Muguet for the first of May

A lovely tradition in France takes place each year on the 1st May, when a sprig or small pot of Lily of the Valley is offered to friends and family - for luck.

I lived for a year in Pyrénées when I first came to France, and there the bus drivers give every female passenger a sprig on the 1st May. I don't believe this happens on the Côte d'Azur but someone might correct me. I hope they do. A lovely idea.

So, a sprig of muguet for YOU for tomorrow - and may it bring you luck for the rest of the year.

(This post is one day early because tomorrow is DP Theme Day.)

Journée nationale de la déportation

Today sees ceremonies all over France as it's the National Day of the Deportation. I'm not sure of the symbolism here with the American flags but presume it's because it was the Americans who liberated the camps in 1945. Hope someone more knowledgeable than me will comment if I've got it wrong. (Please read Abraham Lincoln's explanation in the first comment - thank you Abraham). I presume this little boy is the older man's grandchild - even great grandchild. And note the girl in the background - she is holding her guinea-pig - cochon d'Inde in French.

A tree in the sea

We are above the Old Town, looking down over a mixture of old and new roofs towards the sea. The oval piece of land you see in the distance - planted with a few trees - is land that has been reclaimed from the sea.

Give me light!

Narrow and dark - how some of the streets in the old town can be. The beautiful church, which you saw in this post, is glimpsed at the end.

A gateway in Gorbio

It doesn't look as if this gate gets much use. I passed it yesterday on my way to a friend's house in the village - it looks pretty much overgrown on each side.

Vote!

We've moved from Menton Old Town today to Gorbio village (my village) - which is about 7 or so kilometres from Menton. Here we are just inside the archway that is the entrance to the vieux village. On the right are metal panels displaying each candidate from last Sunday's election for President. You might notice a space between the first two panels and the rest - that's to allow the homeowner to enter his house! That's how it is in a medieval village.

Basilique Saint-Michel

Here you see the facade of the Eglise Saint-Michel. A fine example of the talent of 17th-C. Ligurian architects, this Basilica surveys the Old Town, which itself forms a baroque neighbourhood. Inside, trompe-l'oeil paintings signed by Cerrutti-Maori adorn the central vault, and a purplish Genoese damask, brought out on special occasions, emphasizes the building's baroque style.

Each August we have the music festival in Menton which is held most evenings in the paved area outside this lovely church. Concerts range from classic to jazz and always with wondrously talented musicians. Last year Daniel Baremboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, played one night. This orchestra of young Israeli and Palestinian musicians was created, I believe, through the friendship of Israeli conductor and pianist, Baremboim and the late Palestinian-born writer, Edward Said.

Huilerie

This is the old olive oil shop which is just before the archway that leads into the Old Town.

Do we care a fig for Earth Day?

Thank you to Isabella and her lovely bunny rabbit at Naples DP for the reminder that it's Earth Day today. It's also the day the French choose their new President. Even though I'm a tax-paying French resident I'm not allowed to vote in National elections - only the local election for Mayor and of course for the European parliament. I hope the French choose well today. If you haven't visited Eric's Paris DP blog, please do so and click on both 'a Funny Mix' and 'Winner.' I fell off my chair laughing at Winner. It's brilliant.

So, an olive or a fig to honour Earth Day? Both conjure up the Mediterranean for me but I chose this fig simply because it is so old, probably over 100 years. It's a great tree that's withstood polution and everything thrown at it and it gives me beautiful figs in August/September. I took the photograph this morning - it's not in full leaf yet and still has only a few tiny fruits showing promise for the harvest. It's such a privilege to have this wondrous tree in my garden. You can read what the dogs think of it here.

Thank you so much to Isabella, Alice and Abraham for help in changing the width of my blog and the size of the photos. Hope you like the new look.

Green door

This little house is in a narrow street of the Old Town - fairly high up where it gets light and sun.

Echium

Echium candicans (Pride of Madeira) is a common plant in the south of France. The bees and butterflies just love it.

An apology that I've not been commenting much of late. Got friends for the Monte Carlo Tennis Open and 10 dogs en pension because it's school holiday time in this part of France (and all the dogs are in the house!) so here's a shot of a corner of my garden taken this morning. I'll catch up with comments next week. Forgive - and thanks so much for comments on my blogs.

Hillside behind the Old Town

This was taken from the cemetery above the Old Town, this time looking at the hillside, rather than towards the sea. Thought you might like a change.

Bay of Garavan

Looking from above the Old Town across to Italy - here you see the bay of Garavan which adjoins the Italian border.

Give us a kiss, luv!

So far as I can see this old door in the Old Town, has a bunch of withered mistletoe hanging from a nail. Mistletoe is considered lucky in France and the French hang it everywhere. Kissing under the mistletoe is a New Year's Eve custom, rather than at Christmas. I hope this bunch brought the owners of this house good luck and perhaps someone got a kiss too. Give us a kiss, luv!

Resting place

Wandering around the cemetery above the Vieille Ville of Menton, you can't help but notice how many British and Russian graves are to be found. Of course it was the Brits and the Russians who made Menton fashionable and famous at the turn of the century - indeed Queen Victoria used to spend time here each winter - never in summer, m'dear. Here you see a seagull watching over the grave - and perhaps messing it up, let's face it - of one Charles Richard Congreve who died in 1885.

Water!

You can see where this tap is situated by looking at the second photo here. I love that someone has gone to the trouble of training a plant and presumably watering it from time to time.

Electrician needed!

No wonder Menton Council is offering financial help to house owners in the Vieille Ville to enable them to restore their houses. This house looks as if it could do with an electrician for starters. Somehow tho I love it as it is.

Disrepair

As you can see parts of the cemetery above the Old Town are in disrepair.

Shutters in the Old Town

These blue volets (shutters) caught my eye. In fact this blue is more often seen further along the coast in St. Tropez. Typical Menton colour is a pale turquoise or eau de nil. In the photo below you can see where I found this window.

Pierre

We're in the cemetery itself now, way above the Old Town of Menton. I found so many wonders here and spent quite a while taking photographs, so you may get more over the next few days unless any of you find graves depressing. This headstone commemorates Pierre, who lost his life in the Great War.