Reflections on Avenue d'Ostende

Avenue d'Ostende is the road that runs down from the Casino to Saint Devote and Port Hercule.

This road used to be called the Montée de Monte-Carlo and is well-known by anyone who watches the F1 cars of the Monaco Grand Prix as they race up this hill.

Flags

There's always something going on in Casino Square - here you see flags from the recent Monte Carlo Rally reflected in the doors of the Casino.

Don't you love that old clock?

Parking des Pêcheurs

When you visit le rocher, this is where you end up after parking your car. You can take a lift to the level of the gardens on top but it's also nice to come out where you see the benches and walk up steps past the old washhouse.

Koi Carp

Last day at the Japanese Gardens - but I'm sure we'll be back. This, as is fairly obvious (!) is a reflection in a pool that contains Koi Carp.

Zen

Let's pause a little longer in the Japanese Gardens...

'I am a part of all that I have met.' ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Peace in a Garden

It's Theme Day and deciding on 'my favourite part of town' wasn't easy. So much depends on one's mood. You can sit on the terrace of the Cafe de Paris and watch the world go by, you can wander Port Hercule and drool over the mega yachts, you can stroll le rocher and enjoy the narrow ancient streets and the beauty of the cathedral or you can do what we are doing today - sit in a garden and absorb the peace.

Monaco has many beautiful gardens - my favourites are the Saint Martin Gardens on le rocher and this one - the Japanese Gardens on Avenue Princess Grace with views of the Mediterranean through the trees.

To see how other bloggers around the world have interpreted this month's theme please click HERE.

Doorman at the Casino

One of the Casino's doormen. I bet they have stories to tell...

The Old Tap

You don't have to look far in Monaco to find interesting details.

This old tap. which doesn't appear to turn on and off and protudes out of a weary mouth, is part of the fountain in Place de la Mairie on le rocher.

Bird's Eye View

Probably the only ones who don't have to pay for the view in Monaco are the birds...

Cannon

This beautiful cannon can be found on le rocher at the Place du Palais overlooking Port Hercule.

Christmas in February

Do you think someone should tell the owners of this house on le rocher that Christmas is over?

The Sacristy

Another pretty corner on le rocher. This is the entrance to the Sacristy of the Cathedral and as you see, is alongside a restaurant. You can see a part of the cathedral on the right.

You've Got Mail

There's only one way to deliver mail on le rocher, and that's by walking...

The Most Beautiful Dog Loo in the World?

Could this be the most beautifully located official dog loo in the world?

The gate leads down a winding stairway to a small enclosed garden where dogs can attend to their needs. There's a bench for the dog's owner. You'll find this very near to the Oceanographic Museum on the Rock.

Woof woof, I say!

The Origins of the Cathedral

These beautiful carvings are all that is left of the first church on le rocher constructed in 1247. They stand alongside the current cathedral built in 1874 and consecrated 100 years ago in 1911.
You'll find them behind a railing on the left side of the cathedral in the pic below. (out of shot)

Palms

It's Saturday. Let's find a little peace and quiet. These are the gardens that run along by Fort Antoine. Through the palms you can see Cap Martin.

The Fountain of the Birds

Jean-Michel Folon's La Fontaine aux Oiseaux is a sculpture I've always loved.

For years it stood in front of the Casino. Then it got moved to Fontvieille where it stood outside the police station on a wooden pallet, the birds imprisoned by wire, waiting for a new home.

Now, you'll find it on le rocher in front of the Lycee Albert 1er.

The Willing Subject

This seagull was quite happy to have his photograph taken by a visitor to le rocher. Indeed, he paraded back and forth to make sure the young man got the best possible shot...

Lunch on the Rock

Many visitors to Monaco don't see this side of the Principality. They see the glitz and the glamour of Port Hercule and the Casino and miss these adorable little streets. This is a bar/restaurant on le rocher where preparations for lunch are underway.

14th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - Last Thoughts

Last day at the Rally - thanks so much for coming along for the ride.

The badge in the smaller photo commemorates the 100th year of the Monte Carlo Rally. We were at the historic rally of course.

Not too long and the Monaco Grand Prix will be upon us. The Historique Grand Prix takes place every two years and it won't be till 2012 that we see those wonderful old cars again.

14th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - Dirt

You don't normally see so many dirty cars in Monaco, but then it's Rally time...

In the first photo, a car is going around Casino Square, in the small one, the car has hitched a ride home and is passing St. Devote and below a dirty old Volvo, that I know someone loves.

14th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - Labels

Looks like the car in the main photo has been taking part in the Monte Carlo Rally Historic since it started.

I'm probably the worst person to take photos of car events because I really don't know what I'm looking at but here's a couple of cars that will hopefully please car buffs. More tomorrow...

Of course, there's always the official website.

14th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - the Interloper

This team were posing for a photographer when a girl suddenly came up and asked if she could have her photo taken with them. She struck this pose and then off she went. She didn't even ask for a copy of the photo. Very strange!

The team travelled from Japan to Glasgow for the start of their trip to Monte Carlo. And if you look at the number plate you can see it took a knock - that's when they hit a deer. If you speak Japanese you'll find the team's website HERE.

14th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - Duct Tape

The 14th Monte Carlo Rally Historic arrived at Port Hercule last weekend. The cars had started from Glasgow, Marrakech or Warsaw and for the really old cars with lesser engine capacity, there were intermediate starts in Barcelona and Rheims. All the cars were built between 1955 and 1979.

This year Monaco celebrated the 100th year of the Monte Carlo Rally and this 'historic' rally (the 14th) was very much part of the celebration.

As you can see the one thing no driver could do without was a roll of duct tape - or is it duck tape?

More cars tomorrow...

The Reflective Skater

Each winter the swimming pool on Port Hercule is turned into a skating rink. The reflections are tents put up for the 2011 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique which arrived in Monaco last Saturday - pics start tomorrow...

Underneath the Arches

Look up and you see beautiful arches. Look down and there are road works. This small street (and others) on le rocher have been undergoing renovation for months and months. All will surely be ready tho for the wedding of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock on July 2nd.

The Wedding: Clean-up at the Palace

In five short months, Monaco will celebrate the wedding of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock and there's a lot to do!

Not least - the palace. Here you see the facades are undergoing a massive clean-up.

There's also a big renovation going on at the Hôtel de Paris on Casino Square which is where many of the most prestigious guests will stay.

And THE dress? That will be designed by Georgio Armani.