28 February 2007
27 February 2007
Liqueurs!
Posted by
Jilly
at
10:24
4
comments
Labels: Fêtes - La Fête du Citron, Food and Wine
26 February 2007
Citrolive!
Posted by
Jilly
at
09:43
6
comments
Labels: Fêtes - La Fête du Citron, Food and Wine
25 February 2007
24 February 2007
Mary had a little lamb...
Later, on chatting with another villager, I learned that this is the third lamb she has reared in such a way. When they get older they are turned out into a field and later, when ready, are slaughtered for the table.
Posted by
Jilly
at
10:15
10
comments
Labels: Villages near to Menton: Gorbio
23 February 2007
Lunch by the Mediterranean
Posted by
Jilly
at
09:29
7
comments
Labels: Restaurants and Bars
22 February 2007
Oranges and lemons...tra la la
During the 16 years I've lived near to Menton, I have never before visited the Fête du Citron. It was very interesting to see what can be created with lemons and oranges and it's a very popular festival, but it's perhaps true to say that personally I prefer the more natural fêtes we see in the hilltop villages round Menton: the Fête du Lavande, the Fête du Blé (wheat) - and so on. You can read about one of those fêtes, the Fête de la Branda (distilled alcohol, folks!) at this link.
Posted by
Jilly
at
08:08
6
comments
Labels: Fêtes - La Fête du Citron
21 February 2007
India in Menton!
There are dozens of statues, all made, as you can see of lemons and oranges and each fixed individually to a wire frame with a rubber band. Word has it that the lemons and oranges used in the displays don't actually come from Menton but from Spain, where they are cheaper. A team of men walks around all day replacing any fruit that is beginning to rot. These statues, which include the Taj Mahal and a gorgeous elephant, are in the Jardin Bioves but as well as this, there are parades through the town with floats and music and dancing girls. La Fête du Citron draws thousands and thousands of visitors to Menton every year.
You can read more here (in French) and here (in English). The festival runs from the 17th February to the 7th March.
This particularly statue is the height of a block of apartments but the shots I took yesterday indicating the size, were a little dark as the sun was beginning to go down. This was the best despite cutting off the top of his hat!
Posted by
Jilly
at
07:16
13
comments
Labels: Fêtes - La Fête du Citron
20 February 2007
Slumbering vine
Posted by
Jilly
at
07:46
8
comments
Labels: Doorways and Windows
19 February 2007
A mimosa for Mimmu
Posted by
Jilly
at
08:24
7
comments
Labels: Gardens
18 February 2007
Bacchus
Posted by
Jilly
at
07:13
5
comments
Labels: Gardens - La Serre de la Madone
17 February 2007
'La Serre de la Madone'
Menton is famous for its gardens and this double pool is a tiny part of perhaps the most beautiful of them all. La Serre de la Madone was created in the 1920s by Lawrence Johnston, an American by nationality, born in Paris to an American father and an English mother. Better known as the creator of the famous Hidcote gardens in the Cotswolds in England, he was an avid plantsman of independent means travelling the world collecting rare plants. He wanted a garden for his sub-tropical plants, eventually settling on 6 hectares of overgrown hillside planted with ancient olive trees and in the wondrous micro-climate that is Menton.
Posted by
Jilly
at
07:27
8
comments
Labels: Gardens - La Serre de la Madone
16 February 2007
Foire!
Posted by
Jilly
at
10:06
9
comments
Labels: Fêtes
15 February 2007
Derelict house for sale!
Posted by
Jilly
at
13:58
13
comments
Labels: Architecture
14 February 2007
13 February 2007
Market seller
Posted by
Jilly
at
08:24
9
comments
Labels: Markets
12 February 2007
Menton old town
Posted by
Jilly
at
08:29
5
comments
Labels: The Old Town
11 February 2007
Le Balico
Note: Since posting this, sadly Le Balico has been sold and is now under new management.
Posted by
Jilly
at
14:52
1 comments
Labels: Restaurants and Bars
10 February 2007
09 February 2007
Hôtel des Ambassadeurs
Posted by
Jilly
at
14:34
0
comments
Labels: Hotels