7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan - Blake's Phantom

Last night saw the opening of the 7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan in the Auditorium Rainer III. It's a marvellous space overlooking Port Hercule and of course 'le tout Monaco' was there including many Japanese ladies wearing traditional dress - wonderful!

Each artist showed one work only.  This beautiful piece is by the well-known Canadian sculptor Blake, whose studio is in Monaco.  This is one of his new series called Phantom and yes, that's real gold leaf which I believe takes over a week to apply. This sculpture is called Phantom Sky.

The exhibition continues today and tomorrow - 11h to 19h.

Jules Massenet

Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era.

This statue stands, where it should, outside Monte Carlo's opera house, which is to our left.

Today, Monaco doesn't look like this photo - it's raining heavily and has been for days ... 

The Ring

Who would buy a ring like this - and why?  It's for sale in a shop just around the corner from the Café de Paris.

The Fur Coat

You'd need to be rich to trail a mink on the ground like this, wouldn't you?  

And for all you animal lovers, I'm one too!  No animal should be killed for its fur - or for anything else, come to that.   I'm simply your friendly Monte Carlo photographer reporting on what I see ... on this occasion at the Cafe de Paris. 

The Jolly Chef

What a jolly chef!  He's about to enter the plastic covered terrace of his restaurant on le rocher.

Spring!

This is the promenade between Fontvieille and Cap d'Ail - the port of Cap d'Ail is to the right.

Looks like Spring to me!

The Watch Tower

The watch tower and beyond, Cap Martin and Italy.

Narrow

Here's yet another passageway on le rocher - this one so narrow it needs to be properly lit.

Don't you just love imagining what it would have been like to live here centuries and centuries ago?

Café de Paris - Coffee?

The terrace of the Café de Paris in Casino Square.  Fancy a coffee in the sunshine?

~~~~~

Click HERE to see how other City Daily Photo bloggers around the world have interpreted the theme of  'Café Chairs.'

'There be dragons ...' in the Casino Gardens

'It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.'

~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Marilyn and the Eiffel Tower

What's a tee-shirt of Marilyn Monroe and the Eiffel Tower doing on sale in Monaco? Anyway it's yours for 17 euros.

A Fringe of Green

One of the many beautiful trees in the Casino Gardens.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Painter

We are back outside the Chapel de la Miséricorde where the walls outside are still being painted. Remember this man and his shadow? I love watching artisans work - the concentration and attention to detail is evident in the expression on his face.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Lamps

Our last day inside the beautiful Chapel de la Miséricorde on le rocher.  Here are some beautiful lamps tucked away behind the altar.

Happy Sunday everyone! Pouring with rain here and probably snowing higher up in the hills ...

Chapel de la Miséricorde - Simplicity

As you see, no pews in the Chapel de la Miséricorde - just simple wooden chairs and a sculpture of Christ in a silk-lined glass case.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Crosses

A similar shot to yesterday except this shows off the row of simple crosses to be found at the back of the altar. These would be used during the procession of the penitents.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Painting

Walk behind the altar in the Chapel de la Miséricorde and this is what you find.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - Beauty

Another beautiful sculpture in the Chapel de la Miséricorde.  I wish I knew the story of this sculpture - perhaps someone does?

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Golden Lady

This gold sculpture is one of many objets d'art in the Chapel de la Miséricorde.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Beauty Inside

The Chapel de la Miséricorde on le rocher was completed in 1646.  25% of the population had died of the plague in 1631 with the last death on the 21st November which is the day of the Feast of Our Lady.  In recognition of this, Prince Honoré II  decreed that on the eve of Good Friday each year a procession of penitents, made up of local residents, should set off from the chapel.

These photos were taken with a 50mm lens but I'll  go back one day with a wide-angle. It's a truly beautiful chapel.

More tomorrow ...

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Painter's Shadow

This man, along with his shadow,  is painting the outside of a chapel on the rocher.

Come to think of it,  I can feel a little series coming on. So we'll start with the outside before going in.  This is the Chapel de la Miséricorde on Rue Ptincess Marie de Lorraine. It's one of the oldest buildings in the Principality and was completed in 1646.

More tomorrow ...

Tipsy Building

A view of the side of the Oceanographic Museum and gthe beautiful lamps that lead the eye to the sea.

I was standing slightly off centre so although the horizon is straight, the building appears to tip slightly - or should I blame the building and say that perhaps it had had a glass of vino too many ... ?

The Chocolate Shop

A reflection in the door of Monaco's chocolate shop on le rocher. 

You'll have to imagine the chocolates!

Passageway on le rocher

One of the narrow passageways that cut through from one small street to another on le rocher. 

Phone call at the Ice cream Bar

This is an ice-cream bar on le rocher.  The lady was so intent on her telephone call she didn't notice me.  The man behind the bar did - but then got on with his work. 

Talking on a portable telephone makes us oblivious to the world, doesn't it?

Rue des Remparts

This is Rue des Remparts on le rocher.  Behind us is the palace and below us, way below to the left is Port Hercule. Pretty street, isn't it?

Style

Even the guys working on a building site on le rocher wear Dolce & Gabbana sweatshirts ...

Viewed from the Rock

This photo was taken from le rocher, right by the Oceanographic Museum - looking towards the port and buildings of Fontvieille. Click on the link to see where I am.

Fighting the Plastic

This guy looks like he's having a fight with the plastic cover that protects this restaurant terrace on le rocher.

The Ramparts and Watch Tower

The watch tower and ramparts on le rocher. 

Cross Street

This is a Monaco far from the expensive boutiques of Monte Carlo.  We are on 'le rocher' where tiny streets connect with more tiny streets.

Mini Brit

Got a feeling the Mini might be British ...!

The doorman of the Hôtel de Paris has just moved it forward about a foot,  so now it's nose to tail with the Ferrari. Not sure why he moved it.

Pause Café

The terrace of the Café de Paris a couple of days ago.

Photography Exhibition!

Not a photo by me today but one that includes me! - it's the programme for a  an exhibition of photography at the Tour Lascaris/Fondation Raza in Gorbio village, just above Menton, from the 15 February to the 3rd March - 10h - 12h and from 14h to 16h. Closed on Tuesdays.

Khaled Youssef is a wonderfully creative Syrian-born photographer who lives in Nice. Khaled takes fabulous  photos of enormous bubbles, of beautiful reflections and of graffiti. It's an immense honour for me to be presenting my work at the same time. My photos will show what I adore about life here - the festivals, the ambiance, the food, the way of life in Menton and the medieval village of Gorbio. But most of all the people who live that life.

The vernissage is between 15h and 18h on Friday the 15th February (it will go on later than 6 p.m.) Everyone is welcome. Do mark your calendar and come along. And for anyone who wants to pass the evening in the village, the Restaurant Les Terrasses serves great pizzas.

Normal service will be resumed on this blog tomorrow!

~~~~~
  
Aujourd'hui, ce n'est pas une de mes photos, mais une photo sur laquelle je suis! - il s'agit du programme d'une exposition de photographie dans la Tour Lascaris / Fondation Raza au village de Gorbio du 15 Février au 3 Mars - de 10h à 12h et de 14h à 16h. Fermée le mardi.

Khaled Youssef est un photographe, merveilleusement  créatif, d'origine syrienne qui vit à Nice. 
Khaled prend de  magnifiques photos de bulles énormes, de beaux reflets et des graffitis. C'est un immense honneur pour moi de présenter mon travail en même temps que lui. Mes photos montrent ce que j'adore de la vie d' ici - les fêtes, l'ambiance, la cuisine, le mode de vie de Menton et du village médiéval de Gorbio. Et par dessus tout, les gens qui vivent cette vie.

Le vernissage aura lieu entre 15h et 18h le vendredi 15 Février (cela se poursuivra au delà de 18 heures) Tout le monde est  bienvenu. Notez la date dans vos agendas et venez. Et pour tous ceux qui voudraient passer leur soirée au village, le Restaurant Les Terrasses  sert de délicieuses pizzas.

Le blog reprendra son cours, demain!

The Empty Beach

The far end of Larvotto Beach ...

'I need the sea because it teaches me.'

Pablo Neruda

Skateboarding

The promenade above Larvotto Beach is a great place for the kids to skateboard but there is no ramp from where they can take off - so kids being kids - they make their own, as you see in the second photo.

Colour!

Colour!  This lady and her twin daughters were walking along Larvotto Beach yesterday afternoon. 

Shoes by Mui Mui

Just the thing for walking the dogs ...

Price: 790 Euros.

Circus - the Piglets

Not every day you see a piglet in Monaco.  There were two running around in a pen outside the circus, along with a baby goat. Perhaps a sort of petting zoo for children but I'm not sure.  Nearby were lots of adult goats who were presumably part of a circus act.

Double Trouble ...

Reflection in a window in Fontvieille.  And are those two girls texting the same person ...?

Click!

Photo time for this group in the port of Fontvieille.

Fontvieille from Cap d'Ail

We're in Cap d'Ail this morning looking towards Monaco and the heliport.  On our left is the Port of Cap d'Ail.  Ahead is Fontvieille and one of the luxury apartment buildings and behind it you can see the top of the Oceanographic Museum. 

The low white building is temporary - the circus is on and this is where the elephants sleep at night.

And in the distance, snow on the Alps.