Fête Nationale - the story of the Press Stand

A close up of invited dignitaries waiting outside the palace for Prince Albert II and his family to appear at the balcony.

I should tell you that I took these photographs from the Press Stand - and of course I have no Press Pass. When I walked over from the cathedral I saw the enormous press stand - two or three tiers tall. I stood in front of it, as did dozens of tourists. Soon afterwards and before the cameras and film crews arrived, an official cleared everyone away - but me. This because I was using a tripod and he must have assumed I was a press person! Well, a blog is a sort of journalism, isn't it?

Later, I gained in confidence and found myself standing alongside the 'big boys' on the top level - me taking photographs with my Panasonic Lumix - they with lenses as long as a football pitch (I exaggerate but only a little). The reason the press stand was so big and holding so many press and international television crews was because rumour had it that Prince Albert would take this occasion to announce his engagement to his South African girl-friend, the Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. It didn't happen.

Eventually another official came and asked me for my Press pass. Luckily I was talking to two friends, both with official press passes and I said, 'I'm with them' and my friends very kindly pretended they hadn't heard me. I was treated with such politeness by all the officials, even with an apology for asking me. French is such a wonderfully polite language, isn't it? And in my defence, I didn't get in anyone's way.

Truth is, I'm surprised my camera could take this photograph. Even tho it's not completely sharp, it's not bad considering I was an AWFUL long way away.

Fête Nationale - Guest Accommodation

After the ceremony in the cathedral, invited guests walk back to the palace, where they wait either side of the main entrance. Soon the Prince and his family will arrive - and then the displays will begin.

Fête Nationale - the Flag Carrier

We've walked over from the cathedral and are now in the square. The palace is behind us. Everyone has been given flags and scarves in Monaco's colours.

This is Zarina, who lives in Monaco. Her two Golden Retrievers are called Aston and Bentley - someone in the family likes cars! You can see another photograph of these lovely dogs - wide awake - on Riviera Dogs today.

Fête Nationale - the Judges

Waiting to enter the cathedral - are they judges? I've asked a couple of friends but so far no one knows. They didn't walk over with all the members of the legal profession - see photos a couple of days ago.

Note the small film crew on the left getting ready to interview a member of the clergy.

Fête Nationale - the Clergy

The clergy enter the cathedral. Incense is creating the mist you see.

Fête Nationale - the Law Courts

Yesterday, we saw members of the legal profession about to enter the cathedral. Dressed in red, they'd just walked down this beautiful staircase of the Palais de Justice, followed by those you see above - in black.

Red and black, robes flowing, moving fast, animated. It was theatrical. dramatic and so impressive.

Fête Nationale - the Weight of the Law

Clad in their bright red robes, members of the legal profession are about to enter Monaco's beautiful cathedral.

Built in 1875 using stone from La Turbie, the present-day Cathedral stands on the site of a 13th century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas and houses the tombs of the former Princes of Monaco. It is also the final resting place of Monaco's much loved Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, the parents of H.S.H. Prince Albert II.

Fête Nationale - the Call

Everyone needs a cell phone these days.

Fête Nationale - the Guests

The mass in the cathedral is by invitation only. The building on the left is a corner of the Palais de Justice (law courts). The cathedral is to the right of the photograph.

Tomorrow - more guests.

Fête Nationale - the Prince's Carabinieri

We've left Eze village for a while as we have interesting goings on in Monaco. Today is the Fête Nationale - a important day for Monégasques citizens when they get the opportunity to show their love and respect for their Prince - Albert II.

Monaco is a tiny principality of only 2 kilometres - the second smallest state in the world. It has just over 6000 citizens and 40,000 residents and a history that goes back over 700 years.

It's coming up to 10 a.m. and we are standing outside the cathedral on le rocher (the rock) waiting for the arrival of the royal family to celebrate mass. You see the Prince's Carabinieri in attendance.

Tomorrow, let's take a look at others who are waiting to enter the cathedral. And then later, we'll walk to the Palace and see the parades and glimpse the Prince, the Princesses and the rest of the royals as they enjoy music at the Palace balcony.

Eze Village - Wall decor

A hole in the wall - so let's put a flower pot in it. I love that people decorate a street even if it's not part of their property - and presumably water the ivy from time to time.

Eze Village - the Touch

What is he saying to her?

Note the glass cases fixed to the walls. Shop windows are tiny, or non-existent, so shopkeepers use these boxes to display their wares.

Eze Village - Keep Out!

So many tourists visit Eze village - hardly suprising as it's so beautiful. This resident is giving due warning that the staircase is private and doesn't lead to a restaurant or a shop.

Eze Village - Through the Archway...

Walk through the archway and you'll see the scene - The Back Street - that we saw two days ago. Eze village has many archways and short tunnels like this.

Eze Village - The Waiter

As you walk the streets of Eze village, you'll sometimes bump into staff who work in one of the two hotels. This waiter would have just served a guest whose room is perhaps across the street or down an alleyway. As the hotels expanded in this tiny medieval hill village, they couldn't build upwards or even outwards, they had to expand by buying up other properties in the village and using them for extra accommodation.

Eze Village - the Back Street

Turn a corner, go through an archway, explore...there are wonders everywhere in Eze Village. This little area has no shops so quieter for the residents.

Eze Village - a narrow street

We didn't finish our tour of Eze, so today we are back, walking a narrow street on our way to the Jardin d'Exotique at the top of the village. Note the tree that seems to grow from nothing.

The Sailing Lesson

This was taken at the beginning of October - the tiny boats with striped sails are taking part in a sailing lesson. The instructor is in the small red boat.

By the way, the red and white boat with the canopy - you see its wake as it moves over the water - is the ferry that crosses the harbour every half an hour. It costs one euro and for anyone who doesn't happen to own a yacht, it's a fun way to pretend! Not bad for one euro.

Monte Carlo Ladies - 23

Multi-tasking - telephone on one ear, music in the other (alright perhaps the music is turned off).

Note the bench set in its own little area - rather as if it has its own tiled rug.

The Walking Street - the Man who Walks

This carving is by Louis Dollé, a sculptor who lives in Nice. I couldn't get far enough away to photograph it properly - so you get the foot apart from the man. Don't you love the detail?

Do click on the link as you'll see a better photograph of this sculpture and many more of this talented artist's work.

The Walking Street - Spider Man

You never know who you'll meet at the Artists in Movement exhibition in the pedestrian street. Here's what I take to be Spider Man.

I don't know the artist - a friend walked the street this morning, trying to find names but as we've had so much rain, she told me the little stickers with the artists' names have been washed away.

One or two words remain - for instance, talking about the whole exhibition:

'You are in a gallery open to the sky. ' and 'Open your eyes, look up and enjoy.'

The Walking Street - Frédéric Falsetti

Another sculpture displayed at the 'Artists in Movement' exhibition in the pedestrian street.

The Walking Street - Helena Krajewicz

No, it's not clothing hung out to dry but part of an exhibition taking place in the pedestrian street of Monaco - rue Princesse Caroline. In the smaller photograph you can see part of the street with the main port ahead of us.

It's called 'Artists in Movement' - and this work is by Helena Krajewicz (click to view more).

Obama - the Eagle has Landed!

A stone eagle in the grounds of the Chèvre d'Or in Eze. Today it represents the proud American eagle.

Thankyou America, thankyou!

The Stars 'n' Bars Candy Vote!

Vote!

It's not only in America that you can vote for Obama or McCain. At Stars 'n' Bars, the American sports bar on the port of Monaco, you can buy a sweet (candy) for one euro. You then select either the Obama jar or the McCain bar to place your sweet, and - voila! - you have voted. All proceeds go to charity. Obama has the most sweets!

As you can see in the poster below, Stars 'n' Bars offer an 'I WANT A RECOUNT' breakfast at 6 a.m. tomorrow. I sure hope not!

To see how my dog Beau will vote, please look at Menton Daily Photo.

The Best Dressed Caterer in Monaco

This is for anyone who thinks it's always sunny on the French Riviera.

This photograph show Mister Brian, the well-known caterer in Monaco - and his girlfriend, Esther. They'd visited me in Gorbio for lunch yesterday. Inviting Brian to lunch is always a great idea - goodies comes too - yesterday, the best cheesecake I've ever tasted and a bottle of pink champers. Later, after we'd watched the Brazilian Grand Prix, and as they were about to leave - wham, bam, thankyou Mam, the heaven's opened. A deluge. And when it rains here, boy, can it rain...

Plastic bags were the answer to get Brian and Esther from my terrace, where this was taken, to the top of the track. (the pink and black top on Esther's shoulder was her original attempt to keep dry (!) The yellow bag is a Mister Brian bag. Click on the link to see his establishment in Monaco (the smaller pic)

Today, we've had no electricity until just now - 18.00h. The whole of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var and further west, has been without electricity - Marseilles to Menton.

The Walking Street - The Book Lady

More books today - or rather no more books...

Scruples, the English bookshop in Monaco, is no more. As you can see in the smaller photograph, it closed on the 10th October. ( click to enlarge)

Jane France, the lady in the main photograph, is a Monaco institution. She opened Scruples over twenty-five years ago. Prior to that she drove around the ports in the south of France and Monaco selling English books to the 'yachties' from her van - she was known as 'the Book Lady.' Now she has sold up. A small English bookshop can't compete with Amazon. That's how it is these days. Also Jane is ready for a much-deserved retirement. Happy retirement, Jane! - you will be greatly missed by the English book-buying community in Monaco and France. Word has it that Scruples will become an ice-cream parlour.

The pedestrian street is Rue Princesse Caroline, which runs from Port Hercule to Rue Grimaldi.

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

Wot no carving?

You might call this a cheat Halloween. Wot no carving?

At the Carrefour shopping centre in Monaco there is an enormous display of sweets (candy) - just pick what you want and get them weighed. And in the centre a pumpkin.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Eze Village: Lunch at the Chèvre d'Or - the Sundeck

We leave the restaurant and walk back through the beautiful gardens. If you are staying in the hotel you can sunbathe here and I believe have a massage. We passed the masseur earlier. Now that would have been nice...

The peninsula you see is Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. Saint Jean is a charming port with some wonderful restaurants along the water. You can also visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild with its famous Belle Epoque architecture and wondrous gardens.

Eze Village: Lunch at the Chèvre d'Or - the Owner's Cat

At first he slept under a chair, later he came and begged at our table - jumping up and telling us he wanted a piece of our fish.

He belongs to the owner of the Chèvre d'Or and I love that even though it's a Michelin-starred restaurant no one has barred him. For me, one of the joys of France is that animals are accepted as part of the family and allowed in the majority of restaurants.

(Looking at the photographs closely I wonder if there aren't two cats! In the first photograph, he appears to have a sore over one eye, not so in the smaller pic)

Eze Village - Lunch at the Chèvre d'Or - Profiteroles

Three tiny perfect profiteroles filled with ice-cream and about to melt - just ready to eat, in fact...

And afterwards - an espresso.

Thanks to my friend Casper for such a wonderful lunch. Casper and his wife are two of my best friends - I've known them for more years than I want to say. They are part of my 'south of France family' and each year Casper takes me to a restaurant of my choice for my birthday and then I take him out for his. Sadly, Philippa has massive health problems and lives in London now, near to her doctors. Casper spends part of the year in Monaco and so, when he's here, it's birthday time - even if it isn't. And thanks to this blog, birthday lunches or dinners now take place in grander and grander restaurants - for the photographs, of course! What is fabulous for me is that Casper, who hasn't a clue about photography, computers and even hates telephones, goes along with it all, even pointing out something I should be photographing. I adore him. Casper is Norwegian which probably explains a lot. I've never yet met a Norwegian who doesn't have an enduring love of life and a childlike wonder in everything.

Tomorrow - who else was at the Chèvre d'or?

Eze Village: Lunch at the Chèvre d'Or - the First Course

We decided to choose the 'menu' - as opposed to eating from the 'carte.' With the menu, there were no choices. The first course, which you see here consisted of spiced meat balls (à la vapeur) made of filet of Charolais and rolled in sesame seeds which you then dip in a piquant sauce (not shown) and then place into the bowl of ginger-flavoured bouillon and Asiatic noodles.

As I don't eat meat, I asked for a substitution and was told I could have a salad. I thought this might be boring but in fact it was probably the best salad I've ever had: a base of chopped, skinned tomato, then a layer of mashed avocado and then a mix of salad leaves, piled into a perfect sphere: roquette (arugula to Americans) lambs lettuce, other leaves. And served with a subtle and tasty dressing. (I wish I'd remembered to photograph the salad but I ate it instead).

The main course was made up of three types of fish from Menton served with tiny new potatoes and a tasty jus. Very nouvelle cuisine and delicious.

After that - sorry by now I was into wine and conversation and continued to forget the camera! - we were served a slice of the softest, most delicious goat cheese (natch, being the Chèvre d'Or) - with grapes and a light and fluffy savoury pastry.

The 'menu' - as I know someone will ask - cost 68 euros. Not what you'd spend every day on lunch - that's for sure - but on the other hand, much much cheaper than eating from the 'carte' and not expensive when you consider where we were (that view over Cap Ferrat) the service, the ambiance, and that the Chef, Philippe Labbé has a Michelin star.

Dessert - well I did photograh that - so come back tomorrow...