Planet Solar - Going Onboard

Visits on board Planet Solar were really well organised. I queued for about an hour - about 20 people were allowed on at any one time.  We had a quick look around with various crew members telling us all about the trip.

You can see the line of people waiting to get on - and don't you love the beautiful lines of this catamaran in the third photo.

More tomorrow as go on board and get a feel how the crew lived for the nearly two years they circumnavigated the globe.

...although depending on the photos I get today we may hop to the Historic Grand Prix as I'm popping to Monaco later to take shots of those wonderful old cars and their owners.  Vroom vroom ...

Planet Solar teaches the kids

The kids, and many adults, enjoyed the teaching facility at Planet Solar.  Here children lean how solar energy gives electricity or enables a fan to turn. 

Planet Solar and the Cloud

A cut-out cloud is used to demonstrate how solar energy works and when it doesn't - when a cloud passes over.    Planet Solar achieved its 60,000 kilometre journey around the world using the sun.  This model of the vessel whizzes along in the raised pool but as soon as the cloud is held over it, it stops. For this reason, there are batteries on board that store the energy ready for cloudy days and to produce light at night.

More tomorrow ...

Planet Solar arrives in Monaco!

The catamaran Planet Solar arrived in Monaco last Friday after circumnavigating the globe - and using solar power only.  An incredible achievement. The whole of the top surface of the catamaran, except for the viewing bubble, is made up of solar panels. (More on this another day)

In the small photo you see a map of the voyage that started on the 27th September 2010 and finished in Port Hercule, Monaco on Friday. It took 585 days.

The photo below is a photo I took of a photo displayed near the catamaran.  This was part of a fabulous display, mainly teaching children about the catamaran and we'll see some of this over the next days, including a visit onto the vessel itself.

Jimmy*z in Winter

These photos were taken in March when Jimmy*z had taken over what was the old Moods at the back of the Café de Paris.  In summer it goes to its usual venue on Avenue Princesse Grace. I don't know if it's open here too. Maybe someone knows?

This reflective ball is at the entrance - you walk down stairs to the nightclub itself.

Grand Prix - A Ring of Steel

It's that time of year again as a ring of steel goes up in Monaco. Not only for the Monaco Grand Prix but for the Historic Grand Prix too, which takes place two weeks earlier - that's when we see all those wonderful old cars driving around the Principality.

In the photo it was 'Un, Deux, Trois' as these guys lifted a heavy section of fencing into place just outside the famous exit to the tunnel.

Vroom, vroom ...

The New Monaco Yacht Club by Sir Norman Foster

Stairway to heaven or perhaps simply a stairway in the new Monaco Yacht Club.  This is slowly rising on the opposite side of Port Hercule to the present yacht club.

Designed by Sir Norman Foster you can see how it will eventually look by clicking on the link.

Top Marques - Maro Mehn's Art4Living

This elaboratly decorated Mini Cooper by German artist and designer, Marco Mehn stands in front of his paintings.  He creates work you really can't miss, such as his 3D-Space Frames.

You'll find his depiction of Michael Jackson (left) and others you see in the lower two photos.

For more information about Marco Mehn and his company Art4Living please click on the link above. 

Tp Marques - Smile for the camera ...

More pretty girls at Top Marques and all of them happy to smile for the camera ...

Even tho the first photo is blurry, there's something I like about it - a playful, natural look to her lovely smile - so here it is. 

Top Marques - the Bruichladdich Distillery

Top Marques isn't only glamorous supercars and wildly expensive watches.  Meet the Bruichladdich Distillery from the Hebrides.  Mark Reynier talks of the emotional days when he first broke the padlock on the Bruichladdich gates and took charge of the charismatic but much neglected Victorian distillery on the far west Atlantic coast of Isley. From those early days to now, it's been a hard slog leading to the success story of a spirit, malted from only Scottish barley and slow-fermented for 10 years but click on the website to read more about the process - it's a love story to a dram of whisky.

Prince Albert met Mark and invited him to the American Bar of the Hotel de Paris where the Prince suggested he have an Old Fashioned made with the bar's Bruichladdich Laddick 10.

Top Marques - the Electric Bike

Prince Albert was particuarly interested in this electric bike, made by Austrian company, EH Line as one of his passions is ecology and a clean, green planet.  The majority of public vehicles in Monaco are run on electricity.

Click on the link to read more about these bikes, golf carts and cute small cars - all electric.

Top Marques - Pagani Huayra

This is the flashy inside of a Pagani Huayra.  Perhaps not the first choice of car if you've a muddy dog ...

Click on the link to see more.

Top Marques - Book Your Space Flight Here!

Not only can you buy luxury cars, bikes and watches at Top Marques but you can also book a place on a commercial flight into space.  This is a model of the craft that is currently being built.  Space flights will start on the Island of Curacao in 2014 and already 65 people are signed up at a cost of 72,000 euros per hour.  Each trip takes one passenger with a pilot and reaches an altitude of 104 kilometres from where you'll see a horizon that extends from Florida to Brazil. It seems that passengers only need to have sufficient good health to resist the pressure of the take-off.  A couple aged 84 are included in those already signed up.

A model of this craft sat on the forecourt of the Grimaldi Forum.  This smaller version was displayed inside. 

Click on Space XC to read much and see a video.

Top Marques - the Photographers

At Top Marques, there seemed to be as many photographers as cars.

Note in the last photo, the photographer is using a type of trolley device fixed to his tripod. He was photographing a motorbike.

Top Marques - the NEW 1958 Vespa 400

What is such fun about Top Marques is that you find little gems like this amongst all the super cars.  This is a 1958 Vespa 400 that has had a 35,000 euros facelift that took 400 hours.  The company CMH Luxury Carrosserie is just along the coast in Cagnes-sur-Mer. They have even gone to the trouble of converting this Vespa into an electric car.  Speed is limited to 40 or 50 kilometres per hour - but hey, isn't this just the thing to pop down to the shops to buy that baguette?

Top Marques - Legs Eleven

It's not only the cars that reflect in the shiny floors.

Top Marques - Borat's Armoured Car?

You need an armoured car?  Look no further.  This monster is made by Dartz Combat Cars and is obviously just the thing to pop down to the shops in Monte Carlo when you are running a little low in caviar and champagne.  The cost - $750,000.

The setting was a  hoot: images of Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat, the number plate on the car 'Wadiya' (Republic of Wadiya) and the two girls dressed in appropriate gear.

Click on the video below to see more of this extraordinary vehicle. 

Top Marques - The Prince and the Mansory Girl

Prince Albert opened Top Marques and then toured all the stands.  He sat in some of the sports cars, admired the myriad boys' toys on offer and of course met many of the pretty girls.  I wonder if he noticed that this young lady is holding a brochure for Mansory?  See the Mansory Bentley in the smaller photo.

Top Marques - Red!

Think of a red car and perhaps you thinks of a Ferrari - I do - which shows just how wrong you can be.  This car is made by Soleil Motors.

 

Top Marques - Girl on a Motorcycle

Top Marques doesn't only feature supercars. Remember the film, 'Girl on a Motorcycle' with Marianne Faithfull? 

Silly me - of course, you are all looking at the motorbike ...