La Ronde des Plages - the Children

The Menton Marathon Club recently organised a 10 kilometre run - La Ronde des Plages.

Before we get on to the big boys' run, first: the children's races. There was a 1.5 kilometre run for the 6 - 10 year olds and then a 3 km run for the 11 to 15 year olds.

In the main photo, they've finished the run and are queuing to get their medals. Not all are happy with their efforts though, as you see by the expression on the boy in the black tee-shirt.

In the smaller photo, a father rubs oil into his daughter's legs and in the last photo, they are off!

Rotten

Menton is famous for the Fête du Citron which takes place in February and many of Menton's streets are lined with orange trees.

Now the oranges are rotting on the trees, a few have fallen, but it always surprises me how long they hold on. These trees, which will be trimmed soon, line each side of the Jardins Biovès - alongside the plane tree we saw the other day.

I presume they are not harvested for consumption because they are such a bitter variety - also they'd be polluted by the cars that drive past them. And of course, they are such a beautiful symbol for Menton that the authorities probably like them to be visible for as long as possible.

Tomorrow, get your running shoes on, we've a 10 kilometres run along the beaches.

Old Wall, Old Man

He's old and uses a stick but it wouldn't surprise me if this gentleman is pretty healthy. Why? Because he lives in the Old Town of Menton and so has to walk up and down steps and slopes each day. It's the same for those who live in the surrounding hill villages. They have no choice but to walk.

He's sitting opposite the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs in the Place de l'Eglise, which adjoins the Parvis Saint-Michel - hence the beautiful mosaic beneath his feet.

Later...my buddy in Ohio wrote and asked if I'd tried this in Black and White. I had but decided to leave it in colour - to me Menton is all about the wonderful colours. Having said that, I do like it in B and W. What do YOU think? Which do you prefer?

Watering Cans for the Departed

Watering cans and a cloth - essential care for the graves in Gorbio's cemetery. The sign talks about abandoned or expired concessions.

The Plane Trees of France

The plane trees of France. Apart from Paris, one of my first memories of la France was as a teenager, driving down to the French Riviera. It took two or three days as we drove through tiny villages, stopping for long lazy lunches in the sun. There were no autoroutes in those days.

Narrow country roads, lined with plane trees - I've never forgotten - the beginning of my love affair with France.

Here's one of those wonders in the Jardin Biovès in Menton.

The Bay of Garavan

Taken from the Old Cemetery, we are looking down on the Sablettes beach. Further along, we see the Port of Garavan and just beyond, Italy. The large square area, just before the port, is called the Stade and will soon be used when Menton welcomes the beautiful pure-blood Arabian horses for their annual Championship Show. Out of shot, and to our right, is the Old Port.

Parking Place

The back wall of a private parking place just below the Monastery of l'Annonciade in Menton.

Chess à la Carte - the Winner!

Here are the two young players we met yesterday. The winner showing his delight in winning. The pair of them never stopped playing and having the best fun.

Chess à la Carte - the Young Players

This young man and his friend (see the last photo) played for hours, sometimes here with the large pieces - and sometimes at a table, against the clock and always with boundless enthusiasm.

'Every Chess Master was once a beginner'

- Chernev

Chess à la Carte

A sunny day in les Jardins Biovès, 20 chess boards and you have 'Chess à la Carte.' An opportunity for anyone, young or old, experienced in playing Chess or not, to participate in an informal Chess tournament.

“You sit at the board and suddenly your heart leaps. Your hand trembles to pick up the piece and move it. But what Chess teaches you is that you
must sit there calmly and think about whether it’s really a good idea
and whether there are other better ideas”
-Stanley Kubrick

The Basse Corniche

This is part of the Basse Corniche - the lower road - between Monaco and Menton. We are in part of Roquebrune-cap-Martin, waiting at temporary traffic lights, which is allowing the oncoming traffic to advance. These have been put in place for road works that have have been going on for months and months. The area of work changes, but the hold ups don't. As we wait at the lights, motorbikes filter between the oncoming traffic and our line of vehicles.

The motorbikes reach their destination long before we do.

If you want to see 'real' motorbikes, go visit Ramsey Daily Photo for the Isle of Man TT.

Walking into the Menu

This photograph is dedicated to Nathalie from Avignon in Photos. She often posts marvellous reflection (and shadow) photographs on her wonderful blog. Recently she posted one and made the comment that you have to keep moving your position till you get it right. That's just what I did here. We are in Place G Clemenceau, looking at a restaurant window, the menu written on the glass. I got my position right so I could see the plane tree and restaurant tables in the reflection and then waited until the right people walked into the image - et voila!

Cascade

A cascade from a plant that appears to be a member of the banana family. I presume this is the fruit and wish I knew its name. There it was, swinging gently in the breeze, at the pretty Square Etats-Unis which is a small public garden surrounded by high buildings and used, in summer, for concerts.

Theme Day: Feet

“My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet”

- Edith Wharton (American Novelist and short-story writer, 1862-1937)

To see how others in the City Daily Photo community have interpreted the theme of 'Feet' do click here to view thumbnails for all participants. You will find many great images to delight you.

The Candle

A candle at Le Balico.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."
- Buddha

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

Cimitière du Vieux Château

Yesterday's photograph was taken from one of the lower levels of the Old Cemetery. You can see the two steeples here and in that photograph.

Here we are looking down at the cemetery from the gardens of a house near to the Camping Saint Michel - a lovely part of Menton called Les Ciappes (near to le Fossan) and with wonderful views, as you see. The road you see is the Route de Castellar, a village way above Menton.

The Resting Place

Statuary on top of the Chapel des Penitents Blancs provides a resting place for seagulls. Taken from the cemetery directly above the Old Town.

Street Theatre - the Sunglasses

These sunglasses were very much part of this young actress's wardrobe.

In the smaller photogaph - a helping hand from one student to another.

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.

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.