There is so much detail in what you see but I doubt the photograph does it justice. It's one of the 160 nativities on display at the Christmas Fair. Somewhere in this, there is a baby!
29 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Neopolitan
There is so much detail in what you see but I doubt the photograph does it justice. It's one of the 160 nativities on display at the Christmas Fair. Somewhere in this, there is a baby!
28 December 2008
The Christmas Eve Swim - Prince Albert and Woolite, the Sheep
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Readers of Menton Daily Photo will have met Woolite, the sheep before. She is the mascot of Les Foulées Roquebrunoises and runs with the group and swims in the sea - always with her proud owner, Philippe Mazza. Thankyou, Philippe (who you see in the smaller pic) for both photographs.
Taken just before the 4th Bain de Noël on Christms Eve at Larvotto Beach, you see Prince Albert in the centre of the photograph, wearing sunglasses and green shorts under his Father Christmas robe. The swim was in aid of TATSA (Thai After Tsunami Schooling Aid). Woolite was proud to swim in the sea in such exalted company.
This was reported live on television - to view the video, to see everyone including Prince Albert, swimming in the sea and to hear the Prince speak, click on the link.
To see Woolite swimming in the sea please click on this link.
27 December 2008
26 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - the Donkey Ride
The Donkey by G. K. Chesterton
When forests walked and fishes flew
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood,
Then, surely, I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening bray
And ears like errant wings—
The devil's walking parody
Of all four-footed things:
The battered outlaw of the earth
Of ancient crooked will;
Scourge, beat, deride me—I am dumb—
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour—
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout around my head
And palms about my feet.
25 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Polonaise
24 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Romantique Italienne
Some scenes are tiny, some almost life size and all are impressive. They are on loan to the Mairie of Monaco, from the collection of Fabienne Mourou. The collection was started by Fabienne's mother 40 years ago and is dedicated to her.
23 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - the Waffles
As you see, it's not all 'Mediterranean diet' in the south of France and Monaco!
22 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - a Rink with a View
(Apologies for the skaters being out of focus but it was dusk and I needed a tripod, which was way down in an underground carpark and I really had to get home to feed the dogs. Well, that's my excuse...)
Click on the link to see the pool in its setting on the port - added bonus: see Sally from Sydney Daily Photo taking a swim.
Tomorrow, we'll meet a couple of rink-side spectators.
21 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Mulled Wine
20 December 2008
Christmas on the Port of Monaco - the Carousel
If you want to have fun, you can go way up on the Big Wheel, you can ice skate on the covered swimming pool, ride a donkey, buy all sorts of wonderful goodies and eat yourself silly.
Today though, to get us in the mood for the fair - a beautiful carousel. It would seem to be an old carousel, beautifully restored but perhaps I'm dreaming and it's brand new?
Tomorrow, let's have a glass of mulled wine...
19 December 2008
Eze Village - the Perfume Bottles
18 December 2008
Eze Village - Fragonard
The main photograph shows the shop at the entrance to the village. The smaller photograph shows the factory which is way below the village. You can take a tour - it's great - you learn about perfume making, and you can buy their products which are very good. I was amazed at how popular this tour is. Many visitors to Eze come, not only for the beauty of the village and the gardens, but to visit Fragonard. Click on the link to read more.
17 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique - the Goddess
Another goddess, more spikey plants set amongst the grandeur of the surrounding hills. To read more about the sculptor, Jean-Philippe Richard, please click on the link.
16 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: the Roof Terrace
15 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: the Moyenne Corniche
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Think of some of the films made in the south of France and you'll have seen sports cars zipping along one of these 'corniches.' For example - To Catch A thief with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant (see the small photo).
To get an idea of how high we are - and to see this same part of the Moyenne Corniche, but taken from the Grande Corniche - click on the link.
14 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: the Rock
13 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: Isabeau
'He has been exploring the mysteries of femininity, in his studio in Miribel aux Baronnies in the Drôme since 1990. His women glow with eternity, whether they are made of bronze, crystal or earth. The artist calls earth "the dust of stars" and uses this raw material to bring them to life. These delicate, sensual and mysterious earth goddesses live in harmony with the plants of the Garden of Eze.'
Isabeau -
Le sol me retient,
Et alors!
J'ai la tête au ciel.
Though the ground keeps me rooted
My mind is in the heavens.
Le sol me retient,
Et alors!
J'ai la tête au ciel.
Though the ground keeps me rooted
My mind is in the heavens.
12 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: the Castle Ruins
In 1706, during the war of succession of Spain, Louis the XIV ordered the destruction of the castle on the recommendations of the Minister for the war : " Sir, the King having seen the strategic situation of the castle, between Villefranche and Monaco, His Majesty the King gave me the order to destroy this castle, in order to be able to preserve this communication ".
What you see in these two photographs is all that remains.
The history of Eze though, goes back much further as fragments have been found proving that Eze was inhabited as far back as the Iron Age.
11 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique - Château Eza
An added joy of visiting the Jardin Exotique is the view - here we are looking down on the Château Eza, one of the two fabulous hotels in the village. The other is the Chèvre d'Or which is slightly further down the village.
10 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: the Plants
Some plants, furry and spikey at the same time, are extraordinary. The plant in the foreground above is called Cleistocactus Strausii and originated from Bolivia and Argentina (see close-up below).
A plant is called a succulent when it stores water to withstand dryness. The Garden of Eze has succulents from Africa and America that are well-adapted to arid climates. The water is stored in the fleshy parts - mostly the leaves and stems. These plants developed tricks to limit evaporation: smooth skins, sometimes covered with wax, hairs and thorns, instead of leaves. Many succulent plants, cacti and sisal (agaves) in particular came to Europe at the time of the great Discoveries. The first cactus is believed to have been brought back by Christopher Columbus but it was not until the Renaissance that these plants were studied and understood.
The first sisal (agave) was imported in the XVIth century and when it blossomed, it was several metres high and was considered quite a marvel at the time. General Weber, a member of Maximilian of Austria's expeditionary force in 1865, was one of many to whom we owe the presence of agaves on the Riviera. Today, cacti, agaves, aloes and euphorbias are a fundamental part of the Riviera landscape.
09 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: Statuary
We've walked to the top of Eze village - if you look at yesterday's photograph, it will give an idea of where we are. The Jardin Exotique is right at the top and everywhere we see cacti and succulents, including agaves and aloes - and amongst them, the sculptures. This is one of Jean-Philippe Richard's 'Earth Goddesses.'
At the end of the Second World War, the current mayor arranged for soil and stones to be carried to the top of Eze village and placed around the Roman ruins (we will see these later) and with the assistance of Jean Gastaud, the founder of the Exotic Garden in Monaco, they created the Jardin Exotique of Eze.
08 December 2008
Eze Village - the Jardin Exotique: from the Grande Corniche
We're back in Eze village ready to visit the Jardin Exotique which is at the very top of the village. This is a photograph I took in the summer. We've parked at the level of the road you see bottom left - so you can see, by the time we reach the top of the village, we've walked quite a way.
Tomorrow - the gardens.
07 December 2008
Homeward Bound
06 December 2008
Fête Nationale - the little Princess
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In the smaller photograph you see Princess Alexandra with her father Prince Ernest August of Hanover and her half sister, Charlotte Casiraghi.
Both photographs taken by Maggie Calkins - thankyou Maggie!
05 December 2008
Fête Nationale - Prince Albert II
Here is Monaco's much-loved, Prince Albert waving at the crowds. This photograph was taken by my friend, Maggie Calkins, a professional photographer. She has a Canon EOS 40D.
I didn't know, at the time - (as Maggie did) - that the crowd rush forward and stand below the balcony - see yesterday's photograph. I'd stayed on the Press Stand. None of my zoomed shots are sharp enough. I ran forward too late and the one below is all I got. Taken in a rush and as you see, not remotely of the quality of Maggie's. You see Prince Albert with Princess Stephanie on the right. In the background, their nephew, Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Princess Caroline.
For anyone who doesn't remember, Albert, Caroline and Stephanie are the children of the late Prince Rainier and Princess Grace (formerly Grace Kelly, the American actress).
Tomorrow - more of Maggie's photographs of the Prince and his family. Thankyou, Maggie!
04 December 2008
Fête Nationale - Homage to the Prince
03 December 2008
Fête Nationale - On Parade!
02 December 2008
Fête Nationale - the Crowd
01 December 2008
Theme Day: Circles/Spheres - Fangio's Wheels
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.
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