Ventimiglia - the Wild Kittens

Wild kittens under the footbridge we saw the other day. Mother cat looks up, never taking her eyes off them.

People had thrown down food and one lady stood for at least half an hour just staring at them.

Ventimiglia - the Conversation

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

“There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for."

~ James Nathan Miller

Ventimiglia Market - Scarves

You want a scarf? They have a scarf. One of the many stalls in Ventimiglia's market.

In the smaller photo, a small part of the market, before it got busy.

The market is huge. It starts at the main bridge, runs alongside the river until it meets the sea and then continues for a long way along the beaches. It has a large section going inland too. When it gets busy you can barely move. All part of the fun.

Ventimiglia Market - Table Linen

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

Ventimiglia's Friday market is famous. There are acres of stalls selling everything you can imagine from sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese to handbags, shoes, clothes, table-clothes, coffee machine - I could go on and on - as does the market.

Gone though are the days of picking up a 'copy' handbag - a fake Gucci or Chanel. You used to be able to go to a specific stall and hidden under the counter were the fakes, and very good they were too. Now, the police have really tightened up on this and it's not only the sellers that get in trouble. If you buy a copy handbag and are stopped at the border, beware...you will get a massive fine.

In this photo, you'll see all sorts of table linen for sale and just beyond, a stall selling kitchen appliances.

Ventimiglia: About Turn

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We are on the same foot bridge as yesterday - this time facing the sea.

Do take a look at Catherine's blog The Five of Us for something most unusual on this footbridge. Welcome back to blogging, Catherine. You have been very much missed.

Ventimiglia - the River

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

Ventimiglia is just 7 kilometres from Menton, across the border into Liguria, Italy. First stop is the small village of Latte, and next the town of Ventimiglia which has an amazing Friday market. People come from miles around to this market and over the next few days we'll take a look.

When you live in a border town like Menton it's as easy to hop across the border to shop, as to go to the local supermarket. I often shop in Latte or Ventimiglia.

We are standing on the footbridge which crosses the river, looking upstream from the sea towards the Old Town and the valley of the Roya.

Hanging out to Dry

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

A wire fence in the medieval village of Gorbio.

“Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion a child's loss of a doll and a king's loss of a crown are events of the same size”



~ Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910)

The Accordionist Plays

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We've found an outside table in a small bar in a side street of Ventimiglia. We're drinking a glass of rosé and are waiting on our bruschetta to arrive when who should come along but the accordionist we met yesterday.

The Accordionist

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We are in Ventimiglia in Italy today - just across the border. This accordionist is about to walk around the bars and restaurants where he'll play and then hope for a few coins.

Remember those distorting mirrors at the Fun Fairs? The slim lady on the left is somewhat larger on the right...

Menton's Pedestrian Street

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

October and still so many people. Visitors, locals, all out shopping, busy and living their lives.

Theme Day: Contrast at the Procession Votive

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

It's Theme Day once again and the subject is 'Contrast.' Here we have the contrast of a medieval man and his modern daughter and of course, the contrasts in the photo itself - taken at the Procession Votive in Roquebrune Village. Papa played a scribe.

To read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467, please click on the link.

Don't miss other CDP bloggers take on this Theme - well over 100. You'll love the incredible talent and imagination that speaks of the CDP community. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Shutter decor

"Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together"

~ Carl Zwanzig

Layers

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

Shrek: Ogres are like onions.

Donkey: They stink?

Shrek: Yes. No.

Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.

Shrek: No.

Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.

Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers. (sighs)

Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions.

The Veolia Boat

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We are standing not far from the Italian border looking towards the Old Town of Menton. This little bay provides protection from jellyfish with a net and the man in the boat is checking to ensure there are no holes in the netting and that the water is clean.

Veolia is the name of the water company - provider of household water but also in charge of keeping the sea clean.

Procession Votive - Joseph of Arimathea

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The procession is over. I made my way through the crowds and started walking down the donkey track to Menton and there, alone, I saw this man taking a rest, leaning against the village walls. He looked pensive and interestingly wasn't wearing the bright colours of the other participants. 'What part did you take?' I asked. 'Joseph of Arimathea,' he said.

Joseph of Arimathea is apparently the man who donated his prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus. Click to read more.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

This the last day of the Procession Votive -thankyou so much to everyone who followed the procession with me.

Procession Votive - Time to Reflect

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The procession is over. Time for a welcome bottle of water, to chat, to relax, to reflect on a job well done. Note the helmet stuffed with newspaper in the smaller photo.

Procession Votive - La Chapelle de la Pausa - Inside

This chapel is tiny. Really. A few steps and you've covered the width or length of it, Take a look at the exterior in yesterday's post. And of course it was crowded with people, not a chance of using a tripod of even resting the camera somewhere.

So here it is. Frescoes everywhere. I love it. Do you?

Procession Votive - La Chapelle de la Pausa

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

La Chapelle de la Pausa is where the Procession Votive ends. I took these photos earlier in the day, the iron gate to this tiny chapel is closed but it's been decorated with bunches of flowers to celebrate the occasion. The chapel was built in the 15th century at the time of the plague of 1467 and in response to the prayers of the village being answered. The plague passed them by.

I've walked past this chapel hundreds and hundreds of times and have never been able to gain access to see the beautiful frescoes that we can almost see beyond the iron gates.

Tomorrow - the gates are opened and we enter.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the Golden Effigy

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The Procession Votive has arrived at the Chapelle de la Pausa - see smaller photo.

Today, another look at the rather wonderful golden effigy. In previous posts we've seen it from the rear.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - Almost There

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The Procession Votive, followed by villagers and visitors, is now on the final push towards the Chapelle de la Pausa.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the Young Photographer

Emotion, wonder, concentration as the Procession Votive passes.

Does the young photographer's 'thumbs up' signify she got a good shot?

Procession Votive - the Silhouette

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The crowd is following the effigy we saw yesterday. Notice the tiny silhouette of crown and cherubs which has already passed through the archway.

You can see the crown and cherubs on top of the effigy in the smaller photo.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - Careful now!

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

This is the final part of the procession before we leave the village and start the walk down to the Chapelle de la Pausa.

The golden effigy has to be carried through this medieval entrance to the village without damage. It is lowered and, as in the main photo, carried through with great care.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the Spectators

Looking down as the procession approaches, these two ladies are obviously enjoying the spectacle.

This photograph surprised me when I eventually saw it on the screen. The lady on the left is the double of my maternal grandmother. Perhaps it's simply the shape of her face and her hairstyle? It shocked me though. I'd clicked so quickly and not noticed her features when I took the shot.

I love taking photographs but then there is the moment to see the result, sometimes pleasing, often disappointing and occasionally a personal surprise like this. Trying to imagine my grandmother in the south of France doesn't work though - she lived a very different life.

Procession Votive - the Archway

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

This is the same scene as yesterday but now they are leaving the Medieval village and are about to walk through the ancient archway that leads to the Chemin de Menton, en route to the Chapelle de la Pausa - our destination.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the Effigy

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The crucifixon is over. The effigy of Christ is carried through the village.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive which dates back to 1467.

Procession Votive - Mary

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

The strong Mediterranean face of this beautiful woman seems so right to take the part of Mary or Mary Magdalen.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive in Roquebrune village - dating back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the Cross

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

As the procession continued through the village, it was hard not to be moved - regardless of religion - when Jesus appeared, trying to carry the massive cross and being beaten as he did so.

There were four young men portraying Christ - all wearing wigs, of course, and all portraying different events in his life.

Why the costumes are so bright, I don't know but it made for a very theatrical experience and was so well done.

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive in Roquebrune village - dating back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the King

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

What I love about this Procession is that the players - all villagers - take their parts very seriously. No one fools around.

Here we see King Herod or is it Caesar?

If you've come to this series for the first time today, please click to read the history of the Procession Votive in Roquebrune village - dating back to 1467.

Procession Votive - the Hat

Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

A young spectator at the Procession Votive.

"And all your future lies beneath your hat."
~ John Oldham