No Finish Line - the Runners

It's that time of year again when there are a lot of aching feet in Monaco.

'No Finish Line' is a charity 'run' in Monaco. It takes place over 8 days and the premise is simple - you pay 12 euros to enter and 10 euros for the hire of a microchip that is attached to your shoe. You grab a tee-shirt and then you walk, jog or run as often as you want over those 8 days. For every kilometre 1 euro is donated by the sponsors. The course is back and forth around one side of the port and the new digue (floating pontoon) and it's all in aid of charities for children. This year 6033 people took part, covered 168,992 kilometres and raised thousands of euros and doubtless got a lot fitter too!

Chop, Chop...

Piles of Christmas trees on Port Hercule.

Is it me or is it sad to see so many cut trees? I remember when a Christmas tree came in a tub and after Christmas it was planted in the garden...

Rust

This is the rusty jetty that in summer will be covered in a blue carpet to welcome those who wish to water ski.

The photo below shows where it is on Larvotto beach.

Mountaineering in Monaco

Do you think someone should tell these guys that walking boots and spiked sticks aren't really necessary in Monte Carlo?!

De-stress

Let's have a bit of peace and quiet today. The Japanese Gardens on Avenue Princesse Grace are always a good place to visit when stressed!

If you've been following Menton Daily Photo you'll know I'm exhibiting for the first time at PhotoMenton. Please click on the link if you'd like to see the photos I chose - some of which have featured on Monte Carlo Daily Photo in the past.

The Bird Lady of Larvotto Beach

This lady has the best fun feeding the gulls and pigeons on Larvotto beach. Don't you love her private 'island' on the beach...

Space

The forecourt of the Grimaldi Forum on Avenue Princesse Grace - looking towards Cap Martin.

The Sailing Lesson

A children's sailing lesson on Port Hercule.  In the smaller photo, the Bateau Bus waits for them to pass.

Change the Light Bulbs!

Someone needs to change the lightbulbs outside the Hôtel de Paris.

Old Soul

Do you ever wonder what kids are thinking?  This guy looks like he is an old soul with young shoulders, but perhaps the reality is he just want to get home to play with his Nintendo?

This was taken in the market in Place d'Armes.

The Lady with the Pearls

More detail from the house we saw yesterday.

Detail

Here's a detail from the house we saw yesterday.  Just a few steps from Port Hercule and such delights await!

Rue des Acores

Monaco isn't all Belle Epoque hotels, super yachts and beautiful people.   If you walk a few steps from the port you find small streets with interesting old buildings, speciality shops, family-run restaurants and people walking home with their shopping.  The market on Place d'Armes is just above us to the left.

A Frenchman's Hands

Have you ever met a Frenchman who doesn't use his hands?  Or an Italian?  This was taken in one of my favourite restaurants in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.  It's called Les Vents d'Anges.

Dreadlocks

This is one of the servers at a restaurant at the Monaco Yacht Show.  I've always adored dreadlocks.

November Sun

Three Monte Carlo ladies sit by the fountain in the Casino Gardens enjoying the gentle November sun.

Balance

Do you ever feel like this after a late night!

This was taken outside an art gallery in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Apologies, I don't know the name of the sculptor.

The Whizzing World

This was taken at the Monaco Yacht Show. It was extraordinary to walk into this section and suddenly see this enormous 'world' whizzing around on the gigantic screen. All very high tech and that seems to be what Imtech Marine is about.

Elsa's Table

A table at the Elsa Restaurant in the newly refurbished Monte Carlo Beach Hotel, looking towards the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.

The Coat Hook

The Casino Gardens have it all - including, it seems, a hook for your jacket.

The Oval Window

A detail on the Casino building. You only have to 'look up' in Monaco to see such joys.

Fur

There's an awful lot of fur on display in the shops this year. I'd like to think it's 'faux' but I fear it's the real thing.

There is a girl I know who would probably love this little Dior number. She's called Barbie of the Day and you can find her by clicking on the link.

A View from Cap Martin

We've walked past the point of Cap Martin and are on the Promenade Le Corbusier. In the distance we see Monaco.

The smaller shot was taken from le rocher, looking down over Port Hercule and in the distance is Cap Martin - where I was standing to take the main photo. Beyond Cap Martin is Italy.

Brigitte for President

Brigitte Bardot, screen icon and animal rights activist may run for the French presidency in France's 2012 elections. The 76 year old star of 'And God Created Woman' has been asked to stand by the Ecology Party. In a letter to Mr Sarkozy, she told the president that 'someone's voice is needed to defend animals as neither the Right nor the Left give a damn!'

Read more here - Daily Telegraph.

This painting of the star stands in the window of an art dealer in the Scala building in Monaco.

Hermitage Hotel

A double 'H' for the Hôtel Hermitage. Brass, set into the paving of the street in front of the hotel.

Noriko and Kaito

Crossing the Casino Gardens is always a pleasure and often a great place to grab a photo - a tree, a flower, people. And of course, with a camera in my hand, I often get handed a camera and asked to snap a couple or a family.

That's what happened a couple of days ago. Lovely Noriko asked if I would photograph her and her son in front of one of the fountains and afterwards I asked if I could repeat this on my camera and here it is. Noriko is Japanese and lives in Liguria which is across the border in Italy. And how adorable is her son Kaito!

Cigarette Break

A book, a cigarette - a break from work at one of the up-market fashion or jewellry shops on Allée Serge-de-Diaghilev, just off Casino Square. The street is named after the famous Russian dancer who founded the Ballets Russes.

Off to work we go...

The side entrance to the Café de Paris - almost time to start serving lunch. Don't you love the beautiful Art Nouveau glass.

Jean Reno?

This guy was part of a football team made of up French firemen - in Monaco for a national game. Some of the players dragged this man forward, teasing him and telling me he looked like French actor, Jean Reno and insisting I photograph him. So I did.

The Bateau Bus

The solar-powered Bateau Bus is Monaco's most fun form of public transport. It takes off from the
Terminal Croisière (where the big cruise ships come in) and crosses Port Hercule every twenty minutes. And at only 1 euro it's probably the world's cheapest charter and a fabulous way to get up close and personal with the mega yachts in the harbour.

To see how other bloggers in the City Daily Photo community have interpreted today's theme of 'Public Transportation' please click here to view thumbnails for all participants