Pétanque or Boules? - 2

As promised, here's a photo of a man just after throwing the boule. It looks like some strange dance, doesn't it?

In the photo below, you see players discussing which boule is nearest to the small boule - look closely and you'll see a tiny orange ball, which, by the way, is called the 'pig.' The idea of the game is to get as close to the pig as possible. It sounds simple but there's great skill to it and a lot of money can be made in top level competition.

Many thanks to Fabrizio from Torino DP who kindly wrote this explanation as to the difference between pétanque and boules, in yesterday's comments:

"It was only in 1907 that pétanque as we know it was born. Its name comes from the provençal "pèd tanco", which means "feet together'. It is played on a shorter terrain and players throw their boule from a rough circle scratched in the dirt, taking no run-up at all." Fabrizio gave the following link too - click HERE. I had also found a good website on the subject, so anyone wanting even more information, try this link - HERE.

Do come back tomorrow and you'll see a photograph of a father teaching his son how to throw.

Pétanque or Boules? - 1

Forget the sterotype of an old man with a beret playing boules. Boules players come in all shapes and sizes - men and women, young and old. There was a pétanque contest in Gorbio on Fête day last Sunday - here's one of the competitors.

Perhaps one of our French contributors can tell me the difference between boules and pétanque. This contest was advertised as pétanque.

Dusk

Dusk. Says it all really - OR - you could write a novel about this scene, couldn't you? Who are they? What's their relationship? Where do they come from? What are their lives? Are they happy, sad? ... and on and on and on...

Boo!

Today it's the Fête Populaire in Gorbio village. And what do children who live in a medieval village do for fun? Why they play peek-a-boo through a gap in the village fountain.

There's a lot going on in the village today - first a free glass of kir for everyone, later petanque, chansons, a demonstration of French boxing, soupe au pistou, political debate - and tonight a rock concert.

L'Exocet

A metre or so to the left of this row of restaurant tables is the alligator you saw yesterday. L'Exocet is one of many restaurants by the beach. The main restaurants, of course, are the other side of the road, so waiters take chances running across the road with the food. However, the waiters and waitresses who work at this particular restaurant are lucky with the convenient zebra crossing. Others, further along are not so lucky.

I took this photo around 9 in the morning - the waiter and waitress are preparing for the day. The wind had some up so at this moment, there's a bit of a rush to fix down the tablecloths.

If you'd like to see what this area (but a little further along) looks like in February - click HERE.

An alligator in Menton?

An alligator in Menton? Silly! We don't have alligators in Menton. Can't you see this is a crocodile...she said confidently, not at all sure if this is an alligator or a crocodile...

So for Isabella, an allicroc or perhaps a crocogator, but enough to remind us of her beautiful Naples Daily Photo blog, where you'll find lots of real alligators. Go check it out today for the fishing and the pelicans - click HERE. Hmmmm...not seen any of those around here? Perhaps I'll take a look in the Vieille Ville - you never know what you'll find up there.

This sand sculpture was built next to the Christ figure. Remember him - see HERE? And he's still here, 7 weeks later! No rain for over a couple of months, so he's not washed away although perhaps someone keeps rebuilding him. And if you'd enjoy seeing really amazing sand sculptures go to Port Angeles Daily Photo HERE.

An alternative view

This is a view of Menton I've not shown before. You've seen the beautiful facade of the Old Town with its jumble of houses HERE. This photograph is taken from the other side - the steeples will give you your bearings. The long double-roofed building in the foreground is the Moorish style market - again, you can see details of that HERE.

In front of the market building - amongst all those palm trees is where the Menton Boules Club have their premises. There is much consternation at the moment because this area is where the Mairie plan to build a Museum to Jean Cocteau following a generous bequest by (I believe) an American collector. The Boules club is waiting to hear of an alternative site for their club.

Come back tomorrow when you'll see a gift I have for Isabella from Naples Daily Photo. Don't forget!