31 December 2013

The Christmas Village - Something for everyone


At Monaco's Christmas Village on Port Hercule there is something for everyone.  You can eat, drink, go on rides, buy gifts or simply meet up with friends for a good time.

30 December 2013

The Christmas Village - Fast Food


Fast food - French style. And lots of Nutella!

Not sure why Santa Claus is wearing a pair of shorts and playing a guitar!

29 December 2013

The Christmas Village - Food and Drink


This is the food section of Monaco's Christmas village on Port Hercule. Choose from one of the many food and drink stalls, find a bench and enjoy.

28 December 2013

A Walk on 'le rocher'


This was taken on le rocher - the palace is behind me and this couple are walking towards the barrier where they'll look down on the glorious view of Port Hercule and the yachts with the Christmas village and ice-rink alongside.

I couldn't decide if I liked it better in colour or black and white - so here are both!


27 December 2013

Iced Over


Dusk over the swimming pool on Port Hercule which has been transformed into an ice rink for Christmas.  You see the yachts in the background and on the right is 'le rocher' where you find the cathedral and the palace.

26 December 2013

The Christmas Village


 The delight of a child at the Christmas village on Port Hercule.

25 December 2013

The Palace at Christmas


The Prince's Palace at Christmas. 

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.


24 December 2013

Casino at Christmas


The Casino last night. Happy Christmas everyone!

23 December 2013

Lunch in Eze


Christmas lunch with friends in Eze. Bon appetit!

22 December 2013

Fontvieille Harbour


A part of Fontvieille harbour.  Yesterday was glorious.  Today - so far - rain. The buildings you see are on land reclaimed from the sea.  The rockface above is known as the 'Head of the Dog.'

21 December 2013

Converging


Converging at FNAC ...

20 December 2013

Jean Michel Jarre's Aeroskull HD for iPhone


The Aeroskull HD is apparently what every well-dressed iPod or iPhone needs for Christmas! It's a speaker system with a dock for your device.  The sunglasses house the speakers. There are plus and minus signs on the two front teeth.

'Jarre Technologies, founded by the musical legend, Jean Michel Jarre has unveiled its latest speaker system, the Aeroskull HD iPhone 5 Bluetooth dock.  The Aeroskull features two 15 Watt speakers hidden behind sunglasses with an impressive 40 Watt Sub Woofer covering the whole of the back of the skull as well as 1% THD (Total Harmonic Distorsion), to deliver an uncompromising listening experience.'

The Aeroskull comes in 11 colours and costs 399 euros. Click link above to read more. I took these photos in FNAC in Monaco.




19 December 2013

Art Nouveau in Monaco


The Art Nouveau entrance to the Café de Paris on Casino Square.  Reminiscent of those gorgeous entrances to some Paris metro stations.

18 December 2013

Promenade


The promenade below the casino - looking towards Cap Martin, Menton and Italy.

17 December 2013

Wibbly wobbly


Reflections at the port of Fontvieille.

16 December 2013

Falling water


If you are getting fraught with preparations for Christmas, just sit and watch falling water. It helps ...

15 December 2013

14 December 2013

Christmas Lights


Conversation whilst sorting Christmas lights for this restaurant in the port of Fontvieille.

13 December 2013

Café at the Metropole Centre


The café on the lower level of the Metropole centre is always buzzing with people taking their morning coffee or meeting friends for a light lunch. Meanwhile sales staff on the level above chat whilst they wait for customers.

12 December 2013

Double Trouble


I can't resist photographing reflections - this is a lingerie shop in the Metropole centre. 

11 December 2013

Bruce's Brute?


Look at this brute of a car parked by the boats in the port of Fontvieille.  Perhaps it belongs to Bruce Springsteen! - after all, it says 'Born in the USA' on the numberplate. 

I gather this is a Cadillac Hummer and can't imagine how the owner manages to manoeuvre it through the tiny streets in the south of France and parts of Monaco.

10 December 2013

Two Men ...


You never know who you will run into at the shops in the port of Fontvieille.

09 December 2013

Christmas - the Metropole


Christmas at the Metropole shopping centre.

08 December 2013

Kermesse - Almond Tart


An almond tart for sale on the Greek stand at the Kermesse. 

07 December 2013

Kermesse: Sally


The lovely Sally - tireless worker for the Kermesse and always with a smile on her face.

06 December 2013

Kermesse - Legs


Cold weather gear in Monte Carlo.

05 December 2013

Kermesse - Concentration


Don't you love the intense concentration on this lady's face.  She is working at the raffle table which raises a lot of money for charity with its Tombola and big Monaco-style prizes.  I don't know who she is but I think she looks a bit like Mary Berry, the lovely English cookery lady on television, don't you?

04 December 2013

Kermesse - the Workers for Charity


The ladies who man (!) the stalls at the Kermesse work tirelessly for charity.  For weeks before the event they beg, borrow and steal (not really!) items for their stalls and then have to price them, pack them up and get them to the circus tent on the morning of the Kermesse.  Then they work non-stop all day selling, selling, selling and always they raise thousands for charity.

In these two photos, on one of the British Association of Monaco stalls (BAM) you see the ebullient Anne Batt and behind her, Caroline Casely.

Those of you who are regular followers of this Facebook page will know Anne and her wonderfully funny and ascerbic comments on the style - or lack of it - when I post pics of people.


03 December 2013

Kermesse - the Books


Books, books, books.  There is an English bookstall and a French one at the Kermesse with thousands of second hand books for sale.   And in the middle of the afternoon all the books unsold are on offer at 1 euro each.  The lady in the first photo is looking at a book on punctuation.

I bought 27 books so have a feast of reading ahead ...


02 December 2013

Kermesse - the Paella


This is the Spanish stand where you'll see a long queue waiting for a plate of delicious freshly made paella. The ladies of course dress appropriately.

Click on this link from last year to see the preparation of the paella.



01 December 2013

Kermesse - Tiger on my Table



The annual Kermesse in aid of charity was held yesterday in the circus tent in Fontvieille.  This is the 44th year of the year of this event which has been held annually in Monaco since 1970 when it was created by the British Association of Monaco (BAM), St. Paul’s Church and the Saint Vincent de Paul charity. Nowadays others are involved in the organization including the Reform Church of Monaco, the Spanish Community, and the Greek Orthodox parish.

There were over 25 stalls including two book stalls (one English and one French), lots of clothes stalls, a toy stall, an antique stall, a flower stall, a tombola stand and loads of Christmas food for sale.

Everyone has the best fun meeting up with old friends, however this lady is making is quite clear she has no intention of having a conversation with a tiger.