The Oceanographic Museum for Eric Tenin and Paris Daily Photo!

We're taking a one day break from lunch at the Château Eza because today is an important day for the City Daily Photo community. It's the 5th anniversary of Eric Tenin's Paris Daily Photo. It was Eric who started it all and today, we are paying tribute to Eric by posting photographs representing the 'Tenin Perspective' - POV from the ground up or slightly skewed. (Thankyou Kim for the great idea of making a tribute in this way.)

Eric is an impossible act to follow but I hope you like this photo of the Oceanographic Museum on le rocher.

Happy 5th birthday to Paris Daily Photo and many thanks as always to Eric for everything, for the brilliant CDP idea, for sticking with it, for the friendship and inspiration you give to us all. To see the tributes of other CDP bloggers, please click here to view thumbnails for all participants

And do visit Paris Daily Photo - you'll see Eric's brand spanking new fabulous look to his blog.

Theme Day: Passageway...through the Winter Sporting

The Winter Sporting is a building with an entrance on Avenue Princess Alice, opposite the Hotel Hermitage. The other entrance is on the Casino Gardens and these photos show the passageway from one to the other. The Sporting d'Hiver is an Art Deco building that houses Monaco's cinema, several art galleries, a coffee shop and so on. Recently there was talk of it being demolished but there was such a hue and cry that happily we've heard no more about it.

In the main photo we are looking towards the gardens and in the smaller photo, in the opposite direction, with the cinema - out of shot - to the left.

To see how other City Daily Photo bloggers have interpreted today's theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Theme Day - Wood: the Cross

Theme Day and it's Wood which ties in nicely with our visit to the Festival of Sainte Dévote. Here we see, outside Monaco's cathedral, the various orders waiting for the clergy to arrive. In the foreground, the wooden cross.

According to legend, on the 27th January in the year 304, a boat from Corsica landed on the coast guided by a dove. In it lay the body of a young Christian martyr. Discovered by local fisherman, she became the patron saint of Monaco and a chapel was built on the spot - the beautiful Church of Sainte Dévote - which stands near Port Hercule. The relics of Sainte Dévote were enshrined within its walls and each year on the 27th January, religious ceremonies are held throughout the Principality in honour of its patron saint. On the evening of the 26th the Royal family burn a fishing boat on the port, from which a white dove is released. This is known as the 'burning of the boat' and is a tradition much looked forward to each year

To see how City Daily Photo Bloggers around the world have interpreted today's theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day: Best Photo of 2009

Today is Theme Day when we get to choose our best photo of the previous year. I liked the light and reflection of this shot taken inside the Hôtel de Paris. The walls are antique mirrors giving endless reflections of the opulent marble walls and beautiful lamps that are part of the foyer of this fabulous hotel.

The smaller shot shows kids on a new ride on the port at Christmas. They are zipped into a ball and then roll themselves around the course where they have snow, sea, tempest and sand to contend with, yet all within the safety of their magical cocoon. You could say they are having a ball!

To see the Best Photosof 2009 from around the world - what a treat today will be! - click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day: Changes

This is a Datura, photographed in the gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This beautiful plant, so common on the Côte d'Azur is a poison and a toxic hallucinogen which causes changes in the brain manifesting itself in agitated behavior and confusion.

Datura belongs to the classic "witches' weeds," along with deadly nightshade, henbane, and mandrake and has a long history in producing a changed delirious state and death. It was well known as an essential ingredient of love potions and witches' brews and sadly, the local newspaper, Nice-Matin sometimes reports on youngsters picked up in an intoxicated state having used Datura unaware of the extreme danger of the plant. Not the sort of changes anyone needs.

To see how other CDP bloggers have interpreted today's theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

For 2010 I wish you happy changes, positive changes, changes that will make you dance with delight. Happy New Year everyone!

'If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.' ~ Author Unknown

Theme Day: Waiting - the Waiter Waits

The terrace of the Café de Paris on Casino Square. A waiter is waiting for his order.

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

Theme Day: 'Doorways' - the Prince's Palace

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

It's Theme Day again and the subject is 'doorways' and in Monaco, why not the doorway to the Prince's Palace on le rocher? And a second doorway - this time the doorway to one of the sentry boxes.

To see how at least 100 City Daily Photo bloggers from around the world have interpreted today's Theme, do click on the link to be delighted and intrigued. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day: Contrast in the Bathroom Shop

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

It's Theme Day again - the challenge: Contrast.

Here we see the interior of a bathroom accessories shop in the prestigious Metropole Gallery in Monte Carlo. You want the softest towels, the most stylish bathrobes, candles, lamps, ornaments - you'll find them here. Browns, creams, glass, shine and matt and of course light and shadow - all create contrast.

Don't miss other CDP bloggers take on this Theme - well over 100. You'll love the incredible talent and imagination that speaks of the CDP community. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day: 'Big' - a Cruise Ship in Villefranche

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

A cruise ship in the bay of Villefranche dwarfs the coastline. Villefranche-sur-Mer is just along the coast from Monaco and not far from Nice. I was in a small boat so it was easy to get up close and personal.

Once again it's Theme Day and to find out how other CDP bloggers around the world are interpreting the 'big' theme, please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day: Night - Girls' Night Out

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

It's the first of the month and as always it's Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community. Today's theme is Night and this is a Girls' Night Out in Cap d'Ail, which adjoins Monaco. They are eating at Le Cabanon, a great little restaurant right on the rocks at the beach - very simple, great food.

To see how other bloggers in our world-wide City Daily Photo community have interpreted this theme - and I promise you there will be endless delights - please click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Theme Day: Empty

An 'empty' cycling jersey or maillot for today's 'Theme Day.'

The most famous cycle race in the world, the Tour de France, departs next Sunday from Monaco, with a Time Trial the day before. Whilst the Tour has passed through Monaco on occasion, it has never started here - a great honour for the Principality.

To honour the Tour, there are sculptures throughout Monte Carlo. Here we see the maillots by Héléna Krajewicz. These cycling shirts have been soaked in epoxy resine and are part of the current exhibition in Rue Princesse Caroline and Square Gastaud.

To see how other City Daily Photo bloggers from all over the world have interpreted today's Theme, please click here to view thumbnails.

Theme Day: Feet

It's the first of the month and so Theme Day once again in the City Daily Photo community.

Today's theme is 'feet' and here you see the feet on a beautiful sculpture you'll find at the lower entrance to Monaco's railway station. It's called 'Fraternita' and was given to the late Prince Rainier in 1999 on the 50th anniversary of his reign by GLI Italiani di Monaco. The sculptor is Sauro Cavallini. (Please click on the smaller photo to see the sculpture enlarged).

To see how others have interpreted this Theme do click here to view thumbnails for all participants. You will find many great images to delight you.

Theme Day: Shadows...in the Jardin Exotique

Fencing like this - looking as if it's made of tree branches yet in fact fashioned in concrete, is typical in the south of France and Monaco. Here, we see shadow of this fence on a walkway in the Jardin Exotique.

Today is Theme Day on CDP and the theme, of course, is Shadows. To see how over a hundred fellow-bloggers from around the world have interpreted this theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants. You will be surprised and delighted and entranced.

Theme Day: Yellow

It's Theme Day again and this month the subject is 'yellow.' Here you see a side view of part of the beautiful Hôtel Hermitage, perhaps the most beautiful Belle Epoque hotel in Monte Carlo. Built in 1890, when the Romanovs dominated Monte Carlo's social scene, it is no surprise the hotel was called the Hermitage after St. Petersburg's fashionable establishment.

The hotel's elegant piano bar used to be Maria Callas' ground floor suite. This was accessed via a private tunnel by her lover, Aristotle Onassis. These days, it's a good place for a glass of champagne.

The south of France and Monaco has a tradition of beautiful friezes - this one quite spectacular.

Over a hundred photographers will be posting their interpretation of today's Theme - you'll find so many different and imaginative responses to the word 'yellow.' Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day: Glass...in the Cellars of the Hôtel de Paris

Glass - dusty discoloured vintage champagne bottles displayed in the famous cellar of the Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo.

The main photo was taken without flash in these dimly lit cellars. I hope you like the graininess, giving the atmosphere of how it was to wander these famous cellars.

For those of you continuing this tour, today is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community and today's theme is 'glass' - the reason why I'm referring to glass as opposed to what's in the bottle! These beautiful old bottles of champagne, as is obvious, are not for sale and are doubtless undrinkable too - but goodness, aren't they beautiful to look at... (Notice the grill at the side of the display cabinet allowing air to circulate)

And if you are new to this tour of these amazing cellars, do come back tomorrow.

You'll find over a hundred City Daily Photo bloggers from around the world presenting their take on 'glass' today, and you'll find originality and great photos, so do click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Theme Day: Paths & Passages

To get to le rocher (the rock) you park in the car park cut deep into the rock way below. Then you take an escalator and then a lift (elevator). When you leave the lift, you can then take another escalator or walk up this pretty pathway which leads to the beautiful Musée Océanographique above. An attractive way to exit a carpark, I think you'll agree.

Today, being the 1st of the month, it's Theme Day on City Daily Photo (Paths & Passages) and as always there will be a myriad of wonders to see on blogs throughout the world. Please click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Theme Day - Best Photo of 2008

Today, being the first of the month, it's Theme Day for the City Daily Photo family and today's Theme is 'Best Photo of 2008.'

Flicking through the year's photographs, I found the ones I responded to were always of people. Sad, happy, tired, whatever. It seems to me people are what matter even though I do love to take views too. So, here's a young man photographed in Eze Village, which is near to Monaco, in October. How thin he is in comparison to his large head and hands. He seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He's taking a break from his work at one of the two prestigious hotels in the village.

Today's post is dedicated to a fellow CDP blogger (he knows who he is) who, by email, has endlessly and patiently helped me with photographic advice and encouragement over the last year or so - without you, bla bla.

Happy New Year to everyone and thank you to all the friends I've met through blogging - let's hope that 2009 brings a more peaceful world.

To view other City Daily Photo bloggers' favourite Photo of the Year - and you'll see some fabulous photographs, I know - Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

For an update on the continuing story of Mistral and Mia, the Hell Hole dogs - which is getting better by the minute - please click on the link.

Theme Day: Circles/Spheres - Fangio's Wheels

Once again it's Theme Day. Today's Theme is Circles/Spheres and here you see the steering wheel of the late, great Fangio's Mercedes-Benz. It's a sculpture that stands on one corner of Port Hercule in Monaco. As you see in the smaller photo - the centre of the wheel features the famous Mercedes-Benz logo.

Juan Manuel Fangio was Grand Prix World Champion five times in the 1950s. (Click on the link to see the entire sculpture).

Bloggers from 187 different cities around the world are taking part in today's Theme and will, I know, interpret this theme in a myriad of fascinating ways. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Theme Day - Books

A puppet for sale in Eze village - around his neck, a tray of books.

'Lord! when you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book.' ~ Christopher Morley

It's the first of the month and so it's Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers with 178 blogs participating in the 'Books' theme. Do spend some time enjoying the many interpretations I know you'll find. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

More Lines

More lines today... here you see the lines that mark the tennis courts, home to the famous Monte Carlo Tennis Masters. They are being watered to keep them in perfect condition.

Behind - more yachts than usual are out at sea. That's because, when I took the photograph last weekend, the Monte Carlo Boat Show was taking place in Port Hercule. These yachts had to give up their berths for the duration of the show. The large hotel is the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort.