Facade - 2

You've seen shots of the Old Town before. Here's another I took today. I'm quite pleased with this one. Now to get out to sea to get an even better shot... This is taken from a different place and from a different angle to Facade.

Cimetière du Trabuquet

This photograph was taken from the same level as the main cemetery, which is above the Old Town. Here you see another cemetery, the Cimetière du Trabuquet which is higher still and above Garavan, another part of Menton. I've not yet visited this cemetery, but I will and then, hopefully, so will you. I like cemeteries, find them fascinating places. Do you?

Gorbio Village - Bar Les Terrasses 2

Here's a wider view of the village 'place' and Bar Les Terrasses that you saw the other day.

Dogs on beaches

Dogs are allowed on only two beaches in Menton - this is the entrance to one of them, which is just in front of the casino. In the background you see Cap Martin. Are dogs allowed on beaches in your city/country?

Détente

We're back in the centre of Menton today. Not the Old Town tho. This is in the centre of town. The Mairie (Town Hall) stands at the end of this covered area, which is duplicated on the other side of the road. Here you'll find little restaurants and an hotel. I found it because I noticed a little dachshund had come out of the hotel and was walking along the main road. I was concerned. I went into the hotel and asked if the dachshund belonged to them. Oh yes, they said - he'll come back. Hopefully he did. The main road is very busy.

Gorbio Village - Bar Les Terrasses

There are three restaurants in Gorbio - this one is also very much a bar where you can pop in for a café, a Ricard or a biere and chat to the locals. The owner's wife keeps the village shop. The restaurant has a Corscian menu - often sanglier stew (wild boar) is available. The waiter is a wonderful old boy with barely a tooth in his head and a wonderfully wild moustache. Gorbio, which is just above Menton attracts many walkers so apart from locals, you'll find tourists during the season, with their heavy boots and their sticks. I live 2.5 kilometres below the village (by road) but there is a donkey track I can walk up which takes about 10 or 15 minutes depending on how energetic I'm feeling! Once upon a time all the produce, building materials, everything - was taken to this medieval hill village by donkey using this track.

Facade

This shot of Menton Old Town was taken one morning just near the Italian border before popping across to shop. It was misty and I was disappointed in all the photographs I took. The wizard himself, Abraham Lincoln, very kindly brought it back to life for me. As I've said before I love this facade of jumbled buildings. I must get out on a boat and take a photograph for you. I have a friend with a boat in Menton who is forever asking me but of course there is never time for a day trip out because of the dogs I care for - it's a tough life...

Underneath the arches

If you look at the posting from two days ago, you'll see these are the same arches taken at dusk. It's nice to sit under them: wining, dining and enjoying a balmy evening.

Theme Day: A view from my room

Sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am to have a view of the Mediterranean - alright it's only a glimpse - but also the countryside around. The hillside to the right in this photo is densely wooded and full of birds and other wildlife - all of which continues to amaze me, situated as I am, only 11 kilometres from the high-density of Monte Carlo. My neighbour, just above me, keeps pet sheep.

So if you come to visit, we'll be sitting at this table with a bottle of something very drinkable between us. Probably an aperitif before dining in Menton or Gorbio.

To see other views from other rooms around the world, please click on the links below.

Seattle (WA), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Toruń, Poland - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Madison (WI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Omaha (NE), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stockholm, Sweden - Grenoble, France - Lubbock (TX), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Hyde, UK - Joplin (MO), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Kansas City (MO), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Manila, Philippines - Sydney, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - London, UK - Chandler (AZ), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Singapore, Singapore - Hamburg, Germany - Sydney, Australia - Tenerife, Spain - Moscow, Russia - Lyon, France - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Evry, France - Hayle, UK - Mumbai, India - Kitakami, Japan - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - La Antigua, Guatemala - Paderborn, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Madrid, Spain - Lyon, France - Selma (AL), USA - Shanghai, China - Baziège, France - Cologne (NRW), Germany - North Bay (ON), Canada - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Stayton (OR), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Hong Kong, China - Trier, Germany - Joensuu, Finland - Paris, France - Greenville (SC), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Cork, Ireland - Bastia, France - Vancouver, Canada - Brookville (OH), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia

Lunch near the market

Lunch time near the market. This restaurant specialises in seafood and is in Place aux Herbes.

Spending a penny

You probably know what this is but if you don't, it's a public loo. You have to put 30 centimes in the slot and the curved door opens to a self-cleaning lavatory. This facility is just opposite the sea and behind it, you'll see St. John's, the Anglican church in Menton. You can see a better photograph of the church here.

Really so sorry I've not commented lately. After the 10 hour drive from a crazy busy dog show (which I'll write about on my Postcards blog) I now have a dreadful sore throat and cold. Collected my wonderful new car yesterday and promptly bashed it today! I'm not a happy camper. The car is automatic and unfortunately it doesn't hold in Drive - just slips back down my very steep track. Volkswagen tell me the slope is too steep to hold the car. They might have told me this when I ordered the damn thing! Don't ask, just don't ask.... but I will get around to comments soon and try and make up for my absence.

Street vendor

This is typical of a street vendor in Menton - usually from north Africa. Here I love that he's grabbed a seat from the bakery/bar next door. Many sell illegal copies of branded named sunglasses, bags and wallet. However, these may not be copies as there seem to be rather a lot for him to whip up and off ground if the police walk by.

Another look...

You've seen photographs of both the left and right facades in previous posts. On the right is the Basilique Saint- Michel. The construction of this church started in 1640 under the reign of Honoré II, Prince of Monaco and lasted for several centuries. The façade was altered in 1819 in the style and spirit of the 17th Century. This outside area will be hidden by raised seating in August, when the Menton Music Festival takes place.

(Just walked in the door - thanks so much for everyone who has commented whilst I've been away. Will try and catch up over the next few days - now it's wine time after a 10 hour drive and holds up for snow at the Gottard pass in Switzerland!)

Roller blader

This child was taking a rest outside a shop in the pedestrian street of Menton.

A glass of vino?

This is a new wine bar - only been open a month - is in Place aux Herbes.

Dinner at Le Balico

Taken from a table at Le Balico the other evening. Expect more photos of Le B as it's a restaurant I really like. I posted a photo yesterday of this lovely square where you eat under the trees.

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

Place aux Herbes

This is the Place aux Herbes - on the right is Le Balico, my favourite Menton restaurant. The plane trees, now in full leaf, give the square shade and a chance to get away from the heat - and already it's very hot, and goodness, only May.

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I'm leaving for the north of France to go to a dog show - the Euro-OES-Show in Gerardmer. (OES = Old English Sheepdog) Hope, with luck, to be able to post each day from the hotel computer. However, forgive me, but I won't be able to comment. Back on Monday night. woof woof

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

Jumbled

A very small part of the jumble of buildings that makes up the Old Town.

Flaky paint

This doorway was barely seen in an earlier posting - Service du Patrimoine. The shutters could do with a lick of paint and the door could be polished but really, it's nice as it is, don't you think?

Window decor

Presumably the owner of this apartment never closes the shutters. Washing is hung out to dry on the lines near the window-sill. You'll notice the pegs. This apartment is just above l'Occitan, a restaurant near to the market in the Old Town. On reflection, it probably belongs to the restaurant owners, hence the decoration to jolly up the look of the restaurant facade below.