Larvotto beach

Larvotto beach yesterday morning at 9h.00.

Happy Valentines - Coo like the pigeons!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Go on ... coo like the pigeons!

Waiting for summer

The beach at La Roses des Vents.  Waiting for summer - spring will do ...

Friendship

'Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession.  Friendship is never anything but sharing.' - Elie Wiesel

Piglet and Pooh on Larvotto

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”
 
―  A.A.Milne, Winne-the-Pooh  

The Big Jetty

Today, we're on the top level of the relatively new 'digue' or jetty, which is where the massive cruise liners tie up. If memory serves, this structure was towed from Portugal where it was made.

Meanwhile, it's a good place to walk the dogs ...

Pressure Cleaning

Pressure cleaning the hull of a boat at Port Hercule.

Drink in a bag

Time for a cold drink at Monaco's indoor market.

Walking in Water

There are always a few diehards who swim at Larvotto beach in winter.  This guy, though, is walking ... he has walked from one side of the beach to the other.

The Little Mermaid of Denmark at Larvotto

'The Little Mermaid' looks out over Larvotto beach.  She was created, in 2000, with layers and layers of metal by Kristian Dahlgard, in hommage to the Danes who live in Monaco and for the late Prince Rainier III to mark the 50th year of his reign.

Walk on Larvotto Beach

Larvotto Beach - Hard to believe this was taken only a week ago. Since then we've had endless rain and it's still coming down ...

Togetherness

Togetherness on Larvotto Beach.

Cloudy Larvotto

Clouds over Larvotto beach.

The new Yacht Club de Monaco

The new Monaco Yacht Club, designed by Lord Norman Foster, looks not far from being finished.

Here is an artist's impression of how it will eventually look.  The new Yacht Club de Monaco is due to open this summer. 

Whoops ...

Whoops ...

Bateau Bus

The Bateau Bus - Monaco's best kept secret. For 2 euros you can cross the port and pretend you are in one of the luxury yachts. It runs every 30 minutes and is powered by solar energy.

Shadowplay

Shadowplay in Monaco.

The Summer Sporting of Monaco

Yesterday in Monaco.  We are looking at the Summer Sporting in the foreground - here you find all the big stars performing in summer. And here you'll find Jimmyz nightclub too.  Beyond that you see a  tiny promontory with the Restaurant La Vigie. And in the distance, Cap Martin.

How to Relax ...

Fontvieille Harbour

Too much technology?  It's always therapeutic to walk amongst the boats and look at the ever-changing patterns in the water.

Louis Vuitton's geese

This is a photo I took before Christmas - hence the Santa Claus hat on the top goose! I'd rejected it because the woman's feet are out of frame - but needs must - with so many roads still impassable in Gorbio it takes so long to get to Monaco at the moment then I'm showing you old pics.

Love in Monte Carlo

'Where there is love there is life.'

Mahatma Gandhi

Mode

Designer bag, cute dog - must be Monte Carlo ...

Asleep at the Wheel

If the guy who parks those expensive cars outside the casino blinks as he is parking a car and you click the shutter at the same time he looks 'asleep at the wheel' - which he isn't.

Larvotto in winter

Larvotto beach in winter. No tanned bodies - just seagulls.

Hôtel Hermitage - Gustave Eiffel's cupola

This is the beautiful cupola of the Winter Garden in the Hôtel Hermitage - designed by the renowned Gustave Eiffel of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Hôtel Hermitage - the Winter Garden

The central seating arrangement in the Winter Garden of the Hôtel Hermitage.

Steps, steps

You need to be fit if you live in this part of Beausoleil.  Beausoleil is in France, of course, but borders Monaco.   In fact, some streets are Monaco on one side and Beausoleil on another.

This photo was taken in 2010 on the camera before the camera before the .... and in those days I took photos only in jpg format.

Morning constitutional

An early morning walk near the Grimaldi Forum.

Bubble wrapped!

Bubble wrapped!

Mirrored columns

This is a photo of reflections from two mirrored columns in a Monaco shopping centre. The first two sections are two sides of one column.  The third one is not a reflection. And the fourth is another reflection.

Ferrari and Rolls Royce

This is an alternative view of the cars we saw yesterday.  That's the Hotel de Paris on the left, the Casino entrance is behind me.  The Christmas trees have now been removed so if you'd like to see a LIVE WEBCAM of Casino Square, click on the link.

Cars at Place du Casino

You only get your car parked on Casino Square if it's something special ...

Walk to Monaco

Monaco seen from the point of Cap Martin.  You can walk along the Promenade Le Cobusier all the way from here to Monaco.

Ignoring Dior ...

Ignoring Dior ...

Celebrity cow!

The cow seems more interested in being photographed than in holding the little girl's hand. 

Obviously a cow who craves celebrity.

Cigarette break ...

Cigarette break in Casino Square.

BMW

Outside the Louis Vuitton shop in Monte Carlo.

Lust for a sports car ...

Waiting for the bus

This beauty has two wheelies and an enormous flat package and is waiting for a bus that probably never arrived.  The reason?  Later I saw her at the bus stop on the other side of the road ... still waiting.

Cathedral by night

Monaco's cathedral at night.  This is where HSH Prince Rainier III and HSH Princess Grace are buried.

The Christmas Village - Nougat

If you like nougat, look no further.  Here you'll find every flavour you can imagine and cut for you freshly whilst you wait. 

The Christmas Village - Jazz and Blues

Music for sale ...