The rain has gone, the sun is back and at the moment, it's windy - just the edges of the Mistral that comes down the Rhone valley but still it's blowing like crazy. I'm surprised this photo worked as I was being blown sideways and no way was the camera still - just shows how important a camera's 'image stabilizer' can be.
The olive farm is on the right of the track - we saw it yesterday and you see a shady photo of the track in the pic on the left.
The olive harvest is in and it's been fabulous this year, but of course there are always a few more olives to collect. In the last photo you see the olive lady pulling up the orange netting so the fallen olives arrive in one area. Then she bends over to pile them into her bucket.
This lady is not a spring chicken and this is hard work.
The houses and greenhouses you see in the background of the last photo are below the village. You either live in the village of Gorbio or the commune of Gorbio, which is below.
Two more bends and we are in the village. Had we come on the main road we'd have covered 2.5 to 3 kilometres - it's a very windy road. The donkey track is much more direct, we've walked almost straight up the hillside, a few twists and turns but not many - the problem being we've climbed and climbed and that's tiring. I don't know the exact length of this walk, maybe 1.5 kilometres, maybe less - it just feels like more.
At the top of the part of the track in the main photo is a cross - presumably to commemorate someone who died. Often you see wild flowers fixed to this cross in summer. And in the smaller photograph, we see the village ahead and on the right the orange nets that collect the olives. This is one of the two olive farms in the village - it's also a camp site.
Tomorrow, although the walk is over, there will be someone for you to meet before we enter the village - and she is not a stone's throw from where we are now.
We plod on. The track has narrowed, many fallen rocks, so single file here, as you see in the smaller photo. And we follow the orange arrow - ever upwards, upwards.
Tomorrow, we are nearly there...really.
Bent double and walking slowly, this old man enters the medieval village of Gorbio, a sack on his back. Scenes like this make our world of computers and iPhones seem remote yet Gorbio is only
a few kilometres from Monaco, where we can find as much consumerism as we want. One of the joys of living here is being able to experience both - the simple life and the more glamorous one.
Look at the path that's been here for centuries - walked on by countless donkeys - the lifeline to the village. Don't you love the patina, the weathered shapes, the rounded edges, the moss, the feeling of great age. The walls are falling, rocks have tumbled, but these will eventually be restored by the Mairie.
We're about half way and the photo on the left gives an idea. Look back and see how far we've come (actually we've come much further than you see). Now look up - the track gets steeper.
This series continues on Sunday - so we have time for a rest - tomorrow we'll have a small celebration - do come back...
We continue our walk - a glance to our right and we see this small ruin - perhaps once a shepherd's dwelling.
In the smaller photo you can see we are looking down on the main road that runs from Menton to Gorbio - the tumbledown building on the other side.
It always astounds me that we are in the depths of the countryside here yet only 11 or so kilometres from the buzz of Monte Carlo.
We're on our way. The donkey track rises steadily - later it gets steeper. Notice the red and white tape, warning us that part of the track has fallen down the hillside. Don't go too near the edge! The Mairie intends restoring this ancient track which is great news.
You can see the individual steps going up the track, although some have sunk a little over the centuries. In the old days, this track was the only way in and out of the village of Gorbio, with absolutely everything carried on the backs of the donkeys.
In the last photo, you see one of the many wooden signs you'll find throughout the Alpes-Maritimes. These signs for walkers are very helpful.
Update on Mama Mia and Mistral on Postcards today.
We've turned left at the top of my track and we are walking along the main road towards the beginning of the donkey track. (See smaller photo.)
High up on the left you see Gorbio village - that's where we are going. We're looking at the back of the Château des Comptes de Malaussene, not the normal view we see of the village. Please click on the link to see Gorbio village from the other side.
In the main photo we see the gated entrance to a judge's house (this was restored a few years ago) and to the right, just by the pale green structure is the entrance to the donkey track.
Tomorrow - we are on our way.
Today, we start the walk to the village of Gorbio via the old donkey path - at one time the only access to this perched medieval village. And no, we are not yet on it, we are simply on the track leading from my house. We've had an encouraging cup of coffee, we've got our walking shoes on - and off we go. We've already walked up one part of my track (much steeper than the part you see here) and very good for those thigh muscles, ladies! When we get to the top we'll turn left, walk past the mail box and be on our way.
Tomorrow - we take a look at the village from below.
The Old Town of Menton, every perched village near to Menton - all are crammed with little pathways, covered walkways, passages - here is a covered passageway in the medieval hill village of Roquebrune. I posted a closer shot of this a while back. The sign on the right shows where the writer and diplomat, Romain Gary, lived. (Please click on the link to see that photograph and read more.)
By the way, in case you wonder why there is a bottle of water on the street. It's to stop dogs peeing against doorways - the idea being that the reflection puts them off. You see plastic water bottles in every hill village.
Today, being the 1st of the month, it's Theme Day on City Daily Photo (Paths & Passages) and as always there will be a myriad of wonders to see on blogs throughout the world. Please click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Tomorrow: - we walk the old Donkey Track to Gorbio village.
If you want to learn to skate, you'll surely fall.
I doubt any of these children will grow up to be Olympic skaters as Menton has an ice-rink over the Christmas/New Year period only - but one thing is sure, the ice rink has to be in one of the most beautiful positions imaginable - right by the Mediterranean, with the hills of Italy in the distance.
Le foot - as football is called in France. Every little boy's dream and more fun than any of the rides on offer at the fair.
In the background of the main photograph you see some of the pots on sale from Tunisia.
(These photographs were taken on the 4th January at the Christmas & New Year Fair)
We're down from the Big Wheel and walking around the Fair. This adventurous little girl wears a harness and so is supported by the taut wire.
We're high up on the Big Wheel and looking towards the steeples of the Old Town. Instead of looking up at those palms, they are below us. And notice the arches in the bottom centre - they lead to Place des Herbes.
We see a corner of the beautiful Moorish market building on the left. High up on the left, we see the cemetery - enlarge the photo and we can just see the top of beautiful Russian chapel. And on the right, the autoroute which would put us in Italy in just a few minutes.
We're way up in the Big Wheel and this time looking in the opposite direction to yesterday's photograph. About three quarters of the way along this sweep of bay, Menton becomes Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Cap Martin is the cape jutting out to sea at the end of the bay. Monaco is beyond.
I'm so used to photographing from ground level, that to me this bay looks so different. And of course more Matchstick Men and Women (see yesterday's post for the YouTube video).
We are looking down on the ice-rink set up for the Christmas and New Year Fair. You see Italy in the distance. (Photos taken on the 4th January)
Doesn't it remind you of L. S. Lowry's wonderful paintings of matchstick men and women?
Remember the tribute song to Lowry - 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs?'
If you don't know Lowry - and even if you do - do click on the YouTube link (above) to see many of his marvellous paintings and hear the tribute song written and sung by Brian & Michael in 1978. Lowry died in 1976. The song was 3 weeks at No. 1 and 19 weeks in the charts.
Come fly with me! We're going up in the big wheel to see Menton from the air.
A couple of years ago we had a bigger and therefore higher wheel in Menton. This one is a replica of an ancient wheel and is only 20 metres high.
It costs 2.5 euros for four rotations and we've got a whole section to ourselves as there aren't many people wanting to ride today. Go on - get in - off we go...
A corner of Le Balico, my favourite restaurant in Menton.
The main photo was taken with a flash - too much bright colour - and so perhaps better in B & W.
The smaller one (a slightly different shot and showing the 'Winter in Monte Carlo' poster), was taken without flash - it's slightly blurry but it has a much softer, gentler look than the flashed photo.
Which do you prefer?
Note: Since posting this, Le Balico has been sold and is now under new management.
