2009-10 (Oct09)
Daily Photos
31 October 2009
Just came out from a kayaking trip on the Roya river.
One out of two cars in France have beeps and bumps all over them. Bumping another car is a natural part of driving and they don’t make so much fuss about it. Unlike their British neighbours, the French, in general, are not renowned for buying flashy cars. It’s the comfort and practicality that counts, not the status-symbol !
Very few convertibles like this are seen driving on the road, and half of them would be British or German holidaymakers.
30 October 2009
We went to Menton today to spend yet another 250euros for a pair of new tires for the car. Just an hour earlier, we shelled out the first 250euros for a new battery. Gee, all we do is spend these days! Mais, c’est la vie!
As it was already lunchtime, the Italian garagiste (car mechanic) suggested a good restaurant that “won’t rip us off” …
indeed, the ambience has already titillated our appetite
not bad…
Sauté de boeuf a la paysanne…(Sauteed beef, Farm style)
Tender juicy beef in wine sauce, vegetables and pasta…delish!
For this meal of the day including a glass of red wine and espresso:
only 13euros!
Truly not bad…
29 October 2009
I’ve been thinking of recycling my clothes lately and seeing this lady today got me excited!
A family that sunbathes together stays together…
Frejus, South of France
It’s the season of the bottlebrush flower.
The sweet and delicate flower of the cactus
Saw this statue of Roland Garros in Frejus today. He is renowned for making the first nonstop flight across the Mediterranean Sea from Fréjus to Bizerte (Tunisia). Named after him is the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris where the French Open is held every year.
28 October 2009
one, little two, little three, little terraces….
Fontan, France
27 October 2009
A shop signage. Owner must be a paragliding enthusiast
Breil sur Roya, France
A sundial done in tromphe l’oeil
Breil sur Roya, France
26 October 2009
I love looking at our village dump. It’s surprising to see the kind of things they dump there, sometimes they are museums pieces. Wonder what year they started manufacturing suitcases like this….
Fontan, France
3 days free concert in Nice Acropolis, cool!
Seen posted at the bus stop
Saorge, France
25 October 2009
A photoshoot in Olivetta San Michele, Liguria, Italy
Although San Michele is at the foot of the French/Italian alps, its proximity to the coast creates a micro-climate environment, making this palm tree thrive all year round.
un gatto italiano (an Italian cat)
This is the rail that runs from the coastal town of Ventimiglia to the skiing resort of Limone
Stopping for an apero in Airole, Liguria, Italy
The village as seen from the carpark
Autumn in Airole
the church
The piazza
Chatting in the square
Container garden
A pot of succulents
A gourd garden
“was a vespa, but now just an eyesore”
Another vespa (truck)…
“Commune di Airole - 15 - via sallita alla croche”
Each house number carries the name of the village and the road. I’m not sure if it applies to the whole of Italy.
La dolce vita
23 October 2009
Blasting cement on the soily hills of the the Roya Valley.
Erosion is a big problem in the region causing accidents to motorists so one way of stopping it is by cementing the surface of these hills.
France
Vertical gardening
Breil sur Roya, France
Breil sur Roya, France
“Come in to my ceramic shop”, says the Madame.
“Nice floor you have there!”, I remarked.
Breill sur Roya, France
The village of Breil sur Roya, France
22 October 2009
Shopping in Ventimiglia, Italy
We had an impromptu cheese-tasting session at this counter. All the cheese taste so good we wish we could buy them all!
“Prickly pear”, is what they call this cactus fruit. Tastes sweet like nectar!
Beef tomatoes - the best tasting tomato of Italy. Best eaten raw.
Always the indefatigable fish cleaner, he actually gets a lot of tips from the buyers. Notice his tip box!
Drove past this helicopter on our way back home from the market. Must be doing some inspection of the Roya Valley as it rained all night last night.
21 October 2009
Winter is approaching, time to order wood for the fireplace.
Q: What is that?
A: A truck driving through the main road (and I am on the top floor taking the photo)
18 October 2009
La Brigue, France
On the road to La Brigue to watch the Festival of Sheeps
Festival of Sheeps
Around 1,500 sheeps were gathered for the fair
The village of La Brigue
Today, we felt the first freezing cold day of the year when we went to La Brigue. While it is only 10 minutes drive away from our village, the difference in temperature is notable what with its mountains already covered in snow!
Scenes at the Agriculture and Craft Fair 
In time for halloween
Catch your own trout!
Crepes, anyone?
15 October 2009
overripe for the picking
someone’s fence at the Roya Valley, France
14 October 2009
The tree surgeons strike again!In the autumn, as soon as their leaves start to fall, all plane trees on the roadside are sawn off their branches. This is to prevent accumulation of fallen leaves on the road. A way of maintaining road neatness.
Breil sur Roya
These trees will remain leafless during the winter and will start growing leaves again at springtime.Breil sur Roya
I love painting stencils in our house and I love collecting designs from the places I go to. This one is from a boulangerie (bakery) in the next town.
Breil sur Roya, France
3 slides for 2euros!
Tende, France
12 October 2009
what a beauty…
Menton, France
A bumper harvest!Menton, France
11 October 2009
Saw this poster today on our way to an afternoon walk in Saorge.
Saorge, France
We arrived just in time. The dance workshop was being held in the grounds of the Monastery de Saorge. They were dancing the “Tarantella” which is a folk song of Southern Italy, particulary Naples. Although it’s a dance of love and joy, the name comes from that of the “tarantula” spider. Legend goes that the painful bite of this arachnid caused a mind illness which could be healed only through the dance.
Saorge, France
The beautiful village of Saorge perched on the hill in the Roya Valley
Saorge, France
The 17th century Monastery of Saorge which is now dedicated as residence for writers
Saorge, France
This ruin is for sale. Ideal for a walker because it can only be reached by foot, a couple of kilometers away from the main road.
10 October 2009
I look out of my kitchen window and revel at my neighbour’s green thumb
Fontan, Alpes-Maritimes, France
05 October 2009
Signora, giornalo por favor…(Madame, (may I buy a) newspaper please..)
Cremona, Italy
An old Roman road in Cremona, Italy (discovered in 1967)
Cremona, Italy
the man behind the curtain…
Cremona, Italy
04 October 2009
Mont Blanc as seen from the Passy-Mont Blanc autoroute stop, Haute-Savoie, France
4,807 meters tall, Mont Blanc is the highest summit in Europe. It borders Italy and France. Each year, around 2,000 climbers reach the summit.
A wooden clock tower
Evian, France
A trained cypress tree
Evian, France
Fishing at Lake Lehman, Evian, France
At the far distance is Lausanne, Switzerland
A sculpture on the French exit of the Mont-Blanc tunnel
Haute-Savoie, France
03 October 2009
Geneva’s landmark, the Jet d’Eau, is also Europe’s highest fountain. It towers over at 140 metres.
Mob of dancers
Michael Jackson Dance Tribute
Plaine de PlainPalais, Geneva
Looking for a bank? You’re in the right place!
Quartier des Banques: Bank QuarterGeneva, Switzerland
The clocks of Geneva
The Flower Clock
Leaving the city of Geneva, we went driving along Lake Lehman and saw this multitude of sailing boats
Geneva, Switzerland
A UFO-shaped building in the town of Douvaine
Haute Savoie, France
A half-caravan half-chalet
Relais du Lehman, Haute-Savoie, France
02 October 2009
Just another window display in the watch capital of the world
Geneva, Switzerland
Public restroom in a French autoroute stop
France on the Swiss border
Public restroom in a French autoroute stop
Northern France
01 October 2009
A thatched cottage in rural England
West Suffolk, UK
An English pub
West Suffolk, UK
Eggs for sale. Just drop the money on the bowl, please.
West Suffolk, UK
4 Comments »
Star Villanueva on 21 Oct 2009 at 8:16 pm #
Wow! Very nice photos! =)
mariadams on 22 Oct 2009 at 9:43 pm #
Thanks, Star, for visiting! By the way, you have a nice website
Paz Felix Batac on 24 Oct 2009 at 5:15 am #
Hi Shirley!
Paz here, hope you still rememberme. Wow! nice pics. I’ve visited your site many times. Feeling ko nag travel din ako. How I wish I could go there. It was my dream since I was a child to travel in Europe. Who knows maybe next year I’l see you there. Wow! pangarap….kailan ka magbakasyon dito sa ating bayan?
mariadams on 24 Oct 2009 at 12:56 pm #
Hello Paz!
Of course, I remember you! What a surprise! I didn’t expect a high school classmate of mine actually reading my site! Thanks for visiting!
As I mentioned in my About page, it is my pleasure to share my experiences with everyone. I would like to be your window of Europe, especially for those who have no chance to see this continent.
Nothing is impossible. If it’s your dream to travel to Europe, you can make it happen. Plan it now while you are still able to.
I don’t know when I am coming home but when it happens, I would like to see you in person!