Anyone for tennis ...?

Anyone for tennis ...?

Christmas Lights

Conversation whilst sorting Christmas lights for this restaurant in the port of Fontvieille.

Café at the Metropole Centre

The café on the lower level of the Metropole centre is always buzzing with people taking their morning coffee or meeting friends for a light lunch. Meanwhile sales staff on the level above chat whilst they wait for customers.

Double Trouble

I can't resist photographing reflections - this is a lingerie shop in the Metropole centre. 

Bruce's Brute?

Look at this brute of a car parked by the boats in the port of Fontvieille.  Perhaps it belongs to Bruce Springsteen! - after all, it says 'Born in the USA' on the numberplate. 

I gather this is a Cadillac Hummer and can't imagine how the owner manages to manoeuvre it through the tiny streets in the south of France and parts of Monaco.

Two Men ...

You never know who you will run into at the shops in the port of Fontvieille.

Christmas - the Metropole

Christmas at the Metropole shopping centre.

Kermesse - Almond Tart

An almond tart for sale on the Greek stand at the Kermesse. 

Kermesse: Sally

The lovely Sally - tireless worker for the Kermesse and always with a smile on her face.

Kermesse - Legs

Cold weather gear in Monte Carlo.

Kermesse - Concentration

Don't you love the intense concentration on this lady's face.  She is working at the raffle table which raises a lot of money for charity with its Tombola and big Monaco-style prizes.  I don't know who she is but I think she looks a bit like Mary Berry, the lovely English cookery lady on television, don't you?

Kermesse - the Workers for Charity

The ladies who man (!) the stalls at the Kermesse work tirelessly for charity.  For weeks before the event they beg, borrow and steal (not really!) items for their stalls and then have to price them, pack them up and get them to the circus tent on the morning of the Kermesse.  Then they work non-stop all day selling, selling, selling and always they raise thousands for charity.

In these two photos, on one of the British Association of Monaco stalls (BAM) you see the ebullient Anne Batt and behind her, Caroline Casely.

Those of you who are regular followers of this Facebook page will know Anne and her wonderfully funny and ascerbic comments on the style - or lack of it - when I post pics of people.

Kermesse - the Books

Books, books, books.  There is an English bookstall and a French one at the Kermesse with thousands of second hand books for sale.   And in the middle of the afternoon all the books unsold are on offer at 1 euro each.  The lady in the first photo is looking at a book on punctuation.

I bought 27 books so have a feast of reading ahead ...

Kermesse - the Paella

This is the Spanish stand where you'll see a long queue waiting for a plate of delicious freshly made paella. The ladies of course dress appropriately.

Click on this link from last year to see the preparation of the paella.

Kermesse - Tiger on my Table

The annual Kermesse in aid of charity was held yesterday in the circus tent in Fontvieille.  This is the 44th year of the year of this event which has been held annually in Monaco since 1970 when it was created by the British Association of Monaco (BAM), St. Paul’s Church and the Saint Vincent de Paul charity. Nowadays others are involved in the organization including the Reform Church of Monaco, the Spanish Community, and the Greek Orthodox parish.

There were over 25 stalls including two book stalls (one English and one French), lots of clothes stalls, a toy stall, an antique stall, a flower stall, a tombola stand and loads of Christmas food for sale.

Everyone has the best fun meeting up with old friends, however this lady is making is quite clear she has no intention of having a conversation with a tiger.

A Chilly Swim

Rather her than me!  This was taken two days ago on Larvotto beach. A beautiful day but gosh, that sea must be cold ...

Friendship

Conversation outside the shopping centre in Fontvieille. 

The Red and the White for Monaco's National Day

Not the most exciting photo in the world but I thought you might like to see Monaco's windows decorated with the Principality's red and white flags. Monaco celebrated its National Day last week - I didn't take photographs because I was exhibiting at PhotoMenton - but the flags are still on display and in this case with pots of red and white flowers to match. These pics were taken around the port of Fontvieille yesterday.

Ring ring

Not a bad place to stop and make a phone call and enjoy the view, even if it is a grey day.  Ah, no, perhaps she is taking a photo ...

The Midget outside the Cafe de Paris

This cute car is a rally car, parked opposite the Cafe de Paris. It's an MG midget I believe - UK number plates. You can see the names of the rally drivers inscribed on the side of the car. 

Monte Carlo Shoes ...

Monte Carlo shoes on the steps of the Hotel de Paris. 

Mirror, mirror ...

Mirror, mirror ...

Larvotto: Rise and Shine

Washing down Larvotto.

Rain

It was rainy and cold in Monaco yesterday.  This is the forecourt of the Grimaldi Forum. (a photo taken about four years ago but nothing has changed ...)

Peille: Time to say goodbye.

Today we are leaving Peille.  I have more photos of this enchanting village, but they can wait for another day. It's time to get back to Monte Carlo. 

Don't you love the hole cut into the rock to make the road?  You see this often in the south of France and Italy - sometimes wide enough for two-way traffic, sometimes not ...

Peille: Lavoir

This is the old lavoir in Peille. I love that the women who washed in the old days were protected from the heat and the cold by a roof and walls. (see last photo).

I wonder how many sheets, how many pair of workman's trousers have been washed on this sloping slab of stone over the centuries?

Peille: Nine Lives

Cats wander freely in Peille. A nice life ... for cats and people.

Peille: Courage

Rather her than me! Crossing the hanging bridge below the village of Peille.

Peille: Hanging Bridge

Would you like to walk this hanging bridge in Peille?  Come back tomorrow and see who did?

Peille: Roofscape

How many lives? How many births and deaths and loves and despair have taken place under these roofs over the centuries in the medieval vilage of Peille?

Peille: Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks in Peille.  I absolutely love hollyhocks but never have any luck in growing them, despite having poor stony soil which they love.

Peille: Chez Nana Cauvin

The chef at Restaurant Cauvin in Peille doesn't have far to go to collect his bread.  The baker's shop is the opposite side of the square to his restaurant. 

This restaurant is also known as Chez Nana Cauvin.  Nana was a friend of Léo Ferré, a Monegasque poet, composer and a dynamic live performer whose career in France dominated the years after the Second World War until his death.  He wrote a song to Nana Cauvin.

Peille: Bar Tabac L'Absinthe 2

A different perspective on the Bar Tabac L'Absinthe in Peille.  Don't you just love these vaulted passageways in medieval villages?

Peille: Bar Tabac L'Absinthe

The Bar/Tabac L'Absinthe in Peille.

Peille: Gaby

Yesterday we saw Gaby, owner of Au Petit Cabanon in Peille,  serving a couple of cyclists in the square.  Now a close-up of Gaby. Isn't he wonderful! And so was his pretty customer drinking her morning espresso.

Peille: Coffee Chez Gaby

An early morning stop for two cyclists outside Au Petit Cabanon in Place Carnot in Peille.  That's the adorable patron, Gaby, serving coffee. Isn't this square heaven! 

A short history of the village: It's thought the area was once home to a little-known Ligurian tribe the Oratelli of Peille.


The village dates back to the 11th century and is of Celto-Ligurian origin.  In 1388 Peille passed to the Savoy, and later became the responsibility of the Sardis states in 1720, returning to French rule in 1792. From 1814 to 1860, it was part of kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia and finally became French in 1860.