28 May 2009
27 May 2009
Street Theatre - Bimbo Circo
On every corner in Menton it seemed there was street theatre - here, at the Place du Cap, a circus act. These are a group of Italian children, Bimbo Circo, getting ready to perform on their mono-bikes.
Posted by Jilly at 07:12 15 comments
Labels: Fêtes
26 May 2009
Street Theatre - the Pedestrians
This is the finale of yesterday's Italian street theatre. The boy, lifted aloft, has a white face.
Note the two people walking in front of the sitting audience - the lady with the gold bag and the man with grey hair. Both oblivious, it seems, to what is going on.
Posted by Jilly at 07:38 13 comments
Labels: Fêtes
25 May 2009
Street Theatre - Blood
Nearly 700 children and adolescents took part in a day of street theatre recently. It was organised by the Service Education of Menton and called 'Rencontres Franco-Italiennes de Rue' and took place throughout the Old Town. The young actors came from Liguria, Piemont , the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes - which included, of course, Menton.
This young girl was part of an Italian group. I haven't a clue what it was all about but she was a good actress.
Note: the shop is the background is the Menton health shop for invalids - so she's in the right place!
Posted by Jilly at 07:03 16 comments
Labels: Fêtes
24 May 2009
Chuckeroon's Menton - Facade
Thank you so much to Peter, Nathalie, Richard and Chuckeroon for sending their photos and most of all for the good times we had together. It's been just fascinating seeing how these talented photographers see Menton, Roquebrune, Gorbio and Monte Carlo.
I learned so much - how to see the 'bigger' picture and not always focus on the detail. Seeing shadows and reflections. And also learning to remember when I've changed settings on my camera! Don't ask!
Thanks Guys, come back soon!
Tomorrow - normal service will be resumed...
Posted by Jilly at 07:31 11 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, The Old Town
23 May 2009
Richard's Menton - the Old Town
Posted by Jilly at 06:36 12 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, The Old Town
22 May 2009
Nathalie's Menton - the Beetle
Posted by Jilly at 07:15 11 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, Villages near to Menton: Gorbio
21 May 2009
Peter's Menton - La Mer
Posted by Jilly at 06:59 9 comments
Labels: Beach and Sea, Guest Photographers
20 May 2009
Chuckeroon's Menton - Erigeron karvinskianus
A long name for this small daisy-like plant photographed by Chuckeroon. You see it everywhere in the south of France, tumbling out of walls and seeding very easily. It's a very useful plant to fill gaps in a garden but beware, it can take over.
Posted by Jilly at 06:20 11 comments
Labels: Gardens, Guest Photographers
19 May 2009
Richard's Menton - the Parvis
The mosaic decoration on the parvis was created in 1757 by Honoré III and is made of white and black stones formed in diamond shapes to depict the weapons of the princes. The rounded 'H' was the initial of the sovereign.
A few years ago - maybe seven, maybe more - we had terrible rains in November, just endless, and some of the rampes were badly damaged. Access was forbidden for months and eventually restoration was complete. It has been done well although one can tell the difference between the original stones and the new ones - perhaps not a suprise considering the difference in age and wear.
Of course you need none of this information to enjoy Richard's photograph.
Posted by Jilly at 07:11 10 comments
Labels: Beach and Sea, Guest Photographers, The Old Town
18 May 2009
Nathalie's Menton - Alyssa
On our last day, we went up to the medieval village of Gorbio to see the baptism of two village children, Alyssa and Kylian. Here you see Nathalie's beautiful portrait of little Alyssa before the ceremony.
Posted by Jilly at 07:21 15 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, Villages near to Menton: Gorbio
17 May 2009
Peter's Menton - Bougainvillea
A painted, cracked wall in the medieval village of Roquebrune by Peter. A perfect backdrop to bougainvillea.
Posted by Jilly at 07:07 11 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, Villages near to Menton: Roquebrune-cap-Martin
16 May 2009
Chuckeroon's Menton - Place Honoré II
Bet you didn't know all this, Chuckeroon, when you took the photograph.
Posted by Jilly at 06:45 16 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, The Old Town
15 May 2009
Richard's Menton - Life on the Côte d'Azur
One of the many joys of life in Menton is sitting outside a bar watching the world go by...
Posted by Jilly at 07:01 20 comments
Labels: Dogs, Guest Photographers, People
14 May 2009
Nathalie's Menton - Kir Pétillant
In this photograph by Nathalie of Avignon, we are looking at Kir Pétillant - made with sparkling wine, as opposed to champagne, when it would be called Kir Royale. The flavours - lavande, coquelicot, rose and violette (lavender, poppy, rose and violet).
For lunch, we chose the restaurant's speciality, La Farandole, which you can see by clicking on the link.
Please visit Richmond-upon-Thames for Chuckeroon's photo of this drink. I think it went down rather well with the visitors!
Posted by Jilly at 07:13 15 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, Restaurants and Bars, Villages near to Menton: Gorbio
13 May 2009
Peter's Menton - the Postman
Some of you may remember the same postman last Christmas, when Rue Longue was still undergoing renovation. As you can see, in both photographs, he has the time of day for everyone - a good kind man.
Posted by Jilly at 07:04 21 comments
Labels: Guest Photographers, The Old Town
12 May 2009
Bloggers who climb Trees
What do bloggers do when they meet on the French Riviera? Why, they climb a 2000 year old olive tree in the medieval village of Roquebrune, of course!
In this ancient olive tree, meet, from left to right - Richard from Zurich, Nathalie from Avignon, Chuckeroon from Richmond-upon-Thames and Peter from Paris.
(Smaller photo: Richard, Nathalie, Peter, Chuckeroon)
For other views of this amazing tree and to read its history, please click on the link.
From tomorrow on this blog - and for the next couple of weeks - you'll be able to see photographs of Menton through the eyes of these talented photographers. Today, on Monte Carlo Daily Photo see Nathalie's vision of the casino.
Fabrizio from Turin was to have been here too but sadly, at the last minute, he couldn't make it. We missed you, Fabrizio and do hope you can make it next time.
Posted by Jilly at 07:24 30 comments
11 May 2009
May in Menton - Echium
Every year I show you this amazing plant so here is some of this year's growth for anyone who hasn't yet seen it. It grows wild in the south of France, seeds easily and is loved by bees and butterflies. It's called Echium 'Pride of Madeira.' It can get a bit leggy after a few years and sometimes gets so heavy it falls over. Time then to take cuttings for the next year.
Posted by Jilly at 07:21 17 comments
Labels: Gardens
10 May 2009
May in Menton - the Deckchair
First choose your place. Next organise your deckchair. Now lean back and enjoy...
It's 8.45 h. Menton is in the distance with Italy beyond.
Apologies for lack of comments. It's a Blogger's Weekend at Menton with much photography, eating, drinking and laughter going on - with Nathalie from Avignon, Peter from Paris, Richard from Zurich and Chuckeroon from Richmond upon Thames. News and photos of a great weekend - which still continues...will appear from Tuesday. Wish you were all here...
Posted by Jilly at 07:42 11 comments
Labels: Beach and Sea
09 May 2009
08 May 2009
07 May 2009
06 May 2009
May in Menton - the Knitter
We're in Roquebrune now. On the beach near to Cap Martin. No sand here.
This lady is well organised with her music and her knitting. You wouldn't want to be mixing sun oil with knitting, would you?
Posted by Jilly at 07:53 16 comments
Labels: Beach and Sea
05 May 2009
May in Menton - Moules...with Concentration
Steaming bowls of mussels, by the sea. Is there anything better? Look at the faces of those men, one on each table. Pure concentration. You'd better believe it - the French concentrate on their food. Me too!
Posted by Jilly at 07:17 18 comments
Labels: Restaurants and Bars
04 May 2009
May in Menton - the Biker
We're leaving Rue Longue for a short while because suddenly summer has arrived in Menton - at least for the moment...
I didn't know bikers looked like this. Did you?
Posted by Jilly at 10:13 27 comments
Labels: Beach and Sea
03 May 2009
Rue Longue - Arch beneath an Arch
Throughout the Old Town you find signs giving historical information on where you are. Very helpful it is too.
On the left you see part of one of these signs, showing an old arched doorway under an archway that stretches across the street to the other side. In the main photograph, you see the same viewpoint. Not much in the way of a change here..thank goodness.
The sign, by the way, was dirty from all the rain we had last month - next I'll walk around with a bucket.
Notice the beautiful old cobbles in the drawing and compare to the new road surface which really doesn't enhance the beauty of this ancient street.
Posted by Jilly at 07:39 9 comments
Labels: The Old Town
02 May 2009
Rue Longue -Singers Wanted!
There are three old posters stuck on doors along Rue Longue - all wanting singers. Here are two of them.
Interesting how the English word 'wanted' is yet another that has entered the French language.
Posted by Jilly at 09:43 14 comments
Labels: The Old Town
01 May 2009
Theme Day: Shadows...on Promenade le Corbusier
There is a magical walk from the point of Cap Martin to Monaco that used to be called le Sentier des Douaniers, but was later renamed Promenade le Corbusier in honour of the famous architect who lived in the cabanon he built along by the sea. He later drowned whilst swimming off the rocks. We will be featuring this most beautiful of walks (see small photo) and visiting Corbusier's cabanon on Menton Daily Photo later in the year.
Here is one of my dogs, Beau, enjoying the walk. He's a Bruno de Jura, one of six hunting breeds in Switzerland and ancestor of the Bloodhound - look at those long ears!
Today is Theme Day on CDP and the theme is Shadows. To see how over a hundred fellow-bloggers from around the world have interpreted this theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants. You will be surprised and delighted and entranced.
Posted by Jilly at 01:05 42 comments
Labels: Daily Photo Theme Day:
30 April 2009
Rue Longue - Porte Saint-Julien
Rue Longue has two medieval portes, one at each end. Here we see Porte Saint-Julien at the eastern end of the street - ie nearest to Italy. The original name was Porta Julia. With both entrances closed, the town was protected from invaders.
Later, in 1687, a chain barred the entrance and a tax had to be paid to the Count of Ventimiglia by merchants who wanted to sell their wares in Menton. This import duty was known as the 'droit de chaîne.'
Posted by Jilly at 08:03 11 comments
Labels: The Old Town
29 April 2009
Rue Longue - Number 56
Two signs, and three decidedly different periods in the history of this house in Rue Longue.
The red and white sign, and the most recent, is of a now defunct Halal grocery shop. Alongside, an inscription on the wall. This is the most interesting inscription in all of Rue Longue - even considering Gaspard de Bottini's house at no. 129.
There are three parts to this inscription: the first being the monogram of Christ which is in the centre. The second, the initials of the proprietor (B.T.) in 1542 and the third, the initials of another proprietor (M.M.) in 1855.
As you can see this building is in desperate need of some T.L.C.
For those of you interested in the history of Menton, do take a look at Eddy's blog, D'Hier a Aujourd'hui. Eddy is the husband of Catherine, who many know from her lovely Just the Five of Us blog. Eddy and Catherine have an apartment in Menton that they visit during most school holidays. Their absolute love of Menton shows in all their postings about the town. Eddy's blog features old postcards alongside a photograph of that same place today and commentary giving us the history. Fascinating it is. Do take a look.
Posted by Jilly at 09:53 12 comments
Labels: The Old Town