The Parvis of Prince Honoré III

This is the parvis of the Basilica. Parvis means 'square in front of the church. '

In 1757 Honoré III of Monaco used white and black pebbles to create the mosaic which represents weaponry and the Grimaldi's coat of arms. The curved 'H' signifies Honoré III. Menton, of course, was ruled by the Princes of Monaco until the French revolution.

After centuries of feet, the tops of some of the pebbles are worn totally flat. The photo below was taken very near the entrance to the church.

On the other hand...a few years ago we had massive flooding in Menton and the rampes (the steps leading up to the Parvis) and also perhaps the parvis itself, had to be restored. The flooding had lifted many of the pebbles. So perhaps the reason the tops of some pebbles are perfectly flat isn't the effect of centuries of wear but of fairly recent renovation and brand new cut stones. I prefer to think it was caused by feet over the centuries!

Going to Seed

Agapanthus are everywhere in Menton at the moment. In the photo below you see them in the beautiful gardens of the Serre de la Madone. The close-ups - and going to seed - are in my garden in Gorbio.

This is a South African plant that is more than happy in the south of France. It's a member of the lily family, hence the common name of African Lily or Lily of the Nile.

Smoke

Two young girls having a night out on Bastille Day at L'Olimpo, an Italian restaurant on the pedestrian street.

Why do young girls smoke?

The Imaginary Friend

The Place aux Herbes is the perfect place to 'people watch.' Sit on the centuries old stone benches and enjoy the shade of the plane trees. It's incredibly hot and humid in Menton at the moment.

This little girl fascinated me. When she wasn't with her father, she ran about the square, hiding behind one of the trees (see below) and sometimes seemed lost in her own thoughts but of course she was playing with and talking to her 'imaginary friend.'

When you were a child, did you have an imaginary friend?

The Sundial Artist

The back wall of the ancient Château in the village of Gorbio has a newly restored sundial - or scratch dial to be technically correct (thanks Alex). With so much digital technology it's nice to tell the time by the sun - at one time the only way to know.

In the lower photos you can see the artist working on it. See how the Château seems to grow out of the rocks that support it.


Thanks to Barbara Pfieffer for the photo on the left, which shows the original sundial - or what was left of it.

Fête Saint Pierre - the Blessing at Sea

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

'Exuberance is beauty' ~ William Blake

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

'It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition.'

~ Henry James

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.

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...

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.