Steps in Beausoleil

It's hard walking up these steps in Beausoleil - but it's great fun to run down ...

Fit and Zen

Keeping fit.  This lady is running along Avenue d'Alsace, which is opposite the entrance to Monaco's railway station - but is in Beausoleil, and therefore France.

Steps, steps

You need to be fit if you live in this part of Beausoleil.  Beausoleil is in France, of course, but borders Monaco.   In fact, some streets are Monaco on one side and Beausoleil on another.

This photo was taken in 2010 on the camera before the camera before the .... and in those days I took photos only in jpg format.

Flower Lady

The flower lady at near Beausoleil market waits patiently ...

Courgette Flowers

Courgettes flowers. ( Zucchini in America). The smaller photos (posted a week ago) shows where them in context - the market of Beausoleil.

They are normally served as beignets (fritters) or stuffed and baked. And they are delicious!

Summer berries

Beausoleil market:

Summer berries - the strawberries were further along the stall ...

Rookie of the Year ...

Rookie of the Year ... in Beausoleil.

Courgettes as far as the eye can see ....

Courgettes (zucchini), with or without their flowers, for sale in Beausoleil's market. This sort are called 'trompette.' 

Three Men and a Dog ...

We're in Beausoleil today, the French town that borders Monaco. You can always tell - just look for the sun symbol on the pavement.

One of the things I've always loved about life in the south is how the old men meet up and chat.

The Pig

It seems strange to me that a butcher would display a cute pig with a pink ribbon around its neck and expect people to order pork chops!

Agretti

We're in Beausoleil market today - so near to Italy that it's no surprise to find signs for produce written in Italian. This is Agretti - looks like grass, doesn't it? In fact it's a tender succulent, native to the Mediterranean. It's also known as Barba di Frate (Monk's Beard) and in English, Barilla Plant, Opposite Leaved Saltwort or Russian Thistle.

Frances Mayes, author of the wonderful Bella Tuscany, wrote of this plant: 'Spinach is the closest taste, but while agretti has the mineral sharpness of spinach, it tastes livelier, full of the energy of spring.'

Remove the roots, steam for 5 minutes, and serve still slightly warm with some olive oil and lemon or prepare fettucine and mix with fresh chopped agretti, lemon and oil.

The Accordion Player

How's this for a beard! This lovely man was playing the accordion in Beausoleil yesterday and was happy to let me take his photo. Carlo is a member of the Scottish Dance Group of Monaco. He lives in Menton.

Riviera Palace - Balustrades

Our last day at the Riviera Palace and just a couple more details to show you. These balustrades are all that remain on this particular level. This is a colour you see often in the south of France.

And don't you think it interesting, in the small photo, to see the slope of the staircase and balustrades in the brickwork. Attention to detail that meant anyone walking up or down the stairs never lost the view.

Thanks to everyone who has come along on this visit with me.

Riviera Palace - Through a Glass Lightly

A few last images of the inside of the magificent Riviera Palace. The main photo is taken through glass.

Riviera Palace - the View from a Balcony

If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll see a fair amount of wear and tear, yet isn't this the prettiest place? Imagine living in one of these apartments and looking out from your balcony onto the Winter Garden.

Riviera Palace - the Cupola

If you want to see a part of the cupola from the outside you have to clamber up rather dodgy steps and then walk along this little path.

Each year in September, France opens up its historic buildings on their Journées du Patrimoine and often, on these days, there is no guide - as there wasn't on the day I took these photos. I'm sure if there was a guide there we'd not have been allowed to walk here - it was really quite slippery and difficult getting back down again.

Riviera Palace - the Apartments

The renovation of the cupola was completed in 2003, paid for by the proprietors of the apartments, the Conseil General and the town of Beausoleil. In 2004 it won a special Jury Prize awarded by the Association of Historic French Houses. The gardens are cared for by student gardeners.

In 1989 the Riviera Palace was listed as a 'Monument Historique' and the price paid for living in such a beautiful building (imagine owning one of these apartments with a balcony overlooking this Winter Garden) - is that you have a regular flow of visitors on guided tours.

Riviera Palace - the Winter Garden

The Winter Garden is the heart of the Riviera Palace. These photos only show a part of it - more to come!

It covers 900 square metres and is 20 metres high at the centre of the dome. The architecture of the Winter Palace is attibuted to Gustave Eiffel who built the beautiful glass dome in the Hermitage Hotel in Monaco and of course the Tour Eiffel in Paris.

More on the restoration of the Winter Garden tomorrow...

Riviera Palace - the Staircase Windows

These beautiful windows line the main staircase of the Riviera Palace. Is that a goose or a swan?

Riviera Palace - the Lift

This lovely old lift reminds me of those in old Paris hotels and apartment buildings.