If life gives you lemons ... wear them!

 So my last post was about wearing pink all over. How about yellow?

Today I went to Menton, which is the first town across the border, to catch the tail end of the annual Lemon Festival, when statues made of oranges and lemons are on display.

 

I was in Menton just after new year. It's a pretty town, but expensive to live in. Which wasn't always the case as much of its revenue used to come from fruit picking, which is never the best-paid trade. The Prince of Monaco, the former ruler here, was short of cash and decided that what his coffers needed was a tax on lemons. But trying to introduce this tax in the late 1840s when much of Europe was in the throes of revolutions was a disaster as Menton and much of his principality declared independence and sought the protection of the neighbouring Kingdom of Sardinia. Which might have worked out but that kingdom itself soon took over the Italian peninsula, requiring a bit of French help in the early stages, for which the fee was Sardinian lands west of the Alps. The French promptly annexed this unofficial protectorate of Menton, not before arranging one of their Putinesque referendums to confirm that the locals were delighted with the idea of being part of France. Shortly after, the Prince of Monaco came up with the genius idea of getting most of his income from a swanky casino that only foreigners could attend, thus leaving his remaining subjects virtually free of direct taxes, unlike the citizens of Menton who now have to deal with hefty French income tax. The law of unintended consequences is enough to make anyone bitter as a lemon, eh!

Anyway, here are the huge statues made of lemons. The fruit is sold off cheaply at the end of the festivities, although I noticed that they cheat by using coloured balls for some of the upright parts! 

 

I found a decent place to eat behind the market house. You know it's decent if the locals eat there. Having enjoyed a mixed plate of local specialities the waitress asked if wanted dessert. I asked what there was for dessert...

"Lemon tart"

"Or?" I prompted.

And I got a look from her! Sue, you silly! It's the lemon festival in the city of lemons. It's lemon tart all the way!

I opted for the lemon tart.

Which was pretty good!

Anyway, last time I asked if all-over pink was a good look. It's certainly trending. As for all-over yellow ...

Sue x