The Chapel Roof

Here you see the steeples of the Basilica and the church, taken from one of the higher levels in the old cemetery of the Chateau. You see a part of the beautiful Russian chapel on the left. I wish someone would come along and mend the roof. I fear for this beautiful building - my favourite in the cemetery.

The cemetery is above the Old Town - you can see these steeples in the banner photograph of this blog.

Pigeonholed

The end of a tiny alleyway. Nesting boxes for pigeons. You can see in the smaller photograph that someone has hung aluminium foil from the lamp - probably an attempt to deter the pigeons.

It didn't work...

The Blue Bench

A narrow street in the Old Town. A garden on the walls of this old house. A painted bench.

If you don't have a garden, create one.

The Keyhole

An ancient door in the Old Town - long past its best - its keyhole rusted and useless. Yet the effect is beauty - even art.

Summer's End - the Jasmine

In need of some renovation and a coat of paint, but a building with charm, don't you think. And a jasmine determined to survive.

An old house at the foot of the Old Town of Menton.

Summer's End - Succulents

A Jade plant and tumbling succulents brighten a tiny window at the entrance to the Old Town of Menton.

Summer's End - Russelia

A corner in Menton's Old Town brightened by a Russelia in a pot. Russelia Equisetiformis - also known as the Coral Plant - grows easily in the south of France although I don't have much luck in my garden. It originates from tropical America and Mexico and has a beautiful cascading form and colour that is so pleasing. I've also seen it in white and cream and bought both but neither survived.

Summertime in Menton - the Cat

Had enough of the beaches? Too many Fete Days? Want to get away from the August crowds?

Then take a walk in the Old Town. Just wander - take little alleyways, don't worry, you won't get lost - and anyway, exploring is all part of the fun. And a promise - you'll see lots of cats.

This lovely cat often sits here, appreciating caresses from locals and visitors.

Summertime in Menton - the Festival of Music

Each summer - in August - Menton holds its famous Festival of Music. This year is the 59th year. Seating, as we see, is in the square outside the Basilica. The columns of the Basilica are on our left and you can see another photograph of this facade by clicking in the link.

Ahead of us is the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs - you saw the inside of this beautiful building the other day. The majority of the Old Town is to our right. Behind us is the sea and so those sitting facing us, have a wondrous view. Actually I think we do too, don't you?

In the photograph, the pianist and artisitic director of the Festival, Jean-Bernard Pommier, is addressing the audience. He is also the conductor of the orchestra: the Martinova-Kazakov Menton Saint-Peterburg Orchestra.

They played works by Mozart, Haydn and Saint Saëns. My favourite was the beautiful clarinet of Andrey Kazakov - the soloist in Mozart's Concerto for clarinet and orchestra KV622. Unfortunately I couldn't get a photograph of him as he was masked by the conductor, who because of the wind had to conduct with one hand only and with the other, he held on to the soloist's music - to prevent it blowing away in the wind. Someone needed to have brought a peg onstage!

I want to thank Chuckeroon of Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo. If I printed out and counted the number of emails, Chuckeroon has written - helping me, advising me, answering endless questions on night photography, I think I'd fill the Basilica with them. Chuckeroon, thank you so much for your patience with me. A long way to go yet, but I'm slowly learning and today go to buy a 'proper' tripod. I took this photograh with a Gorillapod, which had been suggested by Don, a regular visitor to Menton and to this blog. It stood happily on the low wall in front of where I sat. Thanks, Don.

Tomorrow - the pianist and the cellos.

Summertime in Menton - the Waiter

A bar in the Place du Cap at the foot of the Old Town.

Summertime in Menton - Pollution

See that fug over the Old Town? It's particularly evident in the smaller photograph - (click to enlarge) - where you see an oppressive haze over Monaco in the distance. This is pollution caused by too many cars. On the day I took this photograph, the speed limit on the autoroutes had been restricted in an effort to reduce emissions from cars.

Since then, the sky is clearer - and I presume those restrictions have been lifted as I've not read more in our local rag, Nice-Matin. So don't feel too sorry for those of us who live here.

The photographs were taken from the Italian border.

A good place to read

A corner in the beautiful Old Town of Menton. As good a place as any to read a newspaper, so long as there's no water coming out of the spout.

Cave a Vin

Rue des Marins

Pale shutters, a niche, a sign - just around the corner from Place aux Herbes.

Morning Light

The morning sun - hundreds of dots of light dancing on the sea is something I just love. Here, I've photographed somewhat against the sun - doubtless breaking rules - but I don't mind the steeples in shade. Do you?

This was taken just below the cemetery and looking over the Old Town and port.

Quatre Saisons

Menton is not known as the City of Lemons for nothing. Citrus - oranges and lemons - are everywhere. Here you see one of the most common varieties of lemon: the Four Seasons, named for good reason as you get blossom and fruit all year round. You can see this even more clearly in the smaller photo - click to enlarge.

These shots were taken outside a small house way up in the Old Town - and just below the cemetery.

Fire over Menton!

A couple of hours after I took the main photograph a fire devasted 50 hectares of land above Garavan. Had I remained in Menton just a little longer I would have had a photograph for you but back home in Gorbio, I don't see this part of the town. In the smaller photograph, taken a few days later, you can see the burned forest behind the church spires. With fires so early in the year, it doesn't mode well for a fire-free summer.

One of this blog's readers who visits Menton regularly wrote soon after telling me he'd seen the fire on the Menton webcam. I didn't know there was a webcam so am most grateful for the information. Thankyou, Don. You'll find a link on the right hand side of this blog - or click on the link. It seems you get control of the camera, which is located at St. Agnes, for 2 minutes. You then get a choice of 10 locations to view, with zoom control too.

Note: this webcam isn't working at the moment. I'll add it to the sidebar when it's working again. Technical problem!

The beach webcam, tho, always works although it's less impressive and with just the one view along the beach to the Old Town. See link on right.

Rue Longue - 11

Here you see the far end of Rue Longue, near to Porte Sainte-Julien. Work at this end of the street is complete. Here, you'll find the restaurant, A Braijade Meridiounale.

We've visited this end of the street before - indeed, this part of Rue Longue has been finished a long time - but today, the restaurant is all decked out with plants and umbrellas - a welcoming sight amidst the chaos of the rest of the street.

Rue Longue - 10

Wires and pipes everywhere on Rue Longue. Below, part of the street still has no surface (this is the area immediately below the steps that go up to the Basilica, so it's unavoidable for the tourists. Let's hope it will be finished soon. Tomorrow, you'll see the end of this street - the only part that is finished.

I don't normally show you photographs of friends or of my own personal life, but I had a very handsome young man visiting with friends over the weekend. I asked if he minded my publishing his photograph and he didn't. I suppose if you are good looking, you don't mind showing it off - click on the link to view.

Rue Longue - 9

We've walked a little further down the street. I met a lady who lives at one end of Rue Longue and walks back and forth each day to her business, which is at the other end. I said I thought there'd had been great progress. She shrugged as only the French can shrug - and rightly so. The work has been going on, way beyond its original promised finish date. I believe many problems arose as they dug up the street - problems that couldn't have been anticipated? It's still supposed to be finished for the main tourist season but hey, we are in April already. She said it's hard with all the dirt and the noise of the work. I can imagine!

This street will be fabulous when it's finished and will breathe new life into the Old Town with shops and restaurants but you'd not want to be living there at the moment.

More tomorrow.

Rue Longue - 8

A reader, who stays in Rue Longue when she visits Menton, has asked how the renovations are coming along. Last year there were times were it was almost impossible to get from one end to the other. Please click on the link to see how it was then.

Well - there IS progress but you'd not want to be wearing high heels! More after tomorrow's Theme Day.