The Tender Touch

Such a gentle and tender touch from a beautiful young woman to a little Westie, who is lunching at a neighbouring table at Bistrot le Bouchon.

Blake - and Bling

It's always such a treat for me when celebrated Canadian sculptor Blake invites me to his Monaco studio to take photos of work in progress. 

In the main photo, you see Blake's assistant, a sculptor herself, applying gold leaf to the interior of this sculpture in his new series, Phantom.  The first in the series, 'Phantom Sky' was exhibited at the recent Monaco-Japan exhibition. (see photo below)

Blake has written about the Phantom series:

'We have gone Las Vegas!
Bling has entered into the realm of the Phantoms!
This new series of sculptures place great value on the interior space within us, it is an exploration of our inner selves and the ideas of our emotional and spiritual psyche. By bring the interior to our attention I place a high value on this area of our intellect and emotional being, by covering it in gold I add physical, symbolic and material value to the work.'

Instant Summer

Miami Plage, Larvotto

We seem to have suddenly gone from a long wet, chilly winter to instant summer - notice I'm not complaining.  This guy is preparing mats on the beach.

Cherry Blossom 2

Cherry blossom in Monaco. Yesterday, we saw it from a distance, set against the backdrop of the sea.  Today, up close and personal.

Cherry Blossom

Cherry blossom outside the Japanese gardens on Avenue Princesse Grace.

People Watching ...

Walking the dog ...

La Note Bleue - Anemones

You'll always find beautiful flowers on the bar of La Note Bleue on Larvotto Beach. Here - bright red anemones.

Could this be Spring at last?

After all the rain and wind and chilly days, this was Monaco yesterday - glorious sunshine that made us all wonder if spring has finally arrived.

This photo shows the far end of the beach - in the background you see Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and beyond that Menton and Italy.

Eze Village and Cap Ferrat

I walked down from the village and along the Moyenne Corniche to get this shot.  Although I was quite a long way away, the 24-70 mm lens did pretty well.  The strip of land you see out to sea, is Cap Ferrat. Someset Maughan used to  love there.  in 2012 Cap Ferrat was named the second most expensive place to live in the world - after Monaco!

Eze Village - Donkeys

These two donkeys are usually to be found half way up the main slope that leads to the village. Presumably this is their winter grazing - it's just below the village.

Let's hope the restaurant behind them doesn't decide to serve donkey in their 'brochettes.'  As if ...

Eze Village - Restoration

All the streets in Eze village are beautifully restored like this. It really is an enchanting place - although my personal preference is for a more authentic, and dare I say it, less touristy village.  You are more likely to bump into a foreigner in Eze than a Frenchman - certainly in summer. But of course that is because it is so beautiful and it draws the visitors. And of course without the appreciation of its beauty it might never have been restored - and crumbled as other villages have -  so there are always two ways of looking at things. Like life ...

This archway includes the entrance to the gorgeous Chèvre d'Or.

Eze Village - Pause Café

This bar/restaurant is just inside the archway that leads to the old village.

Eze Village - Grab the Moment!

Any work that needs doing in Eze Village involves lugging the materials and the tools up the narrow streets and then lugging everything, including any waste materials, back again.

As I walked up this little street, the guy with the beard who is plastering under the sign 'le troubadour' looked right at me. He has a marvellous face and I should have taken his photo at that moment but I thought I'd do it on the way back down.  But by then he'd gone. Grab the moment! Applies to everything in life, doesn't it?

Eze Village - The Old Auberge

This  wall with its wondrous colour and worn out sign never fails to entrance me.

Eze Village - Notre Dame de l'Assomption 2

The interior of the beautiful Eglise Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in Eze Village.

Eze Village - Notre Dame de l'Assomption

 

A corner of the beautiful neo-classical church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption which was reconstructed between 1764 and 1778 after the original fell into ruin. It was classified as a National Monument of France in 1984.

Eze Village - the view from the Chèvre d'Or - 2

Can't resist showing you more photographs of  the restaurant of the Chèvre d'Or.  How's this for a view of St. Jean Cap Ferrat whilst enjoying a wonderful lunch or dinner. Flowers by Perrine.

Eze Village - Reflection at the Chèvre d'Or

We're back in the restaurant of the Chèvre d'Or today, looking at tables and the silver sea reflected in  this engraved glass.  Lovely isn't it?  And on the right one of Perrine's flower arrangements.

Eze Village - Sun and Shade

Thick walls, narrow streets - they knew how to build a village in medieval times to create shade and so protect themselves from the sun.

Talking of sun ... where is it?  Yet another rainy day here.

Eze Village - Antonio, the Head Concierge at the Chevre d'Or

If you are ever lucky enough to stay at the beautiful hotel/restaurant the Chevre d'Or, the first person you'll see is the always beaming Head Concierge, Antonio.

I'd bumped into Perrine (see yesterday's post) in the village earlier and she took me to meet Antonio who kindly allowed me to take photographs in the restaurant. Thank you Perrine - and it was a pleasure to meet you, Antonio.

Of course, the second thing you notice as you walk in to the reception area is this golden goat. Isn't he wonderful!

Eze Village - Chèvre d'Or - Miss Rose by Perrine

Readers of Menton Daily Photo have already met the beautiful Perrine as I showed photographs of her creating amazing hats made of flowers in her Menton atelier. Perrine's company is called Miss Rose by Perrine.

Perrine is Monaco's most favourite florist.  She creates stunning flower arrangements at many hotels and restaurants, weddings, model shoots, etc.  Here she is at the Chèvre d'Or in Eze.

When I tell you it was Perrine who made HSH Princess Charlene's bridal bouquet when she married HSH Prince Albert II, you'll know the esteem in which she is held in the Principality and beyond.

Tomorrow: we meet the chef concierge, Antonio. 

Eze Village - the View from the Chèvre d'Or

How's this for a view whilst you dine at the Chèvre d'Or in Eze.  Chèvre - for anyone who doesn't know - means 'goat' in French, hence the 'golden goat' on the roof.

That's St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat jutting out to sea.

More from this beautiful hotel/restaurant tomorrow.

Eze Village - Door-to-Door Delivery ...

Of course there are downsides to living in a medieval village. Everything you buy has to be lugged up the narrow streets by hand or on a trolley.

Here are some parcels being delivered ... the Eze version of 'door-to-door!'

Eze Village - Old Stone

Steps, walkways, tunnels, old stone - history. The wonders of Eze village.

Eze Village - the 'F' Label

This is the base of a perfectly normal lamp post that leads up to the village of Eze.

What puzzles me is what all the stickers with the letter 'F' on them mean.  Anyone know?

Eze Village - Spring

Looks like spring has already arrived in Eze Village ...

Eze Village

Yesterday, the sun shone and on a whim I drove to Eze village.  It's two years since I last came here - but everytime I visit I'm blown away by its beauty.

This photograph was taken from the Chemin de Nietzsche and we are looking at one side of the village - the gardens of the beautiful hotel/restaurant, the Chèvre d'Or tumble in terraces down the hillside. 

If you want to die happy - dine or take lunch at the Chèvre d'Or one time in your life ...

From 1883 onwards, Frederich Nietzsche often stayed on the French Riviera and it was during this climb, up the path from the beach, to the 'wonderful Moorish village of Eza, built among the rocks' that he composed the third part of his work 'Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra.' 

More tomorrow ...

Smoking Break

A couple of girls chat and smoke near the Watch Tower on le rocher.  Note the helicopter,  en route to the heliport in Fontvieille.

Monte Carlo Dogs

Not all Monte Carlo ladies strut around in 6 inch heels. Some, like these two ladies,  are more interested in their dogs and were taking a rest with them on a bench in the Casino Gardens.  Note the water bowl.

The Griffon is called Xena and she is 4 years old. And the Jack Russell terrier is called Lana and she is 3.

Both are rescue dogs now living a wonderful life in Monaco with these two fabulous Monte Carlo ladies.

7th Rencontre Artistique - Monaco-Japan - Viatcheslav Plotniko

Viatcheslav Plotnikov is a Russian artist who has lived in Monte Carlo since 2000.  He often paints glamorous scenes like this - the Hotel de Paris featuring famous American film stars long since dead. 

For instance, that's Ava Gardner sitting at the front.  Looks like Humphrey Bogart in the background. I'm sure others are recognisable too.The painting is called 'By Night Monaco.'

The Flower Shop

This rather wonderful flower shop, Narmino-Sorasio, is to be found in Le Park Palace.

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - the Rhino and the Panda

This sculpture is called 'F... Panda.'  I'm not being prudish in not typing that four-letter word but I don't want all the spam that will arrive if I do.

The sculptor is Patrick Schumacher - he makes lots and lots of what he calls 'rhinozebros.' Click on the link to read more.

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - Reni

This lady is dressed somewhat differently to other ladies and you'd think she is young, wouldn't you?  But - good for her - she absolutely isn't.

Her name is Reni and she always wear unusual outfits. She's one of Monte Carlo's characters and loves being photographed.  You may remember her in the Casino Gardens posing for the camera on the night the casino was lit up pink.