Some thoughts from the Riviera

I don’t really have a “theme” today, so I guess this will just be some ramblings from Menton, if you all don’t mind.

I’m fascinated by the micro-climate that exists here. As mentioned earlier, it’s mild enough that citrus fruits bloom and are harvested year round. In the gardens right now, roses that usually don’t come out until the heat of July at home are all ready in full bloom. We were in the citrus grove in front of the fine arts museum, and various trees were in different stages of development. I was especially interested in the grapefruit tree, as I hadn’t seen one before (and absent-mindedly forgot to snap a photo!), and how each tree was in a different stage from the one next to it. At home, an orchard of apples (something I know a fair bit about!) generally flowers, matures, ripens and is harvested at the same time. Here, one lemon tree will be ready to be harvested, while right next to it, another is just coming into bloom. Wonderfully different.

I have seen 2 paw-paw trees here as well – something we DEFINITELY do not have at home. I love their form and shape, as well as that of my ultimate favourite, the cypress – which is so architectural in its form.

We haven’t really “done” anything of a tourist form yet… we’ve just been hanging out around the apartment and the pool and staying in town to do some grocery shopping, etc. It’s a bit of a cliché I suppose – but right now the radio started to play “M’Lord” by Edith Piaf! I can hear some Vespa’s racing along the road, and the bell at the Basilica is ringing 11am. The sun is shining strong & bright and there is a faint small of salt from the sea. Things seem so relaxed and casual, you can’t help but feel like you wish that things could stay like this forever!

We’ve all ready popped into the market to get our groceries for lunch & breakfast for tomorrow morning. As it’s Friday, the (smaller & usual) traveling brocante is back in town. I snapped the photo of this little Jack Russell Terrier, at the brocante, that was behaving himself “in storage” for Mary & John to share with Jarvis & Honey, to show them how lucky they are. We bought ourselves a very nice champagne bucket. Unfortunately, the paper-dealer with the cruise-ship menus wasn’t there, but perhaps we’ll see him next week in Nice.

BTW - I'm not overly-happy with the way that my pages are laid out, but I can't figure out the software, so we just have to make do.

I’m signing off to catch some sun before lunch!