Vale Squadron Leader Alan Newham Dawson MBE, BEM.

Roger's father died in the early hours of this morning aged 94... a much travelled life.

Vale Alan Newham Dawson MBE, BEM.
(1.4.1922-10.10.2016) York, UK .... RIP.

Ventimiglia

Our home exchange in Menton was only 15 minutes from Monaco and from Ventimiglia, Italy.   Amazing!  Everyone told us to go to the Friday fruit market in Ventimiglia because everything was so fresh and cheap.  And they were right!

MMMM... think we got carried away with all the wonderful fresh food.   We devoured the wonderful panini and cappuccini.  The local's laughed at our accents and urged us to come back for Venerdì mercato (The Friday Market) which was even bigger and better!

The following week we set off by train, having been warned there was no parking... but no one warned us how busy the train would be!  As crowded as the Bullet Train in Japan and nearly as late as the "Express" in Tanzania!

Luckily only a fifteen minute ride and when we arrived the friendly and snazzily dressed Italian police kept everything calm.

It was indeed an incredible market, everything you could possibly want or need, clothes, shoes, hats, local delicacies, cakes, bread, meat, cheese, olives, conserves.... I could go on and on.  An hour and we were done... time for some pasta and then a  much more comfortable journey home.

Lovely memories of a gorgeous, cultured town.  

How distressing to come home a few weeks later, to see images of our horrendous refugee problem, where Ventimiglia is being swamped by desperate people.... 

So sad, my heart goes out to all of them. 

Bulles Soufflage

Yet another lovely moment in France, sitting having lunch in the town square entertained by madame here blowing bubbles on the balcony!  Seems a long way from our busy days!

Happy 100th Birthday Mum

As usual I'm a bit behind in my blog -- about a month in fact, but I thought I shouldn't wait a moment longer to post Mum's birthday pictures!

Still singing and dancing!

Happy Birthday from the Queen - not that mum was impressed!

Aix en Provence

Stayed in a wonderful B & B ... everything home made... yum!

A highlight was visiting Cezanne's studio

 

Get the sketching gear out Roger!

Carrières de Bibemus

This was a great excursion...hot, hot, hot but fascinating...Walk in the steps of Cezanne and see the paintings in context.   Fantastic to look out over the stunning countryside that he saw and painted.  The guide took us along a specially constructed walk, past his cottage, along paths with stone markers showing where he painted a particular painting. 

 

Beautiful colours and landscape

The city itself very elegant - with of course lot's of Cezanne

Sur le Pont d"Avignon -Palais des Papes

Only had the day in Avignon... have to come back....visited Palais des Papes.  OMG what those popes got up to.  Three popes at one time... wars, mistresses, children and some stunning architecture!

Le Bubble d"Avignon

We booked a gorgeous barge on the river overlooking Avignon..... It was huge!

What we didn't realise was we would be sleeping in the  "Bubble" 

Oh my goodness what an experience... it felt like sleeping under the stars!  Morning was amazing!

Marseillan

Such a shock to be in a town where everyone speaks English!  Such a pretty place though, loads of restaurants - specialising of course in fish and coquillages, yachts from around the world and the Noilly Pratt factory. 

And of course these is always a water joisting boat.

'Mazing Minerve

All roads, wind slowly up the valley in this area but the road to Minerve is truly dramatic.   At times our car hung tentatively to the steep sides of the mountain while speedy sportscars careered around the corners, until finally we were rewarded by the amazing view of this Cathar village.  A history of siege, looting and conquer was just around the corner.

Narbonne est bon n'est pas

Great to meet up with Erin, Milton and Naamah in Narbonne... 

Beautiful city with a gorgeous canal running through it.  Went on a boat trip through the locks... total rip off but we LOVED it.

Delicious food... Moules Marinière for me and an ENORMOUS hamburger for Roger!

Yet another fabulous city with lots of grand architecture 

Fabulous markets...

AND the most incredible breakfast at Le Marché.... no we didn't have what these guys had at 9.00 am before they set of for work.... saucisson, du pain, steak, frites, and 5 glasses of Rosé each, we just had a simple omelette!  

Great waitress who just kept those plates of food and bottles of wine rolling!