Summertime in Menton - the Piano Recital

Menton holds its famous Festival of Music each August. In additional to the main concerts held outside the Basilica at 21h30, there are smaller recitals held outdoors at 11h and 17h (we saw the Mandolin Player the other day). There are also recitals that take place at 18h at the stunningly beautiful Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, the interior of which, you see here. This Chapel stands at a right-angle to the Basilica itself in the centre of the Old Town.

These are my first proper attempts at indoor photography. I tried using a Gorillapod as a tripod but no joy - the chairs available as support were just too slippery. And I apologise for the awful photograph of Einav Yarden, the wonderful Israeli pianist. (I'm learning, folks) Einav lives in the USA. She played - so beautifully - a series of sonatas by Bach, Stravinsky and Beethoven.

Summertime in Menton - Laughter

She's giggling, he's having a good old belly laugh. Two people on a stone bench at the Place du Cap.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people - Victor Borge

Summertime in Menton - the Flat Peach

Les pêches plates as they are called in France - or the Donut Peach in America.

The original flat peach variety was introduced to the United States from China in 1869 but it never became very popular. New varieties of the flat peach have been gaining in popularity since the 1990s and have been fairly recently seen in the south of France. They are grown in France, Italy and Spain.

The flat peach comes with white or yellow flesh, as do their bigger cousins, of course - the round peach - but these have a very subtle flavour, delicate perfume, and are particularly sweet. Apparently they are easy to grow in our climate and are really catching on. Last week I saw about six stalls selling them in Menton market. Yesterday, when I took this photograph, only one, but that's because the season is coming to an end.

Summertime in Menton - the Pink Beach Towel

Here's a longer shot of yesterday's photograph. We are on one of Menton's dog beaches - a pebble beach. Not all of Menton's beaches have pebbles. Les Sablettes, Menton's biggest beach, which is at the foot of the Old Town, has sand - and like this one, it's also a public beach.

The Golden Retriever and the Labrador playing in the sea, can be seen - in other shots and in close-up - by clicking on each link.

Summertime in Menton - the Beach Companion

A contented dog, sandy face and feet, cuddled up next to his owner on one of Menton's dog beaches. Tomorrow - we'll see the rest of the Lady on the Pink Towel - and a longer shot of this dog beach.

Summertime in Menton - the Mandolin Player

A by-product of Menton's famous Music Festival held each August is that this year - each day - at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. you will find young musicians performing in the town. Here you see a young mandolin player. In the smaller photograph, you see the group - three mandolins and a guitar. We are at Square Etats-Unis - a charming small garden, tucked away off Avenue Carnot. (click on small photo to enlarge to full size)

This year Menton is holding the 59th Festival of Music. The main concerts are held on the Parvis of the Basilica Saint-Michel Archange - the big church in the Old Town of Menton. (If you go back to the hazy photograph of Menton a couple of days ago, you can see the church - the one with he tallest steeple). A Parvis is a square outside a church. You sit on tiered seating and as you listen to the music you look out over the sea to the horizon. It has to be one of the most magical places to see a concert.

And for those of you thinking that Menton is still sitting under a haze of pollution you should know the wind blew the muck away - probably it was the edge of a Mistral from the Rhône valley - that's as much as we get of a Mistral here. Now, we bask under clear sunny blue skies again. I'd hate you to worry about me!

Summertime in Menton - the Beach Vendor

The man who sells everything...dresses, shirts, scarves, swim-wear and sun hats. In his right-hand, he's carrying a home-made display case (you can see the cardboard and string) which is crammed with sunglasses and watches and probably a lot more besides.

He trudges the beaches for most of the day. Hot work I'd think with everything he's carrying, not to mention the weight of the hats on his head.

All the guys who sell sunglasses and watches are of North African origin and wear glorious flowing robes. Some try selling counterfeit watches and sunglasses. In Menton, but particularly across the border in Ventimiglia. Usually a cat and mouse game between them and the police. Whether this seller has counterfeit goods in his display case, I don't know. Probably not - he'd not be able to run very fast with that lot, would he? In any case, there are one of two of these sellers I see regularly so they probably have the relevant licence. Or the police turn a blind eye.

Summertime in Menton - the Waiter

A bar in the Place du Cap at the foot of the Old Town.

Summertime in Menton - Pollution

See that fug over the Old Town? It's particularly evident in the smaller photograph - (click to enlarge) - where you see an oppressive haze over Monaco in the distance. This is pollution caused by too many cars. On the day I took this photograph, the speed limit on the autoroutes had been restricted in an effort to reduce emissions from cars.

Since then, the sky is clearer - and I presume those restrictions have been lifted as I've not read more in our local rag, Nice-Matin. So don't feel too sorry for those of us who live here.

The photographs were taken from the Italian border.

Summertime in Menton - La Foule

La Foule = crowds. Crowded beaches. That's Menton in July and August - at least on the public beaches, one of which you see here. You can spread out a little more on the private beaches in Garavan.

On the left you can see the lifeguard sitting in his tower and in the foreground, left, one of the beach showers. In the distance, again left, you see part of the Old Town. Further away - Italy.

Summertime in Menton - Karting

Each summer, you'll find one weekend devoted to Karting. This year the 36th Grand prix was held and here you see one of the heats. I can't imagine how hot these kids must have been in their gear but presumably they don't think of that as they dream of growing up to be Schumacher or Hamilton, both of whom started in Karting.

The races are held at the far end of the Sablettes Beach and prove very popular with visitors who sit in the cafés, sip their cooling drinks - and enjoy all the excitement.

Summertime in Menton - the Bikini

Suntan lotion, beach towel... and a bikini - et voilà!

Summertime in Menton - the Créole girl

So many beautiful Créoles in Menton last week. Here's a young beauty waiting for people to buy her produce. More gorgeous dreadlocks as per the guy you saw yesterday.

The tablecloth you see seems to be traditional. Nearly all the stalls were decorated with this same checked pattern.

Summertime in Menton - Dreadlocks

This great looking guy was part of the recent Créole festival in Menton. I adore dreadlocks. If I come back in another life, I'll request, 'Rasta hair please.'

In the smaller photo, you see another guy with his dreadlocks pinned up.

Do you like dreadlocks?

Tomorrow - a gorgeous young beauty - and yes, her hair is worn in dreadlocks too. After that, we'll be over my dreadlocks obsession - and get back to the beach.

Theme Day: Metal

The first of the month and Theme Day. Today's Theme is Metal so here's an rusty car I pass every time I drive down the Route de Gorbio to Menton. In winter, the vegetation dies back somewhat. At the moment, it's gone a bit crazy. What car is it? Perhaps an old Citroen? Anyone know?

It's hot and humid in Menton. The ozone level is nearly critical - people with breathing problems are told to stay indoors and the speed limit has been reduced on all motorways in the Alpes-Maritimes. The major culprit, of course, is the motor car, so perhaps it's just as well this car died long ago.

There are 184 City Daily Photo bloggers from all around the world taking part in today's Theme. Why not pay some of them a visit and see what 'metal' they found in their city to delight you. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Thanks to Don, a regular visitor to Menton, who reminded me about this car.

Summertime in Menton - the Créole Beauty

This gorgeous lady was working in the Guadaloupe tent at the Créole Festival. Note her face piercings - even a stud on a tooth. And how about that smile? Isn't that just fabulous.

373 year ago, the French landed in the West Indies. Since then, the history of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean has been intertwined. Christopher Columbus came from Genoa, Napoleon from Corsica - Josephine was a Créole. Menton paid hommage to this history recently - over three glorious days - when the town came alive to Créole rhythms, traditions, food and drink.

You can read more on the Créole peoples by clicking on the link.

Summertime in Menton - Festival Créole!

Summertime in Menton means Fêtes galore - in Menton itself or in the surrounding hilltop villages. The Tango festival is over and, suddenly, we are into Créole - and how wonderful it is. Dance, music, clothes, food, wondrous drinks - great people - everyone having the best time.

Here you see some of the dancers crossing the road and walking back to their digs in the Old Town.

Summertime in Menton - the Tattoo

A waitress at one of the cafés in the centre of Menton.

The Colours of Passion
By Andrea Weist

The song of the needle
Is the song of my heart,
And my love of the pain
Meets my love of the art.

The liquid, fresh ink
Tells of my thirst,
And I drink of my passion
Until my heart bursts...

And the colours of joy
Can be seen on my skin;
Brilliant as sunrise,
Delicious as sin.

Nathalie at Avignon Daily Photo mentions non-permanent tattoos (and a white rat!) in her post today. It now occurs to me that perhaps what we see here is a non-permanent tattoo? It could easily be henna, couldn't it?

Summertime in Menton - the Dog Beach

There are two beaches that allow dogs in Menton - so both are great places for me to take photographs for Riviera Dogs. Dogs are very much part of Summertime in Menton though, so here's a happy dog today.

He's a four year old Labrador on holiday with his family from Milan. His name is Giorgio and he'd spent the day playing, swimming, having the greatest fun with a dog he'd met on the beach - a Golden/Pyrenean Mountain Dog mix called Astuss. You see them swimming together on the left. You'll find another photograph of Astuss on Riviera Dogs today. Click on the link - probably a better, sharper photo than Giorgio's but I wanted you to see Giorgio jumping for a stone.

The energy, such joy in life - living in the moment. Dogs teach us so much.

Summertime in Menton - the Microlight

Competition result!

What you saw was a plastic barrel filled with water to prevent the aircraft lifting in the event of strong winds. The one you saw is on the tail (see it again in the smaller photo). There are two larger barrels attached to the wings and you can see one in the main photo, below the water.

The aeroplane is a Murphy Renegade Spirit. Bought in Belgium as a land plane and converted, with the help of some good friends of the owner, to a seaplane in Biscarrosse in the Landes department of France. It's classed as a ULM (microlight) in France. It is unique.

The plane is moored near to the phare (lighthouse) in the port of Garavan in summer but in winter is moved to a jetty in the centre of Garavan, away from any bad weather. And guess what, I'm invited to fly in her one day?

Thank you so much to everyone who tried to guess the answer. On reflection I realise this was a difficult competition. Perhaps I should have given 'Jonathan Livingstone Seagull' as a clue but then it might have been too easy. Although no one got its actual use, Steve from New Orleans Daily Photo was the first to use the word 'weight' - so a postcard of Menton goes to Steve. And another to Uselaine of Willits Daily Photo who suggestion that it was an egg sack incubating hundreds of these wins a postcard for originality and making me fall about with laughter.

Summertime in Menton - the Tango Lesson

Each year Menton hosts four days of 'Ma Ville est Tango' - with Argentinian Tango demonstrations in the Palais des l'Europe. At various times of the day and evening, you'll find dancing in the streets of the Old Town. (The second link shows this last year.)

And here - along the sea - and in a large tent with a dance floor, you can take tango lessons.

Tomorrow: the results of yesterday's competition. Still time to enter - no one (so far) has guessed it correctly.

Summertime in Menton - Competition Time!

The boat trip is over, so how about a competition to get our sun-soaked brain cells going...

We're in the port of Garavan at Menton. What is this and, specifically, what is it being used for?

First correct answer gets a postcard of Menton. Results - Sunday!

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 11

Goodbye to Italy. We've had a great day. Lie back, feet off the end of the boat - enjoy those last few minutes before we reach the port of Garavan in Menton, tie up the boat and go on our way.

Thanks to everyone who came on this boat trip. Didn't we have fun? Perhaps we'll do it again someday.

Tomorrow - a competition. We'll be in the port of Garavan and there is 'something' in the water - what is it and more importantly, what is it used for? - come back tomorrow and take a look - a postcard of Menton to the first person who gets it right.

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 10

We're on our way home. Menton is ahead. I'm shooting into the lowering sun - the light dances on the water, the mountains are in silhouette.

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 9

Time to go home. We wave goodbye to Carlo and Susan and my friend, Donald, who lives in Beaulieu.

Donald was one of the first people I met when, 17 years ago, I came to live in the south of France. He 'knows everyone' and everyone loves Donald. He gives great parties - and through Donald, you meet great people. But, most of all, he's a really good and valued friend to his friends - he works at friendship. Barely a week will go by without a call, 'Just calling to see how you are.' How lucky I am.

"My friends are my estate" - Emily Dickinson

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 8

Oh Lordy, that's the Coastguard boat and it's making straight for us.

Shouts of, 'Carlo, Carlo,' went up. Being Italian, he would be needed to talk to them - although I'm sure they spoke French too. Nearly everyone working in these border towns (Menton in France and Ventimiglia in Italy) speak both languages. It seems we had dropped anchor too close to the beach. The law says no nearer than 300 metres - hard to judge I'm sure you'll agree. We haul up the anchors, untie our boats and move further away from the shore.

In any case, it's nearly 6 p.m. and time for us to think about getting home. Tomorrow, we wave goodbye to our friends and start the journey back to Menton.

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 7

Hold your nose and jump!

That's the railway line you see in the background. Anyone who takes a train along the French and Italian Rivieras knows you get a mighty good view.

Tomorrow, the Coastguard boat makes straight for us. What have we done wrong?

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 6

This lovely building is almost on the beach. We are in Latte which is a village between Menton and Ventimiglia. (I often come here to shop - there's a really good supermarket with great pasta and well-priced good wines).

I don't know what this building is, what it's used for but I love its proportions and, in particular, the colours. Carlo explained to me that you find these particular colours in a village further along the Ligurian coast - after Genoa and before La Spézia. I've forgotten the name for sure, but think he said Sestri Levante and certainly if you click on the link, you'll find lots of houses similar in colours to this one. In fact, doesn't Sestri Levante look a place worth visiting? Seemingly Hans Christian Andersen lived there for a short time.

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 5

We are stretched out on deck - it's time to people-watch.

Like us, these two boats have just tied up together. The photo below shows them just before they did so - and the small photo (click either photo to enlarge) shows what they did next - swim!

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 4

We've arrived in the bay - and as you see, we dropped anchor and are tied up alongside our friends. Carlo and Susan own a super restaurant in Monaco called Pulchinella - great atmosphere, great welcome, fabulous Italian food.

Not sure whose feet those are... maybe they are yours - now don't get burnt, the sun is hot. Slather on that suncream.

We've sipped champagne on our boat. Lunch was in our respective boats. A rather good fruit tart was passed back and forth. Now it's time to take a little sun and then a swim - and then another swim...

Tomorrow, we look around and see what's happening in the other boats - all part of the fun to people-watch with a zoom lens.

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 3

We're almost there. In fact the trip from Menton to Latte, which is where we will drop anchor, is only about 10 minutes from Menton. Here we are passing La Mortola and the Hanbury Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in an area famous for its gardens. We'll visit it one day, I promise. Click on the smaller photo for a better view of this beautiful house.

The Via Aurelia, an old Roman road, runs through the gardens which were created in 1867 by the Englishman, Sir Thomas Hanbury and has a collection of 6,000 plants. It's now managed by the University of Genoa.

Trivia: about a television series called Rosemary & Thyme, which stars Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris. Caroline Hanbury, who still lives in Villa Hanbury, allowed the house and gardens to be used for this detective series about two lady gardeners. Her terrace was dug up and a restaurant created for the filming - afterwards, it was restored as before. Along with other friends, I spent one evening as an 'extra' in the 'restaurant.' If you saw that instalment of the series, and knew what I looked like, you'd see me calling for the waitress! I seem to remember getting paid 100 francs for it too. (well, I still have my Equity card!)

The perched village you see high up to the left of the photograph is Grimaldi Superiore.

Tomorrow we drop anchor just around the bay.

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 2

We're off! We've left Menton behind - you see the Old Town on the left and the Port of Garavan, where we boarded, towards the right (you can see the red and white lighthouse, which is also in the smaller photo to the left). We are already in Italy.

We fly the Red Ensign. It is apparently etiquette to also fly the flag of the country you are in, so the small French flag, normally on the other side of the boat, has been taken down to be replaced by the Italian flag for the day.

Buongiorno Italia! Hold tight - we're going quite fast...

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 1

Messing about in boats - one of the joys of summertime in Menton. Great if you own a boat and perhaps even better if you've a friend with one. I'm one of those very lucky people to have a good friend with a boat - but hey, you are invited too - so let's go...

You've brought the swimmers, a towel, the suntan lotion. Everyone contributes something towards lunch. I've just picked up a fruit tart from that good pâtisserie in Carnoles and there's a chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio in the 'cold' bag. What will you bring?

We've boarded, stowed our gear - the food is in the refrigerator -shortly we'll leave our berth in the harbour. We are looking the length of the Port of Garavan - you can see the steeples of the beautiful Old Town of Menton on the left.

Tomorrow - the open sea - en route to a bay in Italy, where we'll meet up with another boat - friends from Monaco. We'll tie up together for a relaxing day out.

Summertime in Menton - the Jesus ladies

There I was this morning, walking along near to the Bastion, photographing dogs, when a lady said 'Bonjour' to me and then asked if I spoke English. 'I am English,' I said.

So meet Joan and Michaele from Oregon, USA. They told me they travel with only what you see - a bedroll and one change of clothes. I asked if I could photograph them for the blog. They were more than happy to pose and asked me specifically to say they are 'the daughters of God, and they travel in the life of Christ.' They are for peace, no killing of people or animals. I'll go along with the peace and no killing, for sure, but personally I don't want anyone telling me what I should or should not believe, and I told them this. So once they talked to me -they called me 'Sister' - and stopped telling me what Jesus said, we had a nice conversation. I really liked the two ladies.

I asked them how they manage for money and they said something always turns up. Now here's the thing - I gave them 20 euros - no big deal. An hour later I bought two antique postcards of Gorbio (for this blog) - they cost 18 euros - and what happened, I left the postcards behind in a bar. Now that's not fair, is it?

And I called the bar - no cartes postales anciennes had been found. Grrrrrrrr

The ladies told me they've been sleeping in a little corner at the foot of the Old Town, near some bins - and that no one bothers them there. I wished I'd asked them how, as travellers, they keep their clothes so white.

Summertime in Menton - Love on the beach

Remember that scene on the beach in From Here to Eternity? Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. It was made in 1953 and won 8 Oscars and yes, you'd need to be of 'un certain age' to remember. In the film, the beach was sand and the lovers had the sea lapping over them. The scene was considered somewhat risqué at the time. Click on the link to see what I'm talking about.

Nowadays, cast your eye over any Menton beach and you'll soon find a pair of young lovers - oblivious to those around them. This was taken the same day as the two previous photographs - as dusk started to fall.