David Niven's Window

We've popped along to Cap Ferrat today to David Niven's villa, originally called Lo Scoglietto (Little Rock). He bought it from Charlie Chaplin but its history goes back far beyond that.

Today: a bougainvillea-clad window to whet your appetite. Tomorrow: we'll see this beautiful house from the sea and learn more of its history.

The photos were taken in September but you'll find bougainvillea in flower in January too. My neighbour has a wall covered in it.

All Ducked Out for Winter

If you want to get away from it all, go sit and watch the ducks in the pond at Fontvieille.

After a while, you begin to wonder if the best winter colours in fashion aren't right there before you...

Wobbly Buildings

Wobbly buildings = a reflection at the port of Fontvieille.

Favourite Photo of 2011

The 1st January is traditionally the day members of the City Daily Photo community choose their favourite photo of the previous year. My favourite has to be this one taken in November. I was drawn by the cloud formations and so walked towards the sea near to the heliport in Fontvieille. Standing there was this man, in perfect silhouette. I love that sky and the feeling of space - something we don't think of when we see the built-up nature of Monaco.

And for a little extra, I give you the joy on the faces of this mother and daughter as they played with bubbles at a festival on le rocher in summer.

Happy New Year to everyone (let's hope it brings peace to the crazy world of ours) and thankyou once again to readers of Monte Carlo Daily Photo - for your support, your comments, your private emails and encouragement - it really does mean so much to me.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

The End of the Year...

If you are celebrating tonight, have a wonderful time! Perhaps you'll visit Port Hercule where you'll see these two performers.

Happy New Year to everyone and let's hope this suffering world of ours finds peace and some common sense in 2012.

The Ice Hockey Player

This little boy obviously intends to be an ice-hockey player when he grows up.

The last photo shows the ice rink in part sun and part shade. It must be such fun to skate with all those mega yachts in the background although I doubt the local kids even notice.

One Boy, Two Shadows

A boy glides across the ice at Port Hercule - one boy, two shadows...

Time for Tea

Mid-afternoon - time for tea, a hot chocolate or perhaps a glass of vino. The terrace of the Café de Paris is always a good choice as you can watch the world go by at the same time. As it does on Casino Square...

The Frescoes

The facade of the Hôtel Hermitage was hidden from view for months and months earlier this year whilst the frescoes were being restored.

Here you see a tiny part of the finished result on one side of the building. Beautiful detail - no wonder it took so long.

Girls and Boys Go Out to Play...

Christmas Fair on Port Hercule:

Some little girls love whizzing around on the swings and some little boys get dizzy and cry.

Happy Christmas!

The windows of the Lanvin shop in Casino Square seem particularly apt to wish you a Happy Christmas!

And to say a big 'thankyou' to you, the loyal readers of Monte Carlo Daily Photo. I so appreciate all your visits, comments and encouragement. Have a wonderful day!

Christmas at the Metropole Centre

Christmas at the Metropole Shopping Centre. The café you see on the lower level is where I took THIS PHOTO a couple of days ago.

Bank Decor

A British bank in Monaco - hence the Monegasque flag and the Union Jack.

Wine Time

This looks like a good idea after a morning's Christmas shopping. We are at the café on the lower floor of the Metropole centre.

McDonald's in Monaco

A lot of people are surprised to discover there is a McDonald's in Monaco. It's in Fontvieille above the supermarket complex.

Reindeers in Monaco?

You don't really expect to see a reindeer walking around Monte Carlo, do you?

The Frozen Swimming Pool

In winter the swimming pool on Port Hercule is turned into an ice rink.

Posing

At the Christmas Fair on Port Hercule people love to pose for photos with these tall white creatures ...

Waffles at the Christmas Fair

Churros yesterday, waffles today at the Christmas Fair on Port Hercule.

Churros

Churros. The guy is tasting the dipping sauce and perhaps wondering what it is...

The Christmas Fair on the port has all sorts of food that isn't typically French.

Actually I don't know what a churro is either!

McLaren or Triumph?

Casino Square was a car-watchers paradise the other day. There was either a car fair on in Monaco or perhaps a special auction.

The sexy shiny black number above is a McLaren and the old car in the smaller photo is a Triumph.

Which do you prefer?

Waiting for the Night

Waiting for the Night: Christmas lights on the way to Casino Square.

Winter Blues

Port Hercule in December. Winter is often the best time...

Christmas Fair - the Big Wheel

There's a Christmas Fair on at the port - loads of rides for kids, every sort of food to buy and eat on the spot.

And the big wheel. I'll go up in it one day - the views will be great.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's that time of year again...

Avenue 31

'Avenue 31' is a brasserie on Avenue Princess Grace near the Grimaldi Forum. Modern, good fresh food. This window near the entrance is decorated with wine bottles - empty of course...

Ulysses

I've always loved this sculpture of Ulysses by Anna Chromy but I'm used to seeing it in Menton where it is cast in bronze/verdigris. This colour is wonderful.

Here it stands on the corner of Port Hercule above the yacht club.

The Washerwoman

La Grand Laveuse (the Washerwoman) - by Renoir - Guino 1917. It stands in the Parc Paysager of Fontvieille.

Larvotto in Winter - 2

A brave couple willing to brave a chilly December sea.

Larvotto in Winter

December - and Larvotto beach is almost empty.

Look carefully though, and you can see a lone swimmer in the lower centre of the photo. Rather him than me...

Morning at Fontvieille

'Morning without you is a dwindled dawn.'
Emily Dickinson

Wedding in the Sun - the Red Hat

Our last day at the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat wedding and how about a guest in a red hat... Actually I think they are called something else when they are small like this? Don't forget - this wedding took place in September, hence the bare shoulders and tan - not that there aren't people still swimming in the sea in Monaco, as you'll see over the next days.

There seemed to be a change of plan as to who held the bride's train. In the lower photo the bridesmaids are in charge and then, when the bride finally entered the church, it was the three pageboys who assisted her.

Long life and happiness to the bride and groom.

Tomorrow - back to Monaco.

Wedding in the Sun - the iPhone Photographer

Only a short while ago, this scene wouldn't have been possible.