Crane

We're at the 20th Journées Méditerrranéennes du Jardin at a stall selling garden ornaments. You don't really expect to see a couple of cranes or a stag in Menton!

In the photo we are looking towards Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus in the Old Town.

'Beautiful and brief
Is your stay above
The late summer leaf . . .'

~ Agnes Ware

The Flower Pot Man

Yesterday and today Menton celebrates the 20th Journées Méditerrranéennes du Jardin - a massive garden fair held on the Esplanade Francis Palmero in Menton.

One section is devoted to children - here we see designs created by kindergarten children and topped by the flower-pot man.

The Mill

An old mill in Gorbio - currently undergoing restoration as a private dwelling. There are several mills around here, restored, but not used for their original purpose.

Thanks to my friend Don (The BOOTboys) who helped me clamber up two steep levels to get this shot and more importantly, get down to the track again!

Free Airconditioning

A window in the medieval village of Gorbio.

Guns and Handcuffs

A policeman in Ventimiglia, just across the Italian border. A reminder that the beauty and tranquillity of the French and Italian Rivieras sometimes gets disrupted.

The Gobelin Tapestry

This beautiful tapestry was made by a famous Parisian company called Gobelins in the 17th century. It was created for Louis XIVth and is part of a series called 'The History of Alexander.'

It hangs in the Museum of Beaux Arts in the Palais Carnoles in Menton.

Cat's Cradle

'Who among us hasn't envied a cat's ability to ignore the cares of daily life and to relax completely?

~ Karen Brademeyer

The Meaning of Life

Walk the dog, buy a baguette - home for lunch!

Wisteria all Year Round!

The decorative friezes below the eaves of houses in Menton, Monaco and the hill villages were the work of Italian experts in fresco and stucco. Between 1860 and 1930, more than 200 friezes unfolded their abundance of fruit and flowers in lively scrolls. Neoclassical or more eclectic in style, some of these friezes have decorative elements showing cornucopia, griffons, putti or even gambolling rabbits.

This house is in the medieval village of Gorbio.

You can see another frieze by clicking on the link.

Nosey!

This rather strange sculpture is to be found in the gardens of the Palais Carnoles in Menton.

It's called 'Question d'Arome' (Question of Aroma) and was created by the sculptor, Sacha Sosno in 1996. Click on the link to read about this well known local artist.

Stephane Montalto - Ceramist and Potter

Stéphane Montalto is a well-known Riviera ceramist and potter, originally working in Menton but now at his workshop in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

And it isn't only beautiful pots that he is famous for. A while back he discovered the archives of Saissi, an important ceramics company of the last century. Saissi was a Menton enterprise with more than 100 employees who created beautiful balustrades, cabochons and bowls using the particularly beautiful pale turquoise we see around Menton and Monaco. Using the traditions of Saissi, Stéphane works restoring many of the Belle Epoque villas of the region. You can see more of Stéphane and his balustrades and large pots in the colour I'm talking about by clicking HERE.

Stéphane's work is installed in many parts of Monaco, including the Japanese Garden and St. Martin's Garden on Le Rocher. His work has been shown in many different exhibitions and he's won many awards. And he's such a nice gentle man. Today's photos were taken at one of Menton's art markets near to Place du Cap.

Logs with Oleander

Logs, ready for winter and framed by a pink oleander, are piled up outside a house in the medieval village of Gorbio.

Menton's Night Market - Bracelets

It's Theme Day once again in the City Daily Photo community and today's subject is an 'Open Air Market.'

Here we see one of the stalls at Menton's Night Market that takes place in the summer months at the foot of the Old Town near to the Bastion. It's great fun to wander the stalls after dinner and perhaps be tempted by the many goodies on display.

To see how others throughout the world have presented this theme do click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Saint Michel

A plaque depicting Saint Michel on a wall of one of the buildings that make up the beautiful facade of the Old Town. And of course the Basilica, which stands behind these houses is named for Saint Michel.

You often spot plaques depicting Saint Michel as you walk up the narrow streets to the cemetery.

Sunlight

As the sun floods through a window of the church in the medieval village of Gorbio, it perfectly illuminates the sculpture. Church designers and those who placed the sculptures hundreds of years ago knew what they were doing.

Seed

This plant grows wild around here - it readily seeds in walls and gardens but you find it in Menton's famous gardens too - this was photographed at Serre de la Madone, so whilst it may be a weed, it's obviously appreciated by the professional gardeners there.

'Whether you tend a garden or not, you are the gardener of your own being,
the seed of your destiny.'

~ The Findhorn Community

Waiting for Autumn

A corner of Place aux Herbes, one of my favourite squares in Menton. The leaves on the plane trees cast their shadows as they almost hide the 'tabac' sign - but they are beginning to dry - to curl up. Soon autumn will be here.

Serenity

Doesn't she have a beautiful face and serene expression.

At the Fête Patronale de Saint Barthélémy this nun was waiting to walk, with the crowd, into the old village and up to the church.

'Smiling always with a never fading serenity of countenance, and flourishing in an immortal youth.' ~ Isaac Barrow

The Blessing

This is Père Broal who is officiating at the Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio village. In the smaller photo you see two of the Pénitents Blancs who assist in the ceremony. Apart from a lot of dogs, there was also a horse (normally there are lots of horses) and a duckling!

The dogs - a drooly Newfoundland today - are currently making an appearance on Riviera Dogs.

Click to enter yesterday's Caption Competition.