Dogs at Dusk

This lady is exercising her dogs on the beach. She's in front of the private beaches, but the entire area along the water is open to all. I'm not at all sure she has the right to exercise her dogs here - there are three special beaches which allow dogs and I don't believe this isn't one of them. However it's dusk and this is France and rules are made to be broken! She wears a wide strong belt contraption around her waist and the three Huskies drag her along, as you can see in the photo below. Her fourth dog runs free. This was one joyous lady with four very happy dogs.

Cheek by jowl

Still on the discussion of public versus private beaches, here you see, in the foreground, a small part of a crowded public beach. In the background, you can see the coloured sunshades of the various private beaches, one of which you saw yesterday - and another the day before. You can see another view of this public beach here.

Private and public beaches

Here's a photograph of another private beach. Following on from yesterday's post on the subject, and the resulting comments on the correctness of there being such a thing as a private beach - with which I totally agree, I have added the following paragraph to yesterday's post but here it is to save you looking back.

To clarify the term 'private beach' - there are nearly a dozen private beaches in Menton, where you rent sun beds, have bar service and can eat lunch in the restaurant. In spite of the many private beach areas, there are many free beaches (such as the Plage des Sablettes). However, the entire beach front along the water - private or public - is open to public access.

The cost of hiring a sunbed for the day is around 10 euros - some a little more - and less for half a day, of course. Many consider this well worth it for the comfort and space and convenience of the bar/restaurant/toilets. The public beaches are always very crowded in summer. I'll post a photograph of a public beach tomorrow.

Plage l'Helios

Some of the beaches in Menton are private - you can hire a sunbed for the day, have drinks brought to you, you can eat in the restaurant - there are showers available. And best of all, you have a view of the beautiful facade of the Old Town from the beach.

To clarify the term 'private beach' - there are nearly a dozen private beaches in Menton, where you rent sun beds and have bar service and can eat lunch in the restaurant. In spite of the many private beach areas, there are many free beaches (such as the Plage des Sablettes). However, the entire beach front along the water - private or public - is open to public access.

Fancy a coffee?

We're back in Sospel today - the mountain village 20 kilometres from Menton. Here's the Bar Central. Fancy a café? A biere?

Port de Garavan

There are two harbours in Menton. The port of Garavan is nearest to the Italian border and is where this photograph was taken. Don't you love to walk about a port and look at the boats and the boating people?

A stroll at dusk

It may be that this photograph isn't very sharp. I took it at dusk and have much to learn on this camera. Menton used to be known (and perhaps still is) as a town of the troisème age (in another words: a retirement place). If you look at the strollers in this photo, you'll probably agree. However, whilst people do retire to Menton, it's still very much a vibrant town with much to do for every age group who lives here. Families comes to Menton on holiday. Young people looking for more nightlife go to Monaco or Cannes or Juan-les-Pins.

Beer Shop!

You don't expect to see a 'Beer Shop' in the Old Town on Menton - especially one that opens at 5 in the morning. This house is not far from the one with the hat on the gate! Perhaps there's a connection. You can see more of the front of the house below - notice the gargoyle above the door. I wonder who lives here?

Daily Photo Theme Day: The Colour Red

In choosing 'something red' from Menton, I was spoiled for choice: restaurants with red tablecloths, baker's shops with a red oleander outside, red clothes hanging out to dry from an ancient window - and all prettier than this photograph - but somehow the word tabac takes me back to my first trip to France from England, where I lived at the time. I was 18 and went to Paris and then took le train bleu to Cannes. That's when I fell in love with France and why I came to live here 16 years ago and why I have absolutely no intention of leaving - ever.

Do please visit other Daily Photo bloggers who have seen red in their city. A total of 100 are participating in today's Theme Day. You can also take a look at the Daily Photo portal.

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A swim anyone?

We're walking down the Old Town today, not up! - not much further and we can jump in the sea. Ready?

Dieu X deux

Walking up to the top of the Old Town the other day, this shot presented itself - one I'd not seen before - showing the steeples of both churches. This was taken from the cemetery.

'Don't forget your hat, dear!'

You can imagine it, can't you? 'I've put your hat on the gate, darling!' Does this hat belong to an old man, whose wife worries about his bald head burning in the Menton heat? Who do you think owns this hat? I don't know the answer - just snapped it walking up through the Old Town to the cemetery. Below you see more of the house.

Clean up time

This craft is owned by the water company so I presume the operator is picking up rubbish and so cleaning up the sea for the bathers. The truth is I'm not really sure but can't think of another reason the water company would be here. Can you?

The coconut man!

This young man, with his bright clothes and straw hat, is selling slices of iced coconut on this family beach, which is always crowded in summer. You can see the facade of the Old Town on the far side.

Pur-sang Arabe - 2

No - I didn't take this photograph. Let me introduce you to my friend, fellow dog-lover, and first Guest Photographer, Katie de Gea. Katie lives in the Var and is a brilliant artist and web designer. Take a look at her work on the Pension Milou website.

Not only did we spend two brilliant days at the Arabian horse show but with Katie, I discovered areas of Menton I didn't know existed. She also explained the intricacies of my camera (a Canon Ixus 850 IS) so hopefully, what I've learned will be evident in future photograhs! Katie's camera is a Canon EOS 350D. Thanks for a great weekend, Katie!

Pur-sang Arabe

Every year Menton hosts a prestigious two-day show - the Menton Arabian Horse Championships. To see these magnificent horses strutting their stuff on the beach and in front of the backdrop of the beautiful Old Town was mind-blowing. I have to say I had tears in my eyes watching these amazing creatures. This year there were horses from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Italy, Qatar, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and of course, France.

Gorbio village - 2

This shows Gorbio village from the other side - see yesterday's post. Below you see the main road to the village from Menton, taken from the car window. The light could have been better for these photos and one day, I'll get it right! In fact there's another good shot to be had on a walking track that goes to one of the chapels - more for the future, when I get my walking shoes on. All around Gorbio is great walking country and many visitors come here to do just that - walk.

Gorbio village

Gorbio is one of several hill villages near to Menton. You can photograph Gorbio from either side - indeed from several angles and tomorrow I'll show you a photograph taken from the other side of the village, where the houses tumble down the hillside, rather like Menton Old Town - but smaller of course. This is more or less the view I see when I walk up my track to the mailbox. The large house on the left is the original Maison de Maitre. Sometimes I wish I lived in the old village itself - far greater sense of community I'm sure - much lugging of wine up the steep walking street though (no cars can get into the village, the roads are far too narrow) - so hardly the place to look after other people's dogs, which is what I do.

Stairway to heaven

Stone steps just off the cobbled road that leads to the top of the Medieval village of Gorbio.

Le Bastion, musée Jean Cocteau

The Bastion is a small fort, built in 1619 by Honoré II, Prince of Monaco, to defend the bay of Menton. Jean Cocteau, after he had decorated the Salle des Mariages, had the idea of restoring the abandoned fort as a setting for his work. The staircase, tapestry, pebble decoration were all designed by Cocteau himself. The Bastion is situated below the Old Town and in this photograph you are looking towards Italy. You can see photos of the inside of the building and some of Cocteau's work - here.

Discussions are now underway for a purpose-built Jean Cocteau museum which is to be built in front of the main market building. Many think this a good idea except the people who play boules - their club house and the area they play boules will disappear. They are anxiously waiting to hear where they will be rehoused. Progress?