The Recycling Bins

I wouldn't normally post a photo of a rubbish bin, but these have to be the neatest, cleanest re-cycling bins I've ever seen. In France, they are enormous and usually overflowing and often dirty.

We're in Fontvieille, almost opposite the Columbus Hotel and with the Princess Grace Rose Garden behind that tall hedge you see on the left of the small photo.

Email with View

The terrace below the Elsa restaurant at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel is a good place to check emails.

Late Afternoon

Late afternoon sun on the yachts in the bay although it's already left the square by the Grimaldi Forum. This was taken on the last day of the Monaco Yacht Show hence so many boats out at sea. That's Cap Martin off to the left.

Chanel's Snow Lady

Last winter we had snow in Monaco so Chanel have produced an outfit to keep us all warm! Meanwhile, one of the gardeners in Casino Square works in his shirt sleeves.

The Truck on Stilts

You don't really expect to see a truck on stilts in Monaco. I turned the corner in Fontvieille, just by the Princess Grace Rose Garden, and there it was. It houses a sort of cradle that gets the guys who prune the trees high up into the branches.

And naturally, because it's Monaco, notice how clean and shiny it is.

Trimming the Olive Trees

We in the centre of Fontvieille today. Three men - one steadies the ladder, one is half way up and there's another hidden in the branches.

Tree Lopping Time in Monaco

It's tree pruning time near the Princess Grace Rose Garden in Fontvieille and the guys are all so friendly.

Rather him than me tho! That's a long ladder and look, he's not standing on it, but on a contraption wrapped around the palm he is lopping.

Shine

More of Villefranche-sur-Mer's charming old village.

Tomorrow - back to Monaco.

The Kitchen Worker

We're at Villefranche-sur-Mer today - a beautiful town along the coast from Monaco, just before Nice. The Old Town dates back to 130 BC and one day I'll get some shots in decent weather. Yesterday it rained - as you see.

The Old Shop

Not all of Monaco is high rises and posh hotels. Here's a charming building with an old shop on street level. It's on Boulevard Charles III which is just above the market place in Place d'Armes.

Quai des Artistes

An interior shot of the brasserie - Quai des Artistes - which is on the edge of Port Hercule. Good food and atmosphere here. You may recall the ladies who lunch shot.

Nude with Mirror

Fancy a decorated screen? You'll find this at the International Fair in Fontvieille.

The Bra Strap

This is apparently what you wear when you don't want your bra straps to show! It's on sale at a fair that is currently taking place in the circus tent in Fontvieille.

The model, as you'd have realised, is a dummy!

The Golden Man

More from a Lanvin window. Reflections of palms from the Casino Gardens.

'All that glisters is not gold'

- William Shakespeare

Gone Fishin' - 2

Just to prove that the guys in yesterday's photo really did fish!

Gone Fishin'

Enter the tunnel (the one the Monaco Grand Prix cars whiz through) and you pass the entrance to the Centre du Congres, Auditorium Rainier III. Walk up to the first level and often as not you'll find some guys fishing. This was taken during the Monaco Yacht Show, hence so many yachts out at sea.

The Yike Bike

We're back at the Monaco Yacht Show where a guy was walking around with this brilliant electric bike that folds to almost nothing. It was named by Time Magazine as one of the top inventions of 2009. Take a look at the YikeBike website or click on the video below to see this little wonder in action. It will cost you approximately 2,635 euros or $3425. The YikeBike is designed and assembled in New Zealand.

The Sandals

We're back at the Monaco Yacht Show where these sandals intrigued me. How long would they take to get off - and on?

But look carefully - is that a zip that runs all the way down the back?

The Brabus Smart

It looks like a Smart car but the quality hits you in the eye. It's a Brabus Smart.

Brabus is a German high-performance aftermarket tuning company which specializes in Mercedes-Benz and Smart cars, turning them into amazing creatures. This one poses in Port Hercule.

Ladies who Lunch...

...at Quai des Artistes on the port.

The Lanvin Windows

The Lanvin windows on Casino Square.

Always fascinating.

Time for a Coffee Break

I'm bored with the Monaco Yacht Show photos so let's go have a croissant and coffee at the Café de Paris. If you ask for a croissant, you get two because they are small - and delicious.

We'll probably pop back to the Yacht Show from time to time as I took loads of pics but 'time out' for the moment.

Monaco Yacht Show - and then it rained

Rain at the Monaco Yacht Show. Fortunately it didn't last long.

Monaco Yacht Show - the Coffee Table Boat

This display is on a low table inside one of the tents. The boat doesn't move but the wake does (or appears to) - you get the feeling though that it is the boat that really is moving through water.

The illusion is fascinating.

Monaco Yacht Show - How About Your Own Submarine?

No self-respecting super yacht owner can manage without its own submersible. These attracted a lot of attention at the Monaco Yacht Show. They are made by a company called U-Boat Warx in a variety of sizes from a one-man submersible to those carrying five people. Take a look at website or click on the video below.

Monaco Yacht Show - Ohana

This month's Theme Day is 'graffiti' and whilst this isn't graffiti (but a child's drawing) it sort of fits the bill. The young daughter of the owner of this beautiful yacht at the Monaco Yacht Show drew this design - Ohana means 'family' in Hawaiian. Later, as you see, he had her drawing painted onto the yacht.

Ohana is 43 metres long and is for charter in the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter. She's also for sale at $24 million.

To see how others around the world have interpreted today's theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Monaco Yacht Show - Planet Solar

Around the world on solar energy.

Three days ago this catamaran, with motors powered by solar energy, left Monaco on the first solar boat expedition around the world. Valued at 14 million euros, the boat is owned by German billionaire, Immo Ströher who made his fortune from solar energy.

Energy is stored in the batteries by day and the catamaran can continue sailing on stored energy without sunlight for about three days. She will follow an equatorial route in order to take advantage of the most sunshine. Her first port of call will be in the Canaries - she'll travel across the Atlantic, the Panama Canal, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean on a cruise that is scheduled to last 160 days. You can follow this record-breaking voyage day by day on the Planet Solar website which is available in English, French and German.

To quote from the website: 'PlanetSolar aims in a nutshell:

• Demonstrate the potential for renewable energies and photovoltaic
• To show that today we have the technology required for sustainability
• To take part in the technological development of renewable energy and advance scientific research
• To inform and make the public aware of the importance of renewable energy
• To make the best use of energy efficiency
• To show that the economy and ecology can and must work together.'
  

Monaco Yacht Show - Nero

Reflections through a window and on the side of the classic motor yacht, Nero.

And below you see this beautiful yacht, all decked out in flags for the occasion. I snapped her from one of the shuttle boats that whizz you from one part of the port to another. The speedboat was quite bumpy so good for the stabiliser on my camera.

Nero is 90 metres (295ft) long and is one of the largest classic motor yachts ever to be built. She has a distinctive 1920s funnel, and retro styling throughout the interior. She can accommodate 10 guests in 5 cabins, supported by 20 crew. Click on the link to read more.

Monaco Yacht Show - The Boat within a Boat!

This yacht had more boys' toys on it than you could imagine. A boat within a boat as you see. Apparently it launches at the touch of a button. On top a plane. On the side are several other smaller craft.

This yacht is called 'Senses' and is 59.20 m long. Click on the link to read more and to see photos of this yacht at sea.

Asking price: 35 million euros.

Monaco Yacht Show - Jammed In

How many yachts can you cram into one harbour?

I can tell you their estimated value was two billion euros.

To see Stoppit, a Lurcher who made the trip to Monaco from the UK on his owner's boat, please click on Riviera Dogs - he's gorgeous.

Monaco Yacht Show - Dawn over the Principality

Dawn over Monaco with many boats, including a visiting cruise ship, outside the harbour. Those that have a regular berth in Port Hercule have to vacate their places for the period of the show. Others have come from elsewhere as they are for sale and serious buyers always attend the Monaco Yacht Show.