Daily Sketch No.169 Illy Coffee, Menton, France

From this cafe in Menton you can just about see the sea - and the cafe also serves Illy coffee, my favourite although the French cannot do good cappuccinos, the milk is too frothy and not steamed but the French do better pastries!

Daily Sketch No.168 Le Brazza Cafe, Menton, France

This very welcoming shady square in Menton is one of my favourite spots in the town, sometimes spending a whole afternoon just sitting watching people go about their daily life.

Daily Sketch No.167 Glimpse of the Sea, Menton, France

Just come back from a trip on the French Riviera with limited internet access so the next five Daily Sketches (of Menton) will be uploaded together!

This is a view from the old town of Menton, just catching a glimpse of the sea between the buildings.

Daily Sketch No.166 San Romano, Garfagnana, Tuscany

Up in the lovely village of San Romano this morning dropping off some framed sketches for a customer. This sketch looking towards the village shows the large amount of trees that surround this area although the valley is more open with pasture land than around Barga.

Daily Sketch No.165 Panda Police Car, Barga Vecchia, Tuscany

The local municipal police in Barga still drive around in the original Fiat Panda, perfect for getting around narrow alleys but not great if in hot pursuit of a stolen car like a Ferrari. Although I have never heard of any stolen cars in Barga, only frozen cakes from the Gelateria a few years ago!

Daily Sketch No.164 Evening, Barga Vecchia, Tuscany

This is a classic view of Barga Vecchia, the soft evening sun shining on the warm coloured buildings with the duomo as the focal point in the sketch.

Daily Sketch No.163 The Three Umbrellas, Barga, Tuscany

These three umbrellas outside the L’Altana restaurant just within the walls of Barga Vecchia reminded myself of the three Amigos with their large sombrero hats protecting them from the hot Mexican sunshine, like these umbellas protecting their customers from the hot Tuscan sunshine!