09 July 2010
08 July 2010
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...
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Jilly
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06:05
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07 July 2010
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.
~ Henry James
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Jilly
at
06:37
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Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
06 July 2010
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.
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Jilly
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08:39
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Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
05 July 2010
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...
Posted by
Jilly
at
07:10
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Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
04 July 2010
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.
Posted by
Jilly
at
06:31
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Labels: Gardens
03 July 2010
Churchill amidst the Citrus
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.
Posted by
Jilly
at
05:52
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Labels: Gardens, Sculptures
02 July 2010
Reflections - 2
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.
Posted by
Jilly
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01:18
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Labels: Gardens - La Serre de la Madone
01 July 2010
Reflections - the Dead Bird
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
Posted by
Jilly
at
00:08
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Labels: Beach and Sea, Daily Photo Theme Day:, Dogs
30 June 2010
Serre de la Madone - an Archway
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)
Posted by
Jilly
at
13:18
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Labels: Gardens - La Serre de la Madone
29 June 2010
Walk to the Golden Onion
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.
Posted by
Jilly
at
20:33
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Labels: The Old Town
28 June 2010
All Dressed Up
It's dusk in Gorbio village and this pretty lady is all dressed up for the evening.
~Epictetus
Posted by
Jilly
at
06:48
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Labels: Villages near to Menton: Gorbio
27 June 2010
26 June 2010
The Arabian Horses - the Backdrop
Last day of the Arabian horses and the weather wasn't good as you can see.
One of the joys of this show is not just the horses - who are stunningly beautiful of course - but the setting at the foot of the Old Town of Menton. Not a bad place to hold a horse event.
Posted by
Jilly
at
06:15
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Labels: Fêtes, The Old Town
25 June 2010
The Arabian Horses - Mud!
What I didn't tell you yesterday was that we'd had a lot of rain and the 'stade' was a sea of mud - well, wet sand I suppose. As you see, not a surface to negotiate in high heels! Horses too - one slipped and fell but happily no harm done.
Posted by
Jilly
at
08:03
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Labels: Fêtes
24 June 2010
The Arabian Horses - the Young Colt
Those gorgeous Arabians were in Menton over the weekend for the annual Mediterranean and Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championship.
This young colt and handler are in the holding ring.
Posted by
Jilly
at
06:42
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Labels: Fêtes
23 June 2010
22 June 2010
Les Sablettes
Summer? Is it finally here?
We are looking at the Old Town with the Sablettes beach below. This is a public beach and at the far end, you'll find the 'Fish Spa' we saw yesterday.
Posted by
Jilly
at
06:07
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Labels: Beach and Sea, The Old Town
21 June 2010
A Thousand Kisses...
Fancy getting rid of that dead skin on your feet? Easy - give the 'cleaner fish' some lunch!
This is the first 'Fish Spa' on a beach in France (Les Sablettes in Menton) and is advertised as an ecological way to clean your feet with a 'thousand kisses' from the 'massage' or 'doctor' fish. It costs 10 euros for 15 minutes. 18 euros for two adults. 5 for a child and if you want an hour it will cost you 28 euros. The water is treated constantly with ultra violet light to keep it clean - this also makes the fish sterile.
Fish Spas are a fashionable treatment to be found in Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the USA and the Philippines, usually in beauty parlours or attached to aquariums. It's not a new idea - the most famous is the Kangal Spa in Turkey which has been in operation since the early 1900's.
I asked if the fish are fed and the guy said he gives very little food as the best nourishment for them is dead skin.
Would you have a 'Fish Spa' treatment?
Posted by
Jilly
at
06:10
26
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Labels: Beach and Sea