Beaulieu-sur-Mer - Perfection

This is one of the many public gardens in Beaulieu-sur-Mer - an area is in front of the port.  Beautiful pots, perfect flowers, automatic watering.  Beaulieu always seems to me to be what the 'perfect' Riviera town would be if we had to imagine it - Belle Epoque villas, yachts in the bay, classy, (don't you hate that word) pristine, a 'dream' of the Côte d'Azur made real. 

Note: the cyclists - not long now and it will be that time of year again - the Tour de France.  You regularly see the Tour de France cyclists practicing on our roads and hills.

Beaulieu-sur-Mer - the Beach

We're in the beautiful town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer today - it's just along the coast from Monaco towards Nice.  Monaco - Cap d'Ail - Eze - and then Beaulieu.  So let's spend a few days here - and why not start on the beach.  If you look carefully you can see the terrace of the Villa Kerylos, on the left.  Click the link to see photos taken in 2009 when we explored this stunning Grecian villa.

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.

Sign of the Times

Closed since 2006 this beautiful old hotel has an uncertain future. Renovation, demolition? One day we'll find out.

The Ancient Anchor

This stone Greek anchor was discovered in La Baie d'Anao (Beaulieu) and dates back to the 6th century BC. It's on display by the harbour where it was found - Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

Romero Britto in Beaulieu

This happy chappie welcomes you to the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer. He was created by the Brazilian Pop Art artist, Romero Britto and given to the town in 2007. Do click on the link to read more about this fascinating artist and his charitable works. Prince Albert of Monaco is a collector of Britto's work.

Reverse Reflections

Reflections of the sea on the side of the boat - rather than the other way around! We're in the beautiful port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

Today is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community. To see how others around the world have interpreted the theme of 'reflections' do click on the link. You won't be disappointed. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

A Corner of Beaulieu's Port

Beaulieu-sur-Mer is such a pretty port with many beautiful Belle Epoque villas on the hillsides.

We'll be back in Monaco tomorrow as there is much going and lots to show you but we'll be back in Beaulieu, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Villefranche soon.

The Wake of a Boat

We've passed Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and are headed towards the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer. There's something about the wake of a boat on the Mediterranean - or anywhere, come to that - that is simply fabulous.

Tomorrow - we'll take a look at the yacht in the top left of this shot.

Beaulieu-sur-Mer - La Réserve

Our boat trip continues. Today we are calling into the harbour of Beaulieu-sur-Mer - a beautiful town along the coast and not far from Nice.

Just before the port is La Réserve de Beaulieu - a 4-star hotel known as the 'pink palace' and one of the 'Leading Small Hotels of the World.' Click on the link to read more and to take a virtual tour.

The hotel's history dates back to the times of the Belle Epoque. It was founded in 1880 by Pierre Lottier, a restaurant owner from Nice. Originally a luxury seafood restaurant - 'La Reserve' was the nickname given to the live fish tank which Pierre Lottier had dug out in order to stock the local fishermen’s catch.

In 1905, La Réserve de Beaulieu added some ten prestigious rooms after which aristocrats, captains of industry and artists used to meet up : King Gustave V of Sweden, King Leopold II of Belgium, Leo Tolstoy, Sir Thomas Lipton, Gustave Eiffel and Mistinguet. The American press magnate and sports lover Gordon Bennett Jr became a great habitué of La Reserve and promoted it in his newspaper, The New York Herald.

La Réserve lived through the Belle Epoque, the Great War and the Roaring Twenties and at the end of the Second World War, the new owners built a large Florentine style villa adjoining the restaurant’s veranda. The hotel's celebrity guest book from this period and the following years is a compendium of illustrious guests from the fifties and the age of glamour such as Rita Hayworth, Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Charlie Chaplin, or Edith Piaf, Jean Marais, Frank Sinatra.

The hotel's current owners are Nicole and Jean-Claude Delion who continue the tradition of the 'pink palace' on the Côte d’Azur.

2010 World Cup: France 0 - Mexico 2

Beaulieu-sur-Mer - just along the coast from Monaco on the way to Nice.

It would seem someone wasn't too happy when Mexico scored last night. Several of these flares were let off during the evening, sometimes setting fire to rubbish bins but the Police turned up pretty quickly and stomped them out. Sure did stop the traffic at times though.

Back to Casino Square tomorrow...

Villa Kérylos - One Last Look

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Our last day at Villa Kérylos - a quick look around and we see a beautiful bronze set against a frescoed wall and in the smaller photo - a stunning ceiling.

Tomorrow: lunch by the port of Saint Jean on Cap Ferrat. Do come along.

Villa Kérylos - the Working Man

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Like all famous houses open to the public, Villa Kérylos needs an immense amount of tender loving care. This post is dedicated to Chuckeroon of Richmond-upon-Thames Daily Photo who recently posted on 'The Working Man' at Ham House. Please click on the link.

Of course, to match Chuckeroon's passion, the photo should be Black and White but with the Mediterranean outside the window, I couldn't do it.

Tomorrow - our last day at the Villa and then...lunch at the port of Saint Jean on Cap Ferrat. Everyone welcome!

Villa Kérylos -the Garden

From this part of the garden we look across to the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, dotted with magnificent mansions.

The garden contains a mixture of typically Greek plants: olive trees and vines, pomegranate and carob trees, acanthus and myrtle, oleanders and irises, pine and cypress trees, palm trees and papyrus all help create a Grecian look and feel in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Villa Kérylos - the Gallery of Antiques

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Located at sea level, the “Galerie des Antiques” is a collection of life-size casts of the finest classical Grecian statues, such as the famous Belvedere Apollo, the Venus de Milo and the Discobolus, the originals of which are in Rome, Florence, Naples and the Louvre museum.

Visitors can see statues of the ancient gods and goddesses who played such an important part in Greek civilisation: Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo and Ares.

Villa Kérylos - the Triklinos

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

In every room there are frescoes and mosaics inspired by ancient documents, depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Visitors can see the death of Talos after winning the Golden Fleece, the return of Hephaestus to Olympia and the main events in the legend of Pelops and the life of Apollo.

The frescoes in these photos are presented as a frieze in the Triklinos, which is the banqueting hall of the villa.

Villa Kérylos - the Balaneion

The 'balaneion', is a private bathroom found in luxury houses in ancient Greece. This is made of Carrera tiger marble.

It was customary for ancient Greeks to relax in such rooms before their evening meal.

Villa Kérylos - a Room with a View

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Inside the Greek villa, there is beauty everywhere. Look outside and it's not bad either.

Villa Kérylos - the Bird Room

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

“Ornitès” or the “Bird Room” was the name given to Madame Reinach’s bedroom, where blue is the dominant colour. Theodore Reinach had his wife’s room decorated with the symbols of the goddess Hera, the peacock and the swan.

Villa Kérylos - the Foot

Marble baths with marble feet, stunning taps, beautiful mosaics on the floor - those classical Greeks knew a thing or two.