A Jenson Button and Jessica Michibata sort of day...

Yesterday was a glorious day - t-shirt weather.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a mad Formula One fan and never miss a race. Jenson Button is my favourite driver. He drives for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes with intelligence, sensitivity - he's brilliant - and there he was, running towards and then past me. Too late for a shot so I turned around and clicked. Jenson is in the red t-shirt in the smaller photo.

A few minutes later Flavio Briatore (ex director of the Renault F1 team) walked past La Rose des Vents.

And 15 mintes afer that, Jenson's beautiful girlfriend Jessica Michibata came along, running in the opposite direction. That's her in the main photo.

And after that - to make it a real Grand Prix Sunday - I went to lunch with my friend Sue, who is married to Roy Salvadori - another F1 driver from what is now a bygone era. My interest in Forumula One started years ago when I became friends with Roy and Sue.

The Picture Frame

This picture frame/sculpture stands on le rocher, overlooking Port Hercule. People love to stand in the frame and have their photograph taken. Unfortunately if you look at it full on, there is a massive palm tree in the way but it's a rather lovely idea, don't you think?

The Changing of the Guard - 2

One last look at the Palace Guards as they hand over their duties. Then a quick turn and off they go to get into the white bus that awaits them.

I wouldn't mind a euro (or even a centime) for every tourist that has photographed this scene.

The Changing of the Guard

Each day at noon, you can watch the changing of the guard outside the Prince's Palace.

Today they are wearing their winter uniform. In summer, they sparkle in white.

And of course visitors line up to take photographs.

The Kids' Playground

This has to be one of the best situated children's playgrounds, don't you think? Not sure what they are playing as I don't see a ball...

By the way, this playground transforms into the Open Air Cinema in summer. Click on the link.

This was taken leaning over the parapet near to the Oceanographic Museum on le rocher.

The Shepherd with Red Fingernails

You don't expect to see a shepherd and sheep in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. And you certainly don't expect the bronze shepherd to have painted fingernails...

A Bike Ride around Cap Ferrat

These shots on the walk around Cap Ferrat were taken in September but the sun shines as gloriously today as it did then - just a little cooler and very cold at night.

I wondered if this couple would ride their bikes up the shallow steps but as you see, they sensibly didn't.

Sculpture at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

In September there was an exhibition of sculptures on the esplanade in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. One or two have been seen on this blog already. Here's another. Unfortunately very few of the art works showed the name of the piece or the artist including this bronze.

Reflections of Fontvieille

Sometimes buildings look more interesting when reflected in the sea...

These was taken in the Port of Fontvieille.

Up and Down...

Well, I know this isn't the most exciting photo in the world but it shows how well Monaco caters for people unable to walk up steps. You don't really expect a chair lift in the open air, do you? This one is in Fontvieille near the shopping centre.

In addition there are lifts (elevators) all over Monaco taking people from one level to another. Of course there are steps too but normally you can get up and down the hills with ease provided you know where to find the lifts.

Note the reflection of boats in the port in the first photo and of the Palace and rocher in the smaller one.

Lightning McQueen

Do you ever wish...you were a child again...and someone would feed you?

From the Big Wheel...the English Village

You don't really expect to see a representation of an English medieval village on the port of Monaco but that is exactly what was built for the Christmas Fair. I took these shots from the Big Wheel.

The road you see in the smallest photo is where you'll find the Start/Finish line of the Monaco Grand Prix.

All this - and the big wheel - was taken down on Monday. Festivities carry on in France and Monaco until the end of the first week of January to accommodate the Italian holidays - during that time, if you listen to people speaking, you'd think you were in Italy - but then being so near to Italy, that's often the case. Ciao!

From the Big Wheel...

The big wheel opened at 11 a.m. and I was there waiting. The guy stopped the wheel at the top for a few minutes and then I got 8 or so rotations. I gave up counting eventually...

It wasn't that easy to take photos as you have to keep changing position to avoid photographing the supports of the wheel - and look at the lower photo, you felt as if you could fall out any minute, especially through those little gates.It was all great fun tho.

Moody Blues

Moody skies over the Ski School at Larvotto.

Fair Fashion

If you are a Monte Carlo lady and you take your twin sons to the fair, you wear the highest heels and of course have a Chanel handbag on your shoulder.

David Niven's House - a Last Look

A few last images of David Niven's villa at Cap Ferrat.

It's been recently restored at a reputed cost of 10 millions euros and is now known as La Fleur du Cap.

A Walk past David Niven's Villa

The enchanting walk from Beaulieu-sur-Mer to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat takes you right past the pink villa that once belonged to David Niven.

David Niven's Square

A door opens onto the small square at the back of David Niven's house which was named in his honour - Place David Niven.

The house itself is also a movie star, having appeared, with a cameo from Niven, in the otherwise unwatchable Trail of the Pink Panther (1983) . Peter Sellers had died, and Niven was dying, so the film is a morgue-like stitching together of old clips of Sellers, while Niven has his voice dubbed by someone else.> - thanks again to Alex Went and CityOutMonaco for the information.

David Niven's House

David Niven's house at Cap Ferrat isn't easy to photograph. It nearly always in shade - and therefore doubtless cool in summer. Taking photos with the sun behind the house doesn't help. Anyway - here it is and you can see how idyllic it is.

Thanks to CityOutMonaco and editor, Alex Went for this information:

'Originally called Lo Scoglietto (Little Rock) with its private harbour, this beautiful pink Italianate villa was built in 1880 by Alfred Bounin, the son of an arms supplier to the Sardinian army, himself an olive oil trader from Nice.

In 1920, the villa was rented by Duchess of Marlborough, Mme Balsan, originally Consuelo Vanderbilt. It was extended in the 1950s and rented by Leopold III, King of the Belgians, one year before his abdication.

Later Lo Scoglietto was bought by the great Charlie Chaplin, and in 1960 he in turn sold it to the film actor David Niven, who was very much part of Princess Grace's social scene. Known for his gentlemanly appearance and clipped English accent, Niven had already enjoyed an immensely successful career starring, for example, in the Powell and Pressburger film A Matter of Life and Death (1946) and winning an Oscar for his performance in Separate Tables (1958).'

More tomorrow:

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.