17 July 2010
16 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - the Embonpoint
This gentleman has grown a large moustache and an even larger embonpoint but looks like he needs help fixing his life jacket...
Posted by Jilly at 06:37 9 comments
Labels: Fêtes, Ports and Yachts
15 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - the Gendarme's Daughter
This adorable little girl - and the bump on her head - is safe in her father's arms and about to board the boat.
So far as I can ascertain his hat and the number of stripes signifies that he is a commandant of the police gendarmerie which is the military police in France. If I've got this all wrong, perhaps someone will correct me. You don't often see this traditional gendarme's hat in Menton - at least I've not seen it except on a ceremonial occasion such as this festival.
Posted by Jilly at 06:17 8 comments
Labels: Fêtes
14 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - Embarkation
The procession arrives at the port. Three boats are ready. Into the first goes Saint Peter, the priest, the mayor and other dignitaries. Soon the boats will go out into the bay for the blessing of those who lost their lives at sea.
You can see a closer view of the little dog on Riviera Dogs today.
Posted by Jilly at 07:17 5 comments
Labels: Fêtes, Ports and Yachts
13 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - the Helping Hand
Looks like Saint Peter needs a helping hand to support him as he's carried down the many steps from the Basilica to the port.
Tomorrow: Saint Pierre goes on a boat trip.
Posted by Jilly at 06:24 5 comments
Labels: Fêtes
12 July 2010
Féte Saint Pierre - Exuberance
Four year old Wilamena is having the best fun running around the wonderful space that is the Parvis in front of the Basilica as she waits for the church service to end. Later, she and her sister - we met them two days ago - will lead the procession through the town.
Posted by Jilly at 07:15 12 comments
Labels: Fêtes
11 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - the Dignitaries
Outside the Basilica, the Mayor of Menton, Jean-Claude Guibal poses with his wife, Senator Colette Giudicelli alongside the statue of Saint Pierre and surrounded by the fishermen and in the lower photo, the priest.
The Basilica is to the left of the photo - out of shot. At the top of the steps you see part of the beautiful Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs which was built between 1680 and 1687.
Posted by Jilly at 06:30 5 comments
10 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - the Folk Group
These adorable children led the parade with beautiful folk music. The two children on the left in the main photo are English and spend most of their time in Menton where they attend school. Wilamena is 4 years old and her sister Martha-Lilly, with the amazing long hair, is 10. Martha-Lilly, by the way, is a talented flautist and another time I'll show photos of her playing with students from the Conservatoire of Music in Menton.
Their parents are the well-known Cornish artists John Dyer and Joanne Short. Click on the link to see their beautiful art depicting life in the south of France. Their next exhibition takes place in Cornwall from the 18th July.
Posted by Jilly at 06:49 8 comments
Labels: Fêtes
09 July 2010
Fête Saint Pierre - the Offering
Midway through the service a fisherman delivers the offering and leaves it outside the church until it is time to take it to the altar.
Posted by Jilly at 06:32 10 comments
08 July 2010
Féte Saint Pierre - Basilique St. Michel
The Basilica was packed - standing room all around the sides. Not the greatest photos 'cos I needed a tripod and next time will take one. Strangely if you go on a guided tour of the church you are not allowed to take photos, yet if you go to an event in the church such as this, then everyone and his mother is taking photos.
You can see the effigy of Saint Pierre in front of the altar.
Isn't this an utterly beautiful church...
Posted by Jilly at 06:05 13 comments
07 July 2010
Féte Saint Pierre - the Mentonnais Dancers
The Mentonnais Folk Dancers are an important part of the day - a great group and all having such a good time.
In the Old Town of Menton there is a building you can visit that has displays of life exactly as it once was in Menton, including figures dressed in the original clothes - of which these are copies, of course.
~ Henry James
Posted by Jilly at 06:37 9 comments
Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
06 July 2010
Féte Saint Pierre - Agapanthus
A flag bearer fisherman descends the steps from the Basilique St. Michel. Note the blue and white agapanthus that decorate the flagpole.
These steps (see small photo) are known as Les Rampes and were built in 1753. They are decorated in tiny stones in various patterns. Another time we'll look at this in more detail.
At the very top of Les Rampes, you see a tiered seating structure. This will be part of the Fete de Musique in August - almost each day a classical concert on the Parvis of the Basilica.
Posted by Jilly at 08:39 10 comments
Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
05 July 2010
Féte Saint Pierre
Each year during the first weekend of July, Menton celebrates the Féte Saint Pierre - the feast of St. Peter which usually takes place in sweltering temperatures and indeed it did - the temperatures in Menton have been high since the 1st of the month.
The festival celebrates the sea, the fisherman and their boats and prays for those who died at sea and is a way the people of Menton reconnect with their roots, to the Mediterranean, the nurturing mother and benefactress, but also one that is so cruel at times.
In the smaller photo is le Père Proal who officiated at the ceremony in the Basilica.
More tomorrow...
Posted by Jilly at 07:10 10 comments
Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
04 July 2010
Borage
Borage is a herb that originated in Syria but grows naturally all over the Mediterranean. My mother used the young leaves to decorate her Pimms No. 1 Cup which she always served on Sundays before lunch.
Nowadays borage is commercially grown to produce 'star flower' oil - indeed, the plant is also known by that name.
In my garden it grows wild and seeds like crazy just about everywhere. As you see in the smaller photo, the tiny blue flower changes colour so often you have pink and blue flowers on the same plant.
Posted by Jilly at 06:31 7 comments
Labels: Gardens
03 July 2010
Churchill amidst the Citrus
The gardens of the Palais Carnoles in Menton display sculptures amongst their famous collection of citrus trees. This is Sir Winston Churchill by the Dutch sculptor Kees Verkade who lives in Monaco.
Posted by Jilly at 05:52 6 comments
Labels: Gardens, Sculptures
02 July 2010
Reflections - 2
A beautiful blue sky? Wrong! In fact the main photo is upside-down. You can see it correctly displayed in the small photo on the left. And below, of course, you see a reflection the way I took it - focusing on the water only.
We are in the gardens of the Serre de la Madone in Menton where visitors are enjoying the pool and taking photographs.
Posted by Jilly at 01:18 14 comments
Labels: Gardens - La Serre de la Madone
01 July 2010
Reflections - the Dead Bird
This dog wants to hold on to the wing of a dead sea bird that he's found on the beach. His owner wants it off him. Eventually the owner won.
Today is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community. To see how others around the world have interpreted the theme of 'reflections' do click on the link. You won't be disappointed. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Posted by Jilly at 00:08 28 comments
Labels: Beach and Sea, Daily Photo Theme Day:, Dogs
30 June 2010
Serre de la Madone - an Archway
Everywhere you look in this Menton garden you find beauty.
(an extra post today to make up for the one I missed yesterday when I had no internet access. Grrrrrrr)
Posted by Jilly at 13:18 5 comments
Labels: Gardens - La Serre de la Madone
29 June 2010
Walk to the Golden Onion
No internet for the last 24 hours! So a quick post to catch up.
See the golden onion on top of the Russian chapel in the cemetery? (top right) - this perhaps gives an idea of how far it is to walk up through the glorious Old Town to the cemetery. No one should visit Menton without making this walk.
Posted by Jilly at 20:33 11 comments
Labels: The Old Town
28 June 2010
All Dressed Up
It's dusk in Gorbio village and this pretty lady is all dressed up for the evening.
~Epictetus
Posted by Jilly at 06:48 11 comments
Labels: Villages near to Menton: Gorbio