No Finish Line - the Singing Prince

If you wonder why H.S.H. Prince Albert's mouth is open it's because he's singing along with everyone else. He's doing one circuit of the course along with some of the children and volunteers, before handing out the prizes for those who walk, ran or jogged the most kilometres.

As well as a donation to the Cardio-Thoracic Center of Monaco for children with heart defects, the money raised from this year's No Finish Line will go towards work in developing countries, including funding for a sterile operating theatre at the Sheik Zayed hospital in Nouakchott in Mauritania; and support for the House of Life project for young people affected by AIDS (in conjunction with AIDS Fight Monaco, whose president is HSH Princess Stephanie).

Up till now projects supported by the charity include:

• installation of computer equipment in the paediatric unit of the University Hospital Centre at L’Archet II in Nice for children who are hospitalised 'long-term'
• reinstatement of the rural life and craftsmanship centre in Guiberoua, Ivory Coast
• renovation of the 'Virgen de Guadalupe' dispensary in Bale, Panama
• purchase of state-of-the-art monitoring equipment for the neonatal unit of the University Hospital Centre at L’Archet II in Nice
• saving young children with cardiac malformations by arranging for them to have operations at Monaco's Cardio-Thoracic Centre

No Finish Line - the Scouts and Guides

The Monaco Scouts and Guides are waiting for HSH Prince Albert to arrive when he and they will do one circuit of the course.

In the last photo you see they've been asked to 'smile for the camera.' Notice the magnificent Lady Moura in the background.

Cloud hangs low over the Principality.

No Finish Line - Tagged

For every kilometer walked, jogged or run, 1.10 euro was donated by the sponsor - Orange - and this, as you see below, included dogs.

You see here the electronic tags attached to shoes or in the case of this little dog - a Yorkie/Bichon mix called Mehanien - it's fixed on his collar.

Great way to walk the dog and earn money for a worthy cause at the same time.

No Finish Line - Run, Walk or Jog

No Finish Line is a charity 'run' in Monaco. It takes place over 8 days and the premise is simple - you pay 10 euros to enter and 10 euros for the hire of a microchip that is attached to your shoe. You grab a tee-shirt and then you walk, jog or run as often as you want over those 8 days. The course is back and forth around one side of the port and the new digue (floating pontoon) and it's all in aid of charities for children.

This year No Finish Line - which takes place under the patronage of Princess Stephanie - celebrated its tenth anniversary. In 1999, 700 participants covered 9000 km and raised €15,000. This year 5940 people took part, covered 147,684 kilometres and raised 162,452 euros in favour of Children & Future and other charities.

More tomorrow... ...and for today - Happy Thanksgiving to everyone across the pond!

One for the Girls!

Time for another dishy Monte Carlo gentleman for us females. He's standing outside the Chanel shop which is currently having its window displays changed.

And he's carrying a bag from FNAC which is where I yesterday bought my new camera...a Pansonic Lumix GH1 which is a 'micro four thirds' camera with a 14-140 lens. It looks dead sexy to me which must say something when I'm getting more excited about a camera than a Monte Carlo gentleman. Oh dear...

The Bugatti Veyron

Park a Bugatti Veyron bang outside the entrance to the casino and you are bound to have everyone and his mother wanting their photograph taken with it.

And if you want to see a $1.6 million Bugatti Veyron end up in a lake in Texas, take a look at this on YouTube:

Smoking Break

Girls who work in these luxury shops take a smoking break.

On CBS Radio the news of [Ed Murrow's] death, reportedly from lung cancer, was followed by a cigarette commercial.

~ Alexander Kendrick

National Day in Monaco

Last Thursday was National Day in Monaco, hence the red and white flags everywhere. Here we are just outside the casino.

The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

This visitor, seen outside the Casino, had obviously decided a coat of many colours was the way to go.

Where's the Chocolate?

Wot, no chocolate on my cappuccino?

This is Lou, the French bulldog who belongs to Mister Brian - owner of Monaco's best known delicatessen. They are taking a coffee by the port - or rather Lou is allowed to taste Mister Brian's cappuccino - and yes, she's already had the chocolate - off the spoon, of course. Not that Brian would mind sharing the cup with Lou - he's besotted.

Lou is celebrated in Monaco - she's appeared in a book about the Principality and if you saw Piers Morgan's television programme you will have seen him interview Mister Brian - and Lou.

And remember when Lou was stolen? If not, you can read about it by clicking on the link.

Parking Ticket for an Aston Martin

An Aston Martin Vantage gets a parking ticket - well you don't go parking on a zebra crossing outside Cartier, do you? This car seemed to attract attention - and not just from the police woman. I wasn't sure if it was the car itself that was of interest or that it is registered in Andorra.

Body Parts

This is the Lanvin shop in Casino Square. The casino itself and a couple crossing the square are reflected in the glass.

The smaller photo is the original - before cropping. Which do you prefer or do you not care for either? I won't be offended! I'm really not sure if this works or not.

Lights at Dusk

Dusk - and the lights have come on in the Casino Gardens.

In the smaller photo, the lights are set against the backdrop of a beautiful tree. I believe it's Chorisia Speciosa or more commonly, the Silk Floss Tree.

"Lady Nag Nag"

Let's hope the name of the boat isn't an omen for him.

No sun in Monaco yesterday - happily some people don't notice grey days...

Café de Paris - the Seafood Servery

Outside the Café de Paris. The waiter stands outside the window from which seafood is served - lobsters, langoustines, oysters, sea urchins, prawns etc. The people you see sitting are taking simply a coffee or a cold drink.

Lunch is served either inside the restaurant with its beautiful Art Nouveau panels or in an area along from here and much further back.

These are a few of the many good 'people-watching' tables - one of the pleasures of taking a coffee in Monaco.

Threesome

Three men and three women. Celine: a shop in Avenue des Beaux-Arts just off Casino Square. As you can see it's a grey and miserable day in Monaco. The sun doesn't always shine!

The Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - the Dog

Look around any harbour and you'll find dogs on boats.

"Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement."

~ Charles M. Schulz

The Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - the Crab

Wander the port and you find all sorts of sea creatures...

"When a crab's pissed it walks forward."

~ Ricky Gervais

The Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - the Manoeuvre

Whilst we ate our first course, we watched these two gentleman load up their boat and then somehow manoeuvre it between the other boats to get out to open sea. Not a lot of room in this port.

The Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - Le Pirate

Lunch for this lady and her partner - but first, a glass of champagne.

My restaurant recommendation for Saint Jean would be Le Sloop, but it was closed. We chose Le Pirate - just a few yards away, a much cheaper restaurant but with the same idyllic view of the boats right by our table and good food too.

We ate from a 22 euro menu. Pissaladière for one of us to begin, chèvre chaud for the other - both served with a well-dressed salad of lamb leaves and roquette. And after we both had a prawn risotto. A Provence rosé to drink.

The Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - the Boats

Boats at rest - waiting for their owner's return.

The Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - the Restaurants

We've arrived in the small port of Saint Jean on Cap Ferrat. Let's stroll along the port and find somewhere to eat lunch. We'll look at the menus, see if a place looks busy - and then decide. Let's hope we make a good decision.

This father walked up and down, up and down. I suppose he was trying to rock his baby to sleep.

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.

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.

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.