Climbing the mountain
Mar. 26th, 2014 02:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peterbirksThis morning the plan was clear. I had spotted some steps leading up from Blvd Princess Grace that looked interesting, and a perusal of the map that evening seemed to show that this offered an interesting back route up to the Fort du Mont Alban, which Craig and I visited last year.
As it turned out, the steps that I spotted were the wrong steps -- they would have taken me nowhere useful. But, fortuitously, when I got off the bus, thinking I had travelled too far, I spotted the right steps.
The walk from road to top starts at the Escalier St Esteve, a quiet 310 steps.
Here is the map of my walk as it transpired.
Wednesday Walk
After reaching the top of the steps there is a little jig to the right and then you walk past the entry to a house (number 54) in what looks like no more than a short cut to the back garden. You then turn sharp left and, there you are, on what was once the main route from the east to get up to the fort.
(1) The Chemin du Fort du Mont Alban
This was a stiffish climb, but only about half a mile. TBH, I was disappointed at how easy it was.
(2) The sanitizers are coming in. In a few years it will be all clean steps. I think this is rather sad.
But it was still worthwhile because this appears to be a route not yet featuring in the tourist guides. I saw no-one travelling in either direction either on my walk up or on my walk down.
(3) And there are views like this.
(4) A view of Villefranche-sur-mer castle, and football ground.
(5) I must have climbed a fair way, because I appear to be as high up as Eze Perché (on the right)
The route also thre up a surprise. I knew that I was approaching the end of the route, partly because I came across this:
(6) The remains of the old gate to the Fort du Mont Alban. Another indication that, 300 years ago, this was the main route up to the fort from the east.
Mind you, another hint that I was near the top was that the radio mast was getting closer.
6(b) I have arrived!
I then headed back down to the Moyenne Corniche. A number of routes were available, but I took the simplest. It was all well-paved, and I suspect this is the more-used "walk route" to Mont Alban. However, once again, I saw no other people taking this route.
(7) Slightly mismarked on map. It's further down, near 8. An example of a frequently seen sight near the coast in Nice -- the bridge to the front door on the top floor.
(8) I'm not sure what this is. At first I thought it was the residence of a religious order, and it may once have been that. But now I am not so sure.
(9) Once again, the Promenade de Paillon, where the bus garage used to be. Impressive work, I think.
(10) None of these plants was here a year ago. There is an interesting collection that looks to me as if the aim is to recreate a version of the Villa Ephrusse de Rothschild on Cap Ferrat. These, BTW, are orange trees.
10(b) And finally, for Kate, the pet shop to which I referred last week. Note, no spiders in the front window, only kittens and (on the other side, not pictured), puppies! (Impossible to get a decent picture here -- the sun was too strong).
I enjoy these walks in places off the tourist map, but one does wonder what would happen if I had a heart attack, or slipped and broke an ankle. For half a mile or so there was absolutely no-one around -- possibly no-one within hearing distance. Still, that is part of the fun.
As it turned out, the steps that I spotted were the wrong steps -- they would have taken me nowhere useful. But, fortuitously, when I got off the bus, thinking I had travelled too far, I spotted the right steps.
The walk from road to top starts at the Escalier St Esteve, a quiet 310 steps.
Here is the map of my walk as it transpired.
Wednesday Walk
After reaching the top of the steps there is a little jig to the right and then you walk past the entry to a house (number 54) in what looks like no more than a short cut to the back garden. You then turn sharp left and, there you are, on what was once the main route from the east to get up to the fort.
(1) The Chemin du Fort du Mont Alban
This was a stiffish climb, but only about half a mile. TBH, I was disappointed at how easy it was.
(2) The sanitizers are coming in. In a few years it will be all clean steps. I think this is rather sad.
But it was still worthwhile because this appears to be a route not yet featuring in the tourist guides. I saw no-one travelling in either direction either on my walk up or on my walk down.
(3) And there are views like this.
(4) A view of Villefranche-sur-mer castle, and football ground.
(5) I must have climbed a fair way, because I appear to be as high up as Eze Perché (on the right)
The route also thre up a surprise. I knew that I was approaching the end of the route, partly because I came across this:
(6) The remains of the old gate to the Fort du Mont Alban. Another indication that, 300 years ago, this was the main route up to the fort from the east.
Mind you, another hint that I was near the top was that the radio mast was getting closer.
6(b) I have arrived!
I then headed back down to the Moyenne Corniche. A number of routes were available, but I took the simplest. It was all well-paved, and I suspect this is the more-used "walk route" to Mont Alban. However, once again, I saw no other people taking this route.
(7) Slightly mismarked on map. It's further down, near 8. An example of a frequently seen sight near the coast in Nice -- the bridge to the front door on the top floor.
(8) I'm not sure what this is. At first I thought it was the residence of a religious order, and it may once have been that. But now I am not so sure.
(9) Once again, the Promenade de Paillon, where the bus garage used to be. Impressive work, I think.
(10) None of these plants was here a year ago. There is an interesting collection that looks to me as if the aim is to recreate a version of the Villa Ephrusse de Rothschild on Cap Ferrat. These, BTW, are orange trees.
10(b) And finally, for Kate, the pet shop to which I referred last week. Note, no spiders in the front window, only kittens and (on the other side, not pictured), puppies! (Impossible to get a decent picture here -- the sun was too strong).
I enjoy these walks in places off the tourist map, but one does wonder what would happen if I had a heart attack, or slipped and broke an ankle. For half a mile or so there was absolutely no-one around -- possibly no-one within hearing distance. Still, that is part of the fun.
