Monte Carlo Weekly Photo

15 October 2009

The Two Most Perfect Things - Salle Belle Epoque

Before the show, we dine. This is the beautiful Salle Belle Epoque in the Hôtel Hermitage.

Originally a more modest establishment than the Casino or the Hôtel de Paris, in 1900 the Hôtel Hermitage was transformed into a luxurious residence for visitors. This Belle Epoque dining-room was the work of Gabriel Ferrier, winner of the Rome Prize and gold medalist at the Universal Exhibition of 1889. The frescoes recall paintings by Fragonard and Boucher.

14 October 2009

The Two Most Perfect Things - Noel Coward & Ivor Novello

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We're having a night out in Monte Carlo.

There are many associations in Monaco but for English-speaking newcomers, the British Association of Monaco (BAM) is the one to join. You make new friends, you get help and information on all the little things - a good dentist, where to get your hair cut - sometimes difficult in a new country - and you can attend any of the many events they organise. The British Association of Monaco is a charity and so you even do good whilst having a good time. And when you've lived here for years, well an event is an excuse to get together with old friends. Our group was so large it took up two tables.

So, we are having a night at the Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo, followed as you see by what promises to be a great show. Dress code is Black Tie/1920s dress. We'll be dining in the beautiful Salle Belle Epoque - do come back tomorrow and join us.

13 October 2009

Classic Week - the Sedov

This amazing Tall Ship (have you ever seen so many ropes?) is a steel 4-masted barque launched in 1921. The Sedov was built in Germany and was for 80 years the largest traditional sailing ship in operation.

She is now used as a training ship operating out of Murmansk in Russia and is often seen at the prestigious Tall Ships races, including Monaco.

In the last photo, you see part of the rigging reflected on the bonnet of Prince Albert's car. He is driving himself back to the Palace after a private visit to the neighbouring ship, the Palinuro. As you can see, he had drawn quite a crowd on the deck of the Sedov.

12 October 2009

Classic Week - the Bird and the Balloon

The beautiful silver bird - symbol of the Hispano Suiza is shown against a backdrop depicting an old B & W photograph of the hills above the Principality.

You can read more about this classic car by clicking on the link.

11 October 2009

Classic Week - the Thames Ditton

Amongst the beautiful old cars was this sailing yacht called the Thames Ditton. I don't know its story but perhaps it's one of the first sailing yachts.

In the lower photo, the yellow car is a 1911 Super 2 cylinder cycle car - unique in the world.

The red car is a 1913 Panhard & Levassor Type X 19, 4 cyl. 10 CV.

10 October 2009

Classic Week - the 1911 Zebra

Yesterday's titillation was a 1911 Zebra. The motor bike (see small photo) is a Moto Lereve Dufaud 1901 (Armand 1902).

09 October 2009

Classic Week - the Bathers

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

As well as sailing yachts and tall ships, we can enjoy displays of beautiful old cars and bikes and even Bleriot's airplane - all displayed against backdrops of massively enlarged old photographs. Don't you just love the bathers.(click either photo to enlarge)

Tomorrow - do come back and see what car this is - maybe an enthusiast knows already?

08 October 2009

Classic Week - the Table

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The table seems too big for this sailing yacht but presumably it will straddle the deck somehow, ready for a reception. It's the final day of Monaco's famous Classic Week - when the world's beautiful sailing yachts and tall ships descend on Monaco to compete and to show off their beauty.

07 October 2009

Classic Week: Contrasts

The 3-masted Tall Ship, known as a barkentine, is called the Palinuro, photographed in port for the recent Classic Week, where she took part in the Tall Ships race. She was built in France in 1934 and is owned by the Italian navy.

She is, as you see, quite a contrast to the modern cruise liner, Sinfonia.

In the smaller photo, you see H.S.H.Prince Albert II leaving the Palinuro after a private visit.

06 October 2009

Classic Week - Knowing the Ropes

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We are visiting Monaco's Classic Week, when the world's sailing ships and tall ships descend on the Principality to compete and show off their beauty.

Everywhere you look - ropes, pulleys, polished wood and brass that sparkles as much as the diamonds worn by many of the visitors.

05 October 2009

Anticipation

04 October 2009

Villefranche - the Railway Station and Diaghilev

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

We're leaving Villefranche - the poster advertises the Russian Ballet and the Serge Diaghilev exhibition at the Villa Sauber in Monaco (now finished).

Below the railway station, boats on the water enjoy the last rays of the sun. It's hard to leave - such a beautiful place...but we'll be back. Thanks so much to everyone who came along on this boat trip.

03 October 2009

Villefranche - Dusk

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

It's dusk. We running to the railway station - a quick last glance at the boats in the harbour. Tomorrow - our last day in Villefranche.

02 October 2009

Villefranche - a House by the Sea

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

This house, which faces the sea, seems to grow organically out of the rockface.

01 October 2009

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.

30 September 2009

Villefranche - the Welcome Hotel

The Welcome Hotel is famous in Villefranche. Many artists have stayed here including Jean Cocteau who wrote that he'd spent the best days of his life here...and they have their own boat.

29 September 2009

Villefranche - Fortifications

We've left the boat and are en route to the railway station passing by the fortifications.

Villefranche is 10 kilometres from Monaco and 8 from Nice. The beautiful bay is notable for reaching a significant depth only a short distance from shore. As a result it's become an important port over the years. Since World War I, the United States Navy has called on a regular basis, making Villefranche the home port of the U.S. 6th Fleet from 1948 to 1966. Since the 1980’s Villefranche has been used by cruise ships and is the most visited cruise ship port of call in France.

28 September 2009

Boat Trip to Villfranche - Safely Moored

We made it past the cruise ship and, as directed via Ship to Shore radio, to the little harbour on the right of the photo.

Now we must hurry to the railway station and get home to Menton but tomorrow we'll take a brief look at Villefranche-sur-Mer as we run for the train.

Many thanks to John and Piera for a great day out on the water - bet you didn't realise how many people you had on board that day!

27 September 2009

Boat Trip to Villefranche - the Cruise Ship

The bay of Villefranche is massive with deep waters - ideal for these big cruise ships, as it was for warships in the past.

You've seen this cruise liner before - on Theme Day - and actually it was a better photograph but this one shows better the length of the ship.

I'm wondered what that strange 'thing' is on the top deck - see smaller photograph. Perhaps it's a climbing frame for children?

Meanwhile, we are having to go to the left of this ship to get into our berth in the harbour. We feel pretty small...

26 September 2009

Boat Trip to Villefranche - the Italian Lady

We're in the Bay of Villefranche. This is my friend, Piera - she's John's lady - John owns the boat - and she's beautifully tanned but then she's got that wonderful Italian skin that tans easily. Well that's my excuse for looking like a ghost next to her!

25 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat

Just along from the lighthouse is the magnificent Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat. Five star luxury. You can just see the hotel at top left of the main photo. Click on the link and you'll see what this luxury hotel is all about - go on, it's fabulous!

Scattered down the hillside are private cabins for guests to sunbathe and alongside it a restaurant - this area is called Club Dauphin.

24 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - the Look Outs

We've now rounded the Point of Cap Ferrat and we are in the Bay of Villefranche. We can take a closer look at the look-outs below the celebrated lighthouse. (see last photo)

This lighthouse, one of the oldest on the Côte d'Azur, was built by Napoleon III in 1862 and was blown up by German troups in 1944 - rebuilt in 1951. You can see a closer shot of it, taken on land HERE.

There is a there is an enchanting walk all around Cap Ferrat from Beaulieu (called the Sentier Littoral) and if you feel like it, you simply swim off the rocks.

23 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - the Lighthouse

We're sailing towards Villefranche, leaving the pretty Cove of Lilong and are about to round the Point of Cap Ferrat with its famous lighthouse.

This semaphore, originally built in 1862 (rebuilt 1951) on the orders of Napoleon III, who wanted to equip the French littoral with a chain of semaphores. The goal was to monitor navigation, to transmit messages to ships, to organize help in the event of a maritime disaster and to take part in the first maritime meteorological observations.

It looks like evening but it's only 17.45h - simply that I'm shooting into the sun. As soon as we round the point, we'll see the lighthouse from the other side and the fortified lookouts. And after that, we'll be in the beautiful Rade de Villefranche.

22 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - the Ice-Cream Boat

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

So there you are, lying on the hot deck, getting browner by the minute and and thinking how nice it would be to have a luscious really cold ice cream. Easy. Along comes the ice-cream boat.

21 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - the Nap

"I just put my feet in the air and move them around."
~ Fred Astaire

20 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - Messing about...

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

The fun of a day on the water is just sitting and watching other people mess about in boats. And on Cap Ferrat it's fun looking at the houses on the hillside and wondering who lives there.

There's something about a boat - probably the movement of the water - that makes you immediately relax. Got a problem? Stressed? - if you get the chance, go out on a boat.

19 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - Girls' Day Out

It's a Girls' Day Out on the water. Several of these Italian ladies sunbathed nude - completely nude, not even a bikini bottom half - so perhaps it's not surprising that within a short while of their arrival, their dingy was surrounded by other boats - see lower photo.

18 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - the Houses

The houses on Cap Ferrat are as interesting to look at as the boats - incredible expensive Real Estate to be found here.

The top photo was taking in the morning before the bad weather cleared. In the smaller one, it's getting better, as you see. By lunch time it was glorious.

17 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - Lady on a Dinghy

We've dropped anchor not far from the shore. Around us are big boats and little boats and tiny dinghys like one. You don't need a big boat to enjoy the sea.

16 September 2009

Boat Trip to Cap Ferrat - Arrival

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Pack your swimming gear and suntan lotion, we're on a boat trip. Cap Ferrat is a short trip from Monaco - we pass Cap d'Ail, Eze-sur-Mer, Beaulieu=sur-Mer and we arrive - here, in a small bay - at Cap Ferrat.

In fact we started in Menton - the idea had been to photograph Monaco as we we sailed along but this morning the sea was rough, the sky menacing so no hope of a decent photo. Try photographing the shore from a boat that is bouncing up and down!

The weather forecast for the afternoon, though, is good and here we are. Relax. We are going to have a lovely day...do come back tomorrow.