess!

Some of the floats have cannon that fires bubbles, foam, confetti - even water - at the crowd. In retaliation, everyone buys Silly String (thanks to Slim from Quincy DP who gave me the name). The mess is extraordinary and I read in Nice-Matin that the war of the mess may not happen next year. The dancers, the bands, the floats, the novelty acts: all get sprayed with this mess - a hazard they don't need when they give us all such a great parade.

A few more days and the Corso will be over - a few more pretty girls, a monster and then back to normal life in Menton.

Fête du Citron: Corso - Cancun, Mexico

Amongst all the jollity, a very serious young man - part of a wonderful marching band. They followed the Cuban float - but are they Cuban? A couple of girls carried a banner - you've seen enough girls lately! The banner blew in the wind and so I can only read the first letter - 'C.' So are they Cuban, Columbian or from Chile? A postcard from Menton to anyone who knows.

Later: I just had an email from a lady, from the UK, who was at the festival this year and she remembers the banner with the letter C - and also the design of a green crocodile which represents Cancun, Mexico. She also says these same sombreros are sold in the tourist shops in Cancun. So, many thanks, Sally - a postcard will soon be on its way to you.

Fête du Citron: Corso - Oooh la la! (3)

The Girls from Brazil - four beauties all at the same time. It seemed to me like a good deal until I noticed that making a collage chopped off the lower part of the legs. But then I figured you'd seen a pair of legs yesterday, so please - no complaints! If you didn't see yesterday's photograph, please click on the link to see the impossible shoes the girls have to wear.

The frames the girls are wearing are rigid - I stepped off the pavement at one point to take a photograph and got swiped in the shoulder - and it hurt. I hope you gentleman appreciate the things I do for you.

Fête du Citron: Corso - Oooh la la! (2)

Remember the beautiful Brazilian girl? (Click on link) These are the shoes the girls wear to walk the 3 kilometre Corso - and perform every few yards. If you guys are really good, I'll show you the rest tomorrow...