Visiting Italy for the day...

On Thursday with our host we popped over to Italy to visit the pretty village of Dulceacqua 

The French impressionist Claude Monet stayed nearby in 1884 and often took trips in this area and visited the village twice to paint,once with Renoir. He was enchanted with the village and immortalized its bridge in one of his paintings.

As you can see Dolceacqua hasn’t changed much since his visits...which is a big part of its charm.

It has a beautiful church

Its narrow streets leading up to the old castle are a delight... 

and the views from the top are spectacular!

The way back down .

After exploring the village we headed over to the market in nearby Ventimiglia  where we also enjoyed a good lunch...

where we were trated to pizza alfresco plus these yummy pastries for desert, the one on the right is called 'ugly but good' I can confirm both adjectives describe it perfectly!

An Italian church for Sunday...Saint Anthony the Abbot in Dolceacqua

On our second day in Menton our very generous hostess took us over to Italy for lunch (as you do). We stopped over in the  pretty village of Dolceacqua - this is the village church...the Italians sure kow how to do churches. More on the actual village later.

 

Something for the weekend...

The association "Running Walking in the South Touraine"

organizes its trail and its hike in semi-nocturnal on Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 16h. Will take place in semi-nocturnal between Barrou (departure) and Chambon (arrival).

More info here:

Relive the arrival of Joan of Arc in Chinon there is just ... 590 years! 
Departure from Cravant Les Coteaux 14h00 on horseback or on foot 
Arrival at Chinon place Jeanne d'Arc for the delivery of the standard around 16h00 followed by the costume parade,led by Patrick Proust in the streets of Chinon with the arrival at the Fortress to 17:00. 
Glass of friendship at the Collegiate Church of Saint-Mexme

http://www.sovintage-lesalon.com/

Local knowledge...

On our little road trip away from the Loire Valley we are so lucky to be able to stop off here in Menton which sits between the Principality of Monaco and Italy, where the Alps roll down to the shores of the Mediterranean. Our hostess here was kind enough to give us a tour of the town which holds many memories for her both as a visitor and also for the many years her mother had a home here.It has an exceptional 'Belle-Epoque' hotel (or Palaces) heritage, due to the many grand hotels that were built here to welcome rich winter visitors and because a certain Dr James Bennet in the 1870s had declared that the town’s micro-climate and its almost unfailingly good weather offered a hope of recovery for those suffering from lung problems, meant the town had an influx of predominantly British but also German, Swedish and Russian sick people!

These, mostly wealthy patients who took up residence in these grand hotels, meant the said doctor made a fortune as he set up a clinic to treat them. Unfortunately the climate of Menton did not in fact heal the likes of tuberculosis and many patients died awaiting 'the cure'.

Our apartment block.

We walked along the charming seafront...

...looking up at the old medieval part of the town.

We headed up through the delightful narrow cobbled streets where the sunlight reveal jumbled little houses in muted shades of ochre  pink and yellow. We climbed up to rue Saint-Michel to the basilica of the same name, church with its landmark bell-tower. 

We continued up to the graveyard atop of the hill which gives wonderful views over the coastline.

The cemetery on rue du Vieux Chateau is a peaceful spot and is actually a place of pilgrimage for rugby fans as the sport's 'inventor', William Webb Ellis, is buried there.

As it happens there is also someone from my home town of Kilmarnock, John Hugh Bicket who died young (34) in 1894. His wife Emilie is also buried here.