La Fête de la Branda - the Musicians

La Fête de la Branda in Gorbio is always a great day out. Here you see a group of musicians called Le Ravanet Club - they play extraordinary instruments as you see and make - well - a noise - and it's all great fun. Do come back tomorrow to see the weirdest instrument of all.

La Fête de la Branda - the Still

Each October you'll find the Fête de la Branda in Gorbio village. Branda is the Provençal word for marc, the marc de Provence, which actually has two meanings: either the fermented grape pulp, seeds, and stems that remain after the grapes are pressed for their juice, or the actual potent distilled alcohol. You can read more by clicking on last year's link.

Above is one of the two stills. The small photograph on the left shows the fermented grape pulp after distillation.

Tomorrow we'll wander about the village and see what else is going on...if we can stay upright, that is. The Branda is strong stuff.

Autumn - the Sunbather

Even on a windy day you can find a sheltered part of a beach in Menton. This was taken only 20 minutes before the 'windy' photo I posted two days ago.

Autumn - the Catamaran

A catamaran on the beach just along from the Sablettes. This is at the foot of the Old Town.

My photography book says 'never have the horizon in the centre of a photograph.' So, when I looked at this on the screen I hesitated, but rules are made to be broken. I wanted to show you the shadows on the beach and I wanted you to see that blue sky - so...

Autumn - the Wind

Lunchtime. The main restaurant is on the left of this photograph, by the sea. These tables are for diners who choose to sit further from the beach.

And the wind blows...

Autumn - the Blessing

Yesterday afternoon I hoped to photograph the Blessing of the Animals in Menton, but instead I found this adorable bundle playing with pebbles on the beach - and her name is Blessing. Isn't that a beautiful name?

She's 22 months old and lives, with her equally good-looking mother, in Latte, which is just across the border in Italy.

Autumn - the Blues

October. Sunshine, chilly at night though. The wind has blown the clouds and pollution away. The best days on the Côte d'Azur often follow the Mistral when you'll see the clearest blue skies - wonderful light.

I don't know the significance of the lines, but don't you love the patterns they create on the water. Perhaps they are nets giving protection against jelly fish, but I don't see the nets.

Taken from les Sablettes beach yesterday. You see the Port of Garavan on the left and beyond that Italy.

Roquebrune village at night - the Strolling Player

You never know who you will bump into in rue Moncollet, the oldest street in Roquebrune village. This 'strolling player' is waiting to take part in a series of tales of the Middle Ages at the Château in honour of Augustin Grimaldi, the Prince of Monaco.

This actor, who lives in the village, takes the part of the Castellan (Castillion)who attends the Prince of Monaco.

Roquebrune village at night - rue Moncollet

We are in rue Moncollet, the oldest street in the medieval village of Roquebrune. You can see this same shot taken in daylight by clicking on the link. You can also read about 'le poudinge' - the tertiary rock on which the village is built.

Walking around Roquebrune village at night is even more magical than during the day - you also never know who you might meet. Come back tomorrow and see who we met in this particular street.

Roquebrune village at night - the Château

This is the Place des Deux Frères in the medieval village of Roquebrune. We've just had dinner at this restaurant, La Grotte, which is cut deep into the rock itself. Above, you see the brightly lit crenelations of the donjon, built in 970.

Yesterday's photograph of Monaco - published on Monte Carlo Daily Photo - was taken from here.

Theme Day: Lines

An easy Theme Day this month. 'Lines' can be interpreted in so many ways - here you see lines of beads in a curtain at the foot of the Old Town of Menton. The lines of the building, the tiles, the spiky plants - even more lines.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how 164 other City Daily Photo bloggers have interpreted today's Theme and know all will be fascinating. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Summer's End - Attitude!

This photograph shows a clash of cultures. Menton often holds several events at once and in this case, the Plant Fair was held at the same time as a gathering of car enthusiasts - in particular cars sporting custom bodywork. I believe there was also a motorbike event on too.

These three are visiting Menton to display their cars or bikes - taking time out at the Plant Fair to smell the flowers.

Summer's End - Flirtation

A bench near to the sea in Menton. Don't you love the energy, the body language, the rapport of these three people.

Summer's End - the Hand - 2

This old house is diagonal to the Church of Saint Barthelemy in Gorbio. Peer closely at the centre of the door (or enlarge the photo) and you'll see yesterday's brass hand.

Summer's End - the Hand

A door knocker in Gorbio. Brass and woodworm.

Summer's End - Father Christmas

Oh no! Father Christmas already! It's still September, the sun in shining but a shop in the pedestrian street prepares...

Summer's End - Shelter

A few days ago I went up to the village with the intention of photographing the making of a film. The film is to be called Amer (bitter) and is being made by a Belgian film crew - the director lives, I believe, in Menton. As I walked towards the church, the rain started and in the smaller photograph you can see some of the crew running to get out of the rain. One of these guys slipped on the cobblestones but happily wasn't hurt and neither was the equipment he was carrying.

And where do you shelter in Gorbio village? That's easy, as you can see in the main photograph.

Summer's End - the Ivy

Dark creeping Ivy,
...bloom of ruins, tho art dear to me,
When, far from danger's way, they gloomy price
Wreathes picturesque around some ancient tree
That bows his branches by some fountain-side
Then sweet it is from summer suns to be,
Wish thy green darkness overshadowing me.

John Clare (1793-1864), 'To the Ivy'

A corner in Gorbio village.

Summer's End - Le Beausejour

We've seen Le Beausejour restaurant before but this photograph shows you a little of the interior. If you go through these doors to the back, there is an enormous terrace over-looking the valley. It's such a pretty, welcoming restaurant and the food is so good too.

Summer's End - the Priest

A charming gentleman on a visit to Gorbio village. He's sitting here outside a house on the main square. A priest with the Turkish Orthodox Church, he'd just walked down following a visit to the Church of St. Barthelemy.

Summer's End - the Spider

The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship - William Blake

Shutters on an old house in the medieval village of Gorbio. A metal spider with one leg missing.

Summer's End - Rain

Gorbio village yesterday and it's raining. We're looking down over Menton to the sea - not that you'd not know it in the gloom. I went up to the village to photograph a Belgian film crew and as I got there, the heaven's opened. Goodness knows, we desperately need rain. Pity for them tho.

And someone's washing is getting wetter by the minute.

P.S. That was yesterday. Today the sun is shining as per usual. I'd hate for anyone to worry...

Summer's End - the Jasmine

In need of some renovation and a coat of paint, but a building with charm, don't you think. And a jasmine determined to survive.

An old house at the foot of the Old Town of Menton.

Summer's End - the Kite

One of the stalls at the plant fair last weekend sold kites.

This little boy isn't actually flying the kite he's looking at. (see small photo) It's fixed to one of the rocks behind him - probably put there by the kite sellers as the stall was very near.

I think he wishes it was his kite though, don't you?

Summer's End - the Walls that Grow

Just in case you think you've landed in Jules' Rabaul or somewhere equally exotic - not so. This is Menton.

We are at the plant fair and this little cabanon has walls that are alive - it's planted with all sorts of vegetation. You can see the product used in the smaller photograph - also used for yesterday's squirrel.

Take a look at THE WEBSITE for other ways of using this product.

Summer's End - the Squirrel

Last weekend, Menton held the 18th Journées Méditerranéennes du Jardin on the Esplanade Francis Palmero, which is by the sea and at the foot of the Old Town - a beautiful setting. 50 exhibitors - plants, decoration, garden furniture - all fabulous and all asking to be bought. And packed with visitors and dogs and kids.

How about a squirrel that sprouts greenery? Not quite up to Abraham's amazing standard, I know you'll agree, but this one's for you, Abe.

Summer's End - Wind

As you can see it's windy in Menton at the moment - probably the edges of a Mistral from the Bouches-du-Rhône. I snapped this from my car yesterday when I got stuck in traffic driving along the seafront.

The wind is blowing this lady's hair - the sea is dancing.

The night before we had rain - the first since May - unfortunately it came with hailstones - not the best idea when the ground is so parched - still I'm not complaining.

Summer's End - Dusk on Les Sablettes

Time to go home.

Summer's End - la Farandole 2

As served at le Beausejour in Gorbio - voila! - la Farandole. You see a small barbajuan on the lower left of the plate (yes, the plate isn't a true square). Barbajuan is a speciality of this area, especially Menton, Roquebrune and Monaco. Click on the link to read more but basically it's a tart or small pie, filled with leeks, Swiss chard, spinach and ricotta cheese. Then you have beignets of courgette flowers and also of aubergines - sometimes there is a large shrimp or two, deep fried in the lightest batter. Because I don't eat meat, there is none on this plate but the Benauts' plates included slices of proscuitto. There's also salad, fruit and a wonderfully piquant dipping sauce.

All of which went down very well with a good bottle of Bandol rosé.

The Benauts have just left for Sestri Levante on the Ligurian coast of Italy. The dogs and I miss them already.

Summer's End - la Farandole 1

Monsieur et Madame Benaut from Adelaide Daily Photo continue to eat, drink and sleep their way through England, France and Italy, bringing pleasure and laughter to everyone they meet. Here they are at Le Beausejour restaurant in Gorbio village, near to Menton.

Le Beausejour has a first course speciality they call La Farandole, but at lunchtime, just that one course is enough - and that's what we had yesterday. La Farandole is, in fact, a traditional folk dance of the south of France.

La Farandole, served at Le Beausejour is made up of traditional local specialities, so do come back tomorrow to see what goodies we ate.

Summer's End - Salade Mélangée

Many of the stalls outside Menton market sell home grown produce. I always buy my salad from one particular lady who sells her home-grown fruit and vegetables. Here you see her mixed salad leaves. They are always so fresh and last for several days in the refrigerator. Buying in this way, you get a wonderful mix of flavours without having to buy six different varieties of lettuce or roquette (arugula in America) and throwing half of it away.

Summer's End - Succulents

A Jade plant and tumbling succulents brighten a tiny window at the entrance to the Old Town of Menton.

Summer's End - Les Girls

The main buzz of activity at night takes place around the Sablettes area of Menton but way down the beach towards Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the bars and restaurants have trouble attracting the crowds - so they bring on Les Girls. They parade around, dancing, more than happy to pose for photographs and guess what, the place is busy and buzzing. I wonder why?

If you are driving home along the Promenade du Soleil after a night out in Menton, suddenly the traffic slows and you get a free cabaret and naturally you arrive chez vous later than you intended.

(I look these photographs before I was so patiently taught to change White Balance settings, so apologies for the bright yellow light. )

Summer's End - Dusk over Solenzara Beach

It won't be long before the sun sets over Solenzara Beach. That's Cap Martin in the distance - and beyond that you'd find Monaco. But let's stay here...

Summer's End - the Look

The lower back seems to be a preferred place for a tattoo although that's not what the man in the plaid shirt is looking at...

Summer's End - the Scooter Dog

Meet Willy, the Berger Pyrénées (Pyrenean Shepherd Dog) who rides around Menton on a scooter with his owner, Cornelia - a charming German lady who gives French conversation classes in Menton. In this photograph, they were in Gorbio for the Blessing of the Animals.

This small sheepdog of the mountains of the Pyrénées is considered the oldest of the French herding dogs. They were used in concert with the large white sheep guardian dogs, the Great Pyrénées (Pyrenean Mountain Dog) of the region. The little dog herded the sheep. The big dog watched over them. The natural abilities of this shaggy shepherd are legend - flocks being entrusted to the two different dogs without a human handler. They were officially recognized by the French Kennel Club in 1921.

The breed is also called a Labrit in France. You see many in the south of France.

Summer's End - Russelia

A corner in Menton's Old Town brightened by a Russelia in a pot. Russelia Equisetiformis - also known as the Coral Plant - grows easily in the south of France although I don't have much luck in my garden. It originates from tropical America and Mexico and has a beautiful cascading form and colour that is so pleasing. I've also seen it in white and cream and bought both but neither survived.

Summer's End - the Sail Boat

Summer is coming to an end although you'd not know it if you walk along the Promenade du Soleil in Menton. Yes, it's just a little cooler but that is welcome. Many take advantage of the beach and sea but as the children have gone back to school, it's less crowded. September in Menton is a fabulous time.

Here's a shot taken just before 18.00h last Sunday. We're on a boat coming back from a day on the water in Italy - a repeat performance of 'The Boat Trip' that we shared in July. I'm shooting against the sun - Menton and the port of Garavan await us as we follow this sail boat into the harbour.