Prairie

Dogs of the Mediterranean

Pétanque

I'm blogging about France again - and telling my story with photos.

This is St.Paul - a timeworn city belonging to the distant past.

It's primitive buildings and cobbled streets are surrounded by

a buttress of stone wall. Firmly fastened to this hill, it looks out

over a panoramic valley of rolling, green vista. It was here, that

I watched my very first game of boules - the French are

passionate about it ! I will tell you about my day with photos.

I happened to take this woman's photo as she was boarding

a bus. A most unique hairstyle - reminds me of some sort

of exotic animal - and the coat helps with that impression.                                                                                

Wonder if it's real or faux fur ?

Want to see her again - here she is.

Honestly - she creeped me out a bit.  My imagination is running wild

now - the stripy, wild animal hair  and fur coat.  Maybe she eats people.  

Most likely she's an artist.  This area is a haven for them.  All I know 

is my Grandmother never looked like this ! Maybe she's an alien...

When I first saw these trees in the town's Market Square, I thought they

had been wrapped in some sort of camouflage fabric or netting.  At closer

inspection I saw it was the bark !  They're called "plane" trees.

A very pregnant Mother cat peering at a frustrated little boy 

who was attempting to fixing his bike at the bottom of the stairwell.

A clever artist has created and perched this little iron bug 

sculpture in a niche, right next to his front door - "13 Rue Lacoste"

 Are these not the oldest doors you've ever seen? Impressive. 

Yes - I get very excited over doors - I'm a bit mad that way.

I loved this metal man sculpture, staring forever into infinity.

I was compelled to look up into the sky myself .

One very lucky horse !

As I walked down the hill towards a coffee shop, I came across 

two serious games of  boules. It looked like great fun and I wanted

to join in - but I stuck to observing and taking photos and getting 

in their way - while I was taking photos.  The French love boules !!

Much like I love playing pinochle.

Pensively posed and studying the opponents moves - very serious stuff.

What a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon.

I was watching the lady, the one in the photo above - playing

boules wearing heels when I suddenly saw this fellow. He was

wearing a bright red beret and had a face so full of character,

I could not stop taking his picture - I was smitten with him.

He was marvelous !

Now how many guys can carry this off, wearing a red beret and 

a hunter green, quilted coat ?  I do believe he was American.

I was trying not to get in his way or annoy him but at the

same time I so wanted to frame his hands in the picture.

Almost - not quite.

He looks like a Rembrandt painting here - simply wonderful !

Arriving back to Nice - just in time to watch the sun set on the 

azure sea.  I loved this day !

"The game of boules, otherwise known as pétanque , is perhaps 

the sport that is closest to French hearts. Similar to British lawn 

bowling or Italian bocce , the French version is traditionally played 

with metallic balls on a dirt surface beneath plane trees, with a glass 

of pastis at hand. The local boulodrome is a social focal point in 

southern France."  - quote taken from Discover France website -                                                                                                                                                                                       

Constance Amiot

I love this artist - sharing some music with you today !!

Images of Nice, France

I have a few more photo to share with you - a bit of this and that.

This will be dreadful - sort of like when you go to someone's house

and they get out the snaps of their latest holiday and bore you for

hours - hope you are not too bored.  Allow me to narrate ..... ahem !

Took this photo as I was walking to Nice Port. It's a brighter ocher 

colour but I've toned it down some - because I like it better that way !

Nine little sailboats being tugged out to sea to play.

Thought it fun to do a black and white and colour one sail.

Nice Marina is amazing - so many lovely boats !

I spent a few hours just watching all the activity.

The Promenade all decked out with stands for an up and coming event.

I loved how the line of them went on forever - I love patterns and repetition.

Back to Nice Harbor - I love how the architect used these massive cement

blocks (bollards ?) not only in a practical sense but an artistic one as well.

Form follows function ??

A lonesome little fruit, vegetable and flower stand in the village of St. Paul.

I captured this image while on the bus to Eze - it's been dropped into 

photoshop for a play.  I love the comic book effect.

This was taken in Grasse - an old wall advert painted in an alley.

Another "taken from the bus photo"

I almost took this little kitty cat home with me - she had the most beautiful 

green eyes.  She was very chatty - meow, meow, meow.

Nice Market - love what this vendor has done with her radishes.

Nice - looking as beautiful as ever.

Those little sailboats have been cut loose to the sea.

I was trying for a Retro image of Nice here - I really like it !!

Fluffy clouds - blue sea - perfect.

Noisy gulls crying "me, me , me !"

And off into the sunset they go - au revoir little boats.

Gosh and good golly - must clean my lens one of these days !!

The Promenade

Walk with me along the Promenade and see it through my eyes.

 

A Perfect Day !

Every Monday, Nice Flower Market's fruit and veggie stands are replaced 

with a fabulous antiques market.  I spent most of the day here - looking through 

treasures. Buskers wander here and there from cafe' to cafe '- singing all genre of 

music from Italian and French ditty to Elvis compositions.  The sun was shining 

and it was a perfect day to wear a hat.  Come to think of it - everyday is a good day

for wearing a hat !!  The sidewalk cafes were brimming with people soaking up the

sunshine and drinking their espresso, wine or beer. I do believe, I've started 

smoking again - cough, cough, hack, gag !  It almost feels that way as I've been 

forced to gulp buckets of second hand cigarette smoke - gosh, good golly - this 

is a cigarette smoking country !!

I love the Promenade and could spend all day watching people.  Not only 

are the people fascinating to watch, so are the puppy dogs - all breeds and 

sizes. The French love their dogs and treat them exceptionally well. Dogs 

seem to be very well behaved here and are even welcome in restaurants - 

sitting in a chair at the table along side their owners.  Now that's something 

you never see in America or England - puppies at the restaurant dinner table.

Some dogs like to fish !!

What a splendid way to spend the day - sitting seaside and enjoying the sun.

It was about 57 degrees Fahrenheit and bright, full sun !

I watched this young man for a very long time. He was very good on

his skates. I must have snapped about 50 photos of him.

The ochre tiled rooftops of Nice.

Nice harbour

Looking at other people's laundry in Old Town Nice !!

 

She's great - just one of the many great characters you see by the sea !

En France

I explored the ancient city of Eze today.  Perched on a pinnacle of rock 430 

meters above sea level, Eze is a historical, fortress village built somewhere 

around the 1400's ( guessing a bit here) As you might imagine, it's a village 

steeped in history, with the most pristine views over the Mediterranean Sea. 

It's charming, winding pebble streets lead up to a serene tropical planet and 

cactus garden, complete with lovely statutes and a man made waterfall.

My internet connection is really unreliable in this flat and has knocked

me off several times already and I've had to post these images several times

over. Very frustrated and so will say bye for now and hope you enjoy the photos !