Rental Bikes

Looks like Stars 'n' Bars rent out bikes - or perhaps these are bikes rented elsewhere in Monaco. 

Nice bikes, aren't they?

Break up the Blue

Everyone loves the blue skies of the French Riviera and Monaco but really a few clouds make it a lot more interesting ...

The large yacht (centre) is the Lady Moura. Click on link to see more. She's usually moored in the port (as here) but last week, like many of the permanent yachts in the port, she had to give up her berth for the Monte Carlo Yacht Show and so the bay has been choc-a-bloc with boats.

Dinner with friends

Ambiance at Quai des Artistes on the port of Monaco.

Manolo Valdés - Daphné

Manolo Valdés is a Spanish sculptor who normally creates monumental works.  This, though, is a small version - on display at the Marlborough Gallery. This small bronze is called Daphné and is made of bronze and iron.

Half a Painting ...

A glimpse of a painting through some sort of structure - seen at the vernissage at the Marlborough Gallery.  I don't know the artist and presume the couple are in a gondola in Venice.

The Marlborough Gallery - Chihuly

This beautiful vase by Dale Chihuly is on on display and for sale at the Marlborough Gallery on Port Hercule. The note alongside says 'Pine Green Soft Cylinder with Deep Blue Lip Wrap, 2002.  Soufflé Glass.

I've adored Chuhuly glass for years yet I've never actually seen any.  I've seen films about him on television- working with the glass blowers of Murano, his installations at Kew Gardens and in America, so to actually see one of his creations was an absolute treat. I can tell you up front and personal, it is absolutely beautiful.

The Marlborough Gallery

The Marlborough Gallery on Port Hercule had an opening recently. It's a beautiful space in which to view art and to meet up with friends.

Seafood on the Port

A restaurant at Port Hercule, luxury yachts a few metres away, low lighting, great atmosphere - platters of seafood at Quai des Artistes.  

Red!

It's dusk and slowly the lights are coming on in Port Hercule ...

Blake - the Veil

Although the majority of sculptures were from Blake's current 'Angels' collection, this sculpture is from an earlier collection called 'Re-think' which is dedicated to  the promotion of human rights.

Called 'The Veil' I love the way her shadows are displayed on the wall.

Blake's Angels - Meet the Artist

 
Snapped at the 'vernissage' of Blake's 'Angels' collection.

Personally I think there should be a law against one man being so good looking, so charming and so talented!

Tomorrow: The Veil 

Blake's Angels - Zuriel, the Angel of Harmony

 

Last night I was lucky enough to go to the 'vernissage' of Monaco-based sculptor, Blake's latest exhibition.  Canadian-born artist Blake works in clay to produce bronze and marble sculpture that are cast or carved in Italy.

His latest collection 'Angels' is  'based on the abstraction of surface and the investigation into the interior of the human form.'

The sculpture you see here is called 'Zuriel' who is the Angel of Harmony and encourages us to be sociable and appreciate beauty.

Tomorrow - we meet the artist.

Larvotto Beach

This is Larvotto Beach taken from way up high. You can clearly see the black line of the protective jellyfish net.

The second photo shows more of the foreground. 

Remember the photo I took of patterns on the water - looked like coloured marble?   It was n fact a reflection of the building I'm currently standing in (19th floor). To take that photo I stood at the very end of the large 'T' breakwater that you see in the middle of the beach.

A Day on the Water

A group taking off from the port of Fontvieille for a day on the water - perhaps scuba diving? 

In the smaller photo they are about to pass the Oceanographic Museum.

The Heliport

We saw this area of Fontvieille the other day - the heliport landing pad in the distance.  Here's a  helicopter taking off for Nice airport - a great way to get there and back.

I understand you can check your baggage at the heliport and that's it. You don't see it again till you arrive at your final destination.

The Ship and Castle

There are several British-style pubs in Monaco.  This is the Ship and Castle in the port of Fontvieille.  Look at the pub sign - as you see, it depicts exactly where it is - below le rocher where you find the palace.

In case you wonder why it's closed - well it was only 08h.30 in the morning ...

Sky Walker

Rather him than me!  No health and safety here ... 

Note the stones on the lower part of the roof. You often see this on a roof in a hill village - we're in La Turbie today.  Normally though on an older roof than this one. Presumably to prevent tiles lifting off in high winds.

Dante in La Turbie

Don't you just love that a verse from Dante's Divine Comedy is engraved on a wall in La Turbie? 

You see this near to the post office - before you enter the Medieval village.  It speaks of the difficulties in accessing the village long ago.  I found this translation:

'Twixt Lerici and Turbia, the most desert,

The most secluded pathway is a stair

Easy and open, if compared with that.'

The tourist office of La Turbie translates it as 'The most solitary and deserted road between Lerici and La Turbie is close to this one with large and easily climbed steps”.

Dante lived from 1265 - 1321 and this was the first literary mention of La Turbie.

The other inscription, just along from Dante's is taken 'from the itinerary of Antonin, that described La Turbie as the “Alp Summa”, where Italy ended and La Gaule commenced.'

Pollution Forbidden!

We're in the village of La Turbie today - way above Monaco.

Let's hope the dog can read and if not, that his owner takes due note.  Normally small plastic bags are readily available from dispensers in the street although many dog owners carry doggy poop bags in small bone-shaped containers fixed to the dog's collar. 

I wonder why someone has written 'I love dollars' on the sign ...

The Gold Bike

You'd expect the Billionaire Club to have a gold bike, wouldn't you?

interestingly it's electric - greatly encouraged in the Principality.  We saw it yesterday from the other side - remember the wobbly buildings ...

Vroom vroom

Avenue Princesse Grace.  Vroom vroom and the buildings start to wobble ...

Time to Wake Up!

Early morning in Fontvieille harbour.  These boats are tucked up against the rocks of 'le rocher' and about to wake up for the day.  Way up above them is the Palace, the Oceanographic Museum and the Cathedral.

Lines

 In the distance, the heliport and the luxury apartments that border Cap d'Ail.  Behind us is the lighthouse we saw yesterday and steps that lead down to the port of Fontvieille. You often see people fishing along here.

The 'Green' Lighthouse

It's probably not going to change your life to know that the lighthouse at the entrance to the port of Fontvieille is powered by solar energy but anyway here it is!

Many public vehicles in Monaco are electric - so this is all part of the 'green' environment that the Prince and Monaco advocate.

People Watching ...

I was on a boat watching her. She was on another boat watching someone else ...

It's what we love to do on the Côte d'Azur and Monaco - people watch!  But then doesn't everyone everywhere?

This was taken at Plage Mala, Cap d'Ail.

Port of Fontvieille

Fontvieille is the area of Monaco reclaimed from the sea - hence the relatively new buildings.  It's 08h.00 and the light is just right and with just enough movement in the water to make the reflections interesting. 

I love walking around this little port, so much more peaceful than the main harbour, Port Hercule.

Oceanographic Museum

The Oceanographic Museum is a building I never tire of photographing.  So beautiful the way it rises out of the rocks.  There's some sort of work going on from the sea - a crane, perhaps a dredger?

And note the large seagull sitting on the small boat, doubtless waiting for a fish.

Jetski

 We've left Plage Mala and are making our way back to Menton. This guy was having the best fun on his jetski in the seas off Monaco.

Plage Mala - Paddle Boarding

This looks such fun. I wonder how easy or difficult it is to balance.

The smaller photo shows a shot of Plage Mala in the background.