Casino Square

A visitor with a crazy expression, the owner of the car and the parking attendant of the Hotel de Paris.

Delivery

Delivery to Sonia Rykiel.

Stripes

Stripes - at the Pavilions de Monte Carlo.

Walking the Red Carpet in Monte Carlo

The bubble-shaped luxury shops in the Casino Gardens really are extraordinary with their sloping glass exteriors.  Nice to walk the red carpet ...

Space Age Shopping in Monte Carlo

Space-age shopping is what now greets visitors to Casino Square in Monte Carlo.  Where once stood the Jardins Boulingrins,  you now find 5 pebble-shaped shaped constructions with 2,500 square feet of shopping space.  Here you can buy your Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, Akris, Sonia Rykiel, Yves Saint Laurent and so on ...

Each pavilion has a different shape and size ranging from 220 to 600 m² and a ceiling height of maximum 10 m. The temporary pavilions are meant to last 4 years, which corresponds to the duration of the renovation works at the Hôtel de Paris and the Sporting d’Hiver. Then, apparently, these businesses will close down and take up their new accommodation in the Sporting d'Hiver.

This is all part of the redevelopment programme by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) for the Place du Casino. The beautiful Art Deco building, the Sporting d’Hiver (which you see in the background) will be demolished and replaced by three buildings including businesses, high-end residences, offices and leisure and spaces for recreation and culture.

Three way conversation

Three-way conversation at the seafood counter of the Café de Paris - note the replicas of old postcards running along the base. 

Casino Monte Carlo - the Clock

One of the ornate clocks in the casino of Monte Carlo.

Casino Monte Carlo - the Blue Chairs

A luxurious corner inside Monte Carlo's casino. (not sure about the blue chairs!)

Casino Monte Carlo - the Entrance

The entrance to Monte Carlo's beautiful casino. The bronze is called 'La Fortune' and is by Daphne du Barry. 

Casino Monte Carlo - the Atrium

The stunning atrium of the Monte Carlo Casino.

Monaco Grand Prix - a seat in the stalls ...

If you are in Monaco today - Grand Prix time! - this is one of the places from which you might decide to watch the race.  We're in Casino Square - the cars whizz up from the port, past where you are sitting and on down to the hair-pin bends of Loew's Casino.  The concave/convex mirror is called Sky Mirror by Anish Kapoor and is reflecting the casino building.

Friendly Policemen

Monaco policemen are friendly ... and good looking!

Grand Prix - Fenced in

Almost Monaco Grand Prix time - next weekend. And so Monaco is encased in its ring of steel. Here the Cafe de Paris on the left and the Casino in the distance are fenced in with gates for people to walk through.

An Axe, a Shovel and a Jeep

You don't really expect to see an American jeep driving past the casino in Monte Carlo, do you?

I assume it's an American jeep?  There's a shovel and an axe fixed to the side.  Is the guy a gardener in the Principality?  Perhaps he's a rich American who likes driving around in a jeep.  He's  got a sort of longish crew-cut.  A mystery.  Nevertheless he was more than happy to have his photo taken and I was more than happy to take it. Thankyou nice smiling man!

Lanvin boxes

Rubbish outside the Lanvin shop in Casino Square.

Aren't they nice boxes!   If I hadn't been laden with camera and bag, I'd have brought them home to use as shoe boxes (which presumably they are) or to file something.

Czarina

Czarina's window in the Winter Sporting.

Covered in green

Women are obviously covering their faces this spring ...

Hotel de Paris, Monaco

A welcome over the entrance to the Hotel de Paris in Casino Square.

Dichotomy

Dichotomy in the Metropole Centre.

Surprise encounter ...

Fancy seeing you here!