The boats are full - Saint Peter himself, the priest, the mayor - all ready to sail out into the bay for the blessing of those who died at sea.
This is our last day at the Festival of Saint Peter. Thanks so much to everyone who came along for the ride.
This gentleman has grown a large moustache and an even larger embonpoint but looks like he needs help fixing his life jacket...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
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.
It's dusk in Gorbio village and this pretty lady is all dressed up for the evening.
