Looking around Luceram..............

Perched high up in the Paillon valley North of Nice, sits the medieval village of Luceram which currently boasts a circuit of 450 creches to visit. Nativity scenes are perched everywhere - on ledges, on letterboxes, on window sills, on doorstops, on balconies......

They are hanging in trees, floating on troughs, swinging in lanterns, peeping out of every niche, crevice, basket, wheelbarrow, gourd, shell, plantpot, and barrel.....There are full scale models of Luceram in crochet, ceramic, and papier mache with santons of every villager.....

In addition to 450 Nativity scenes, the medieval village is beautifully decorated with swathes of sapin and shiny baubles at every twist and turn of the cobbled alleyways....

At every twist and turn, there are picturesque vistas to photograph....and don't miss the beautiful baroque churches with 15th century altarpieces.....

Reaching the top of the village, there are wonderful views of the surrounding countryside - the hills and valleys stretching away in vistas of blue...

Disproportionately there are 450 creches to only 1 restaurant in town, but fortunately La Boccafina is well worth a lunch stop. Service is very friendly and pleasant, and the menu, though only containing a few simple dishes, is very tasty and well-presented - homecooking with fresh, local ingredients.....perfect whilst you are waiting for the bus back to Nice....

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day out over the Christmas holidays!.....and thanks to Kevin Hin and his blog who first posted about Luceram and gave me the idea to get up there for a visit. Check out his very informative and interesting blog at www.french-riviera-blog.com  Enjoy!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 173 - Nice

Greetings from Nice as 2012 draws to a close!! This is the view from my apartment window - the last few days have been gloriously bright and sunny - clear blue skies with clear winter light just perfect for photography - for more shadow shots this week - click HERE and enjoy!!

Merry Christmas...........

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year........from NICE..

I am really ready for a Riviera Christmas.....

May you all have a wonderful festive time wherever you are....

Thanks for following and supporting my blog throughout 2012.....Here's to 2013!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 172 - Nice Port

Down at the port in Nice last week, the sun was shining and the shadows were sharp and strong...

But there are also some lovely splashes of rich colour in the vibrant hues of the architecture around the port...

For more shadow shots this week, click here for Shadow Shot Sunday.....Enjoy! And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all shadowhunters who contribute to the meme....

Weekend Reflections 22 - Nice Port

Down at Nice Port last week, I was lucky to witness the "golden hour" just before sunset, when the water literally did turn to a thick and treacly spun-syrup gold and the reflections took on the thick texture of oil paintings.......

For more weekend reflections, click HERE.......Enjoy!

Shifty Shades of Grey....

This is the view from my classroom window, and Port Hercule, Monaco is usually bathed in sunshine under bright blue Riviera skies with the glinting of polished chrome on the yachts flashing across the water, but I quite like these uncharacteristic shifting shades of grey.......

The muted shades and tones of the mist, mountains and the mirror-like glassy grey surface of the water are all rather appealing, but hang on a minute this is Monaco......Nothing like a fluorescent shocking pink surreal stiletto to break the grey.......What is the occasion??

No Finish Line is a hugely popular and well supported charity event held every November whereby competitors jog, run and walk round a circuit clocking up the km on their chipped ankle bracelets - all for a very good cause...

More splashes of vivid and vibrant colour against that background of grey - with Santa making an early appearance to herald the imminent start of the festive season....

What colour has been on your radar this week??

Shadow Shot Sunday 171 - Nice

After a very stormy and cold rainy week here on the Riviera, the sun is back, and although it may be December ....and winter of course...the sky is blue, the sea is blue and the shadows are back too.......

People are coming and going on the Promenade des Anglais to admire the sea views across the sweeping Baie des Anges, and larger mechanical promenaders are casting their bold shadows....

For more shadows cast this week, check out Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here. Enjoy!!

Weekend Reflections 21 - St Laurent du Var

A rather forlorn flooded car park outside a deserted disco is the location for this week's reflections at the quiet end of St Laurent du Var, a small resort just past Nice. This urban landscape is rather contrary to expectations of the scenic French Riviera which is why I liked it..... 

For more reflection shots this week, click here for Weekend Reflections......Enjoy!

Velo Bleu Vistas.....

I'm no hard-core lycra-clad cyclist of the Riviera ilk that you see here clocking up the kilometres on busy roads or gruelling climbs, but I do like a leisurely bicycle ride courtesy of Velo Bleu (Nice's version of Boris's Bikes) and my favourite little trip is along the seaside cycle path from NIce to Cagnes which takes about an hour and if you time the trading in of your bike right costs not even a Euro.......

First you cycle along the glorious Promenade des Anglais in Nice with glorious sea views across La Baie des Anges, past the airport, before arriving at St Laurent du Var with many harbourside restaurants and boardwalk cafes.....

Hop back on a new bike and cycle on to the charming Cros-de-Cagnes which still has an old timer's fishing village atmosphere and lots more seaview cafes and restaurants......(a clear theme is emerging here)..

From here there is a wide, spacious promenade to enjoy around the sweep of the bay to Cagnes-Sur-Mer itself where the cycle path terminates......and you can continue to explore the modern town of Cagnes or the Medieval hilltop village of Haut-de-Cagnes....

Velo Bleu allows you to hire bikes by the day or you can buy an annual pass for just 25 Euros and the bikes are free for 30 minutes - but you can trade them in immediately and take a new bike every 30 minutes. After cycling round  the heart of Mexico City using a similar scheme (Ecobici) this one really is a piece of cake... (with lots more places to stop off for tea and cake)......

Enjoy the ride!!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 170 - St Laurent Du Var

A solitary fisherman is silhouetted against the setting sun at St Laurent du Var. For more shadow shots this week click here for Shadow Shot Sunday.....Enjoy!

Weekend Reflections 20 - Nice

Where are this pair sitting reflecting on a sunny afternoon?? On the Promenade des Anglais in Nice where during the golden hour, it truly is the time to promenade and admire the sea views or take a pew and watch the world go by....

For more reflection shots, check out Weekend Reflections by clicking here. Enjoy!

From Russia with Love to Remo....

The Russians flocked to the Riviera in its Belle Epoque heyday, and indeed resorts like San Remo (City of Flowers on the Italian Riviera) were a magnet from the mid-19th Century onwards to aristocratic European exiles such as Tsar Nicola of Russia who came for the balmy, mild winters.

Dotted along the coast, as a result, are some beautiful Russian Orthodox churches like this one in San Remo which is next door to the Casino. It was designed by Alexi Shchusev who later planned Lenin's mausoleum in Moscow. The church was built for the Russian community who followed Tsarina Maria to the resort in 1906. Now it houses a fine collection of Russian icons...

Russian interest in the Riviera continues with ownership of many villas on Cap Ferrat  by the wealthy and well-known - including Vladimir Putin; and presence is now so strong in Monaco as of four years ago, that we now have many Russian students studying in our International School.

Shadow Shot Sunday 169 - Ventimiglia Vistas

Children race to reach the climbing frame which is casting a fine shadow in the park on the seafront at Ventimiglia the border town between the French and Italian Riviera. On a fine Autumn day the town affords veritable vistas across the valleys of Ventimiglia........For more shadow shots this week, check out Shadow Shot Sunday....Enjoy!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 168 - Ventimiglia Vista

The snow-covered mountains make for a beautiful view from the shadowy rooftops of Ventimiglia the border town between France and Italy on the Riviera. Ventimiglia is well worth a visit on Fridays when the streets are taken over by one of the largest open-air markets in the region. From cheeses and pasta to designer handbags and knitwear it veritably exudes the spirit of Italy...

 There is an intriguing old town to wander through which I have posted about before, a seafront, and many outdoor cafes and restaurants which all make it the perfect day trip - and if you catch it on a fine Autumn day like I did last week make sure you have your camera......

Ventimiglia is 40 minutes by train from Nice, and if you want to see more shadow shots, click here for Shadow Shot Sunday. Enjoy!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 167 - Cagnes

Not the most typical or scenic of shots of the French Riviera, but something about the shapes and colours was appealing on a sunny, shadowy day. For more shadows click here for Shadow Shot Sunday. Enjoy!!