16 July 2008

Summertime in Menton - the Boat Trip - 3


We're almost there. In fact the trip from Menton to Latte, which is where we will drop anchor, is only about 10 minutes from Menton. Here we are passing La Mortola and the Hanbury Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in an area famous for its gardens. We'll visit it one day, I promise. Click on the smaller photo for a better view of this beautiful house.

The Via Aurelia, an old Roman road, runs through the gardens which were created in 1867 by the Englishman, Sir Thomas Hanbury and has a collection of 6,000 plants. It's now managed by the University of Genoa.

Trivia: about a television series called Rosemary & Thyme, which stars Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris. Caroline Hanbury, who still lives in Villa Hanbury, allowed the house and gardens to be used for this detective series about two lady gardeners. Her terrace was dug up and a restaurant created for the filming - afterwards, it was restored as before. Along with other friends, I spent one evening as an 'extra' in the 'restaurant.' If you saw that instalment of the series, and knew what I looked like, you'd see me calling for the waitress! I seem to remember getting paid 100 francs for it too. (well, I still have my Equity card!)

The perched village you see high up to the left of the photograph is Grimaldi Superiore.

Tomorrow we drop anchor just around the bay.

16 comments:

Abraham Lincoln said...

Beautiful photographs, excellent narrative. Nice post, Jilly.

Sally said...

That's a terrific story, Jilly! I know the show but didn't watch it very often, so can't recall it. But I'll look out if it's repeated!

Jim said...

wonderful pictures.

ft. lauderdale daily photo said...

Really enjoying this series. Beautiful photos, as always.

Olivier said...

la vue et le panorama sont magnifique, avec une maison de rêve

Hilda said...

Oh wow. Imagine living in such a grand house with a fantastic view of the ocean and surrounded by beautiful trees. Wonderful!

alice said...

A wonderful trip, Jilly! Je suis pressée de voir où tu nous emmènes...

MmeBenaut said...

Oh that's amazing Jilly. I always watched Rosemary & Thyme - and enjoyed those gardens. Is it very far by road to get there from Menton or do you have to go by boat?

Petrea said...

Superiore indeed! A wonderful story to go with a wonderful photo. I'm enjoying this series, and will also eagerly await photos of the grounds (someday) with its old Roman road.

Coltrane_lives said...

Excellent commentary and wonderful trip to Italy so far. Can't wait to get to shore. Maybe you and Petrea can compare your actor's cards!

Freda L said...

Hi Jilly, just caught up with your blog, it was good to meet you. Looking back at the photo of two 'Peace Ladies'-freda we met them sitting outside the launderette waiting for their washing!

Strangetastes said...

This looks just so idyllic, a bit of memory from when I had the privilege to visit your part of the works. The Mediterranean certainly has more charm than the Mississippi.

Thanks for your comment today. DO check out Bobbi Lane. She's the best teacher I've ever had in my life, in any field. I took her introduction to portrait photography workshop at the Maine Media Workshops last summer (3 hours or less drive from Boston). It transformed my photography and was a hell of a lot of fun.

Nathalie in Avignon said...

Jilly I'm enjoying the cruise tremendously, thanks for taking us along.

The two Jesus ladies were fantastic too. Such beautiful white clothes!

Anu said...

Very beautiful pics. The house, the waters. I like the sweet Jesus ladies too.

Kate said...

A storybook landscape!

April said...

A wonderful landscape with the mountains so nearby.

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