Combat Naval Fleuri - Thirsty Work ...

Thirsty work ...

Combat Naval Fleuri - 'My little dog ...'

'My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.'  ~ Edith Wharton

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Girls!

It wouldn't be a festival in France without the girls!

Combat Naval Fleuri - Time for Lunch

This is a photo I took earlier in the day.  The boats are decorated and ready for the 'battle' which starts at 14h.30.

So ... time for lunch.  Pretty spectacular view, wouldn't you say?

Combat Naval Fleuri - Mimosa Hair-Do

Don't you love that this lady is getting in the mood with her hair decoration, whilst waiting for the Naval Battle of the Flowers at Villefranche-sur-Mer to begin?

Combat Naval Fleuri - Missed!

Missed!

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Young Man

No explanation needed. Just a beautiful young man to brighten our day, along with the mimosa.  Happy weekend everyone ...

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Battle

The battle isn't really a battle!  It's mostly people collecting flowers to take home with them! Just a few of the kids throw the flowers back at the boats. And lots end up in the sea.

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Gorilla

The sun shone and the gorilla had the best seat in the house!  What a fabulous day in Villefranche sur Mer, with my friend Sylvie, for the Combat Naval Fleuri (Naval Battle of the Flowers).  The boats (these are called pointu) take off for a parade around the port.

Later the battle begins ... 

Rained out at Villefranche sur Mer - the Fish and the Car

Depite the rain, two of the boats were already in process of decoration - one with a fish and another with a car.

The festival is due to take place today with hopefully better weather than Monday when it had ot be postponed due to rain.

More tomorrow ...

Rained out at Villefranche sur Mer

Yesterday, the annual Naval Battle of the Flowers was due to take place in Villefranche-sur-Mer, just along the coast from Monaco.   I went along with my friend Sylvie but it rained and it rained and eventually it was postponed.  It will now take place tomorrow.  Here you see some of the boats, waiting to be filled with floats made of flowers  - which stand, happily undercover, on the edge of the port.

Sylvie and I got rather wet but ended up having a great lunch and drowning our sorrows.  We'll go back on Wednesday.

The Champions Parade - the 'Golden Foot'

This girl  has removed one shoe and is trying out for size one of the famous footballer's feet, cast in brass, on the Champions Parade in Monaco.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, a keen football fan, made the decision to dedicate part of the Principality’s waterfront to this Walk of Fame of the greatest footballers of all time.

The Golden Foot award is an international football award, given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements (both as individuals and team players) and for their personality.

Ten nominees are chosen by a panel of international journalists based on the criteria that they are at least 28 years of age and still playing. Out of this list, the winner is selected by an online poll, where anyone can vote.  The winner of the award, given by HSH Prince Albert II,  leaves a permanent mold of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco.

Since 2009, there has been a charity auction accompanying the Golden Foot event. The auction is held during the gala evening at the Hôtel de Paris, and raises funds for fighting AIDS.

The Breakwater at Larvotto (2)

An alternative photo to yesterday's.  Same scene but a longer shot.

The Breakwater at Larvotto

Sunbathing on the breakwater at Larvotto Beach. 

The Antique Car Museum

The entrance to HSH Prince Rainier's collection of old cars in Fontvieille.  Here is a Mclaren Mercedes Formula One sports car.

Happiness

Grimaldi Forum forecourt

'It's never too late to have a happy childhood.'  ~Berke Breathed

Grimaldi Forum

There are always interesting angles to photograph on the forecourt of the Grimaldi Forum. You can just see the heads of walkers and joggers in the background - they are on the walkway below.

Purple and Viiolet and Pink.

Purple and violet and pink.  What the well-dressed rollerblader is wearing in Monaco.

The Bees are a-buzzing...

Rosemary tumbles over a wall alongside St. Nicolas' Church in Fontvieille.  We have sunshine, we have rosemary, we have bees a-buzzing. Spring can't be far away ...

The Port of Fontvieille and the Tunnel

This is the edge of the port of Fontvieille and the tunnel that runs under le rocher (where you find the Palace, the Oceanographic Museum and so on).  If you drive thru this tunnel you come to the main port of Monaco, Port Hercule. 

This photo is so typical of Monaco. Extreme beauty alongside roadworks, or massive cranes looming into the sky.

Upside-down steeple

The steeple of St. Nicolas' church in Fontvieille, reflected in a puddle.

The False Pepper Tree

We are on the lowest terrace (behind the casino) looking towards Cap Martin and beyond that, Menton and Italy.

Waiting for the Lotus

Waiting for the lotus.  The pots you see on the upper right are filled with lotus plants waiting to burst into leaf and then glorious flower.  The crazy patterns are reflections of apartment buildings on Avenue Princesse Grace.

Reflections at the Grimaldi Forum

Apartment buildings along Larvotto reflected in the sloping windows of the Grimaldi Forum.

Pebble in the Brook

'The pebble in the brook secretly thinks itself a precious stone.' 

~ Japanese proverb.

Locked-in Love

Padlocked love.  I've never seen these before in Monte Carlo. I wonder if the authorities will leave them as they do in other towns and cities.

Japanese Garden - the Greens and the Blues

If you can't cope with the madness of the Menton Lemon Festival or the Nice Carnival, take a stroll in the Japanese Gardens of Monaco.  You'll soon de-stress and relax.

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 ...