Police Station!

Here's the answer to yesterday question! As you can see the building is a police station. Well done to Aigars Bruvelis from Riga, Latvia Daily Photo, who got it right. And welcome to the DP family, Aigars.

What building is this?

Yesterday, we had a building that was perhaps too pretty for a bank. Today we've got this unusual looking building which is located on the corner of Casino Square, adjoining the Casino gardens. Can anyone guess what it's used for? Tomorrow I'll post a photo of the whole building and then you'll see. Clue: it's a public building.

How pretty is YOUR bank?

Isn't this a pretty bank? I suppose it doesn't matter where we put our money - or our overdraft - but I'd think it would be rather nice to have it in a building like this. Mind you, you have to be a Monaco citizen or resident to have an account in Monaco OR (I believe) be in a position to deposit a specific (it's large!) sum of money to open an account. This building faces the casino gardens - in other words it's opposite the casino itself with the beautiful gardens in between. The building you see at the back - it's just peeking above the building is the Millefiore, the tallest building in Monte Carlo.

Vroom Vroom...

Yes, it's coming up to that time of year, folks. Monaco Grand Prix. Everywhere you walk you find fenced off areas, barriers are being put up, raised seating is being erected. Here you see seating being installed opposite the casino - this is the north side of Casino Square. Cars will whizz past these stands en route to Lowe's Hotel, which isn't Lowe's Hotel anymore but everyone knows the bend by that name. The second photo shows the road that goes down to Lowe's.

When visitors come to stay, I always give them the Vroom Vroom tour. In other words, I drive the full course of the Monaco Grand Prix, starting and finishing at the Start/Finish line - bien sûr - and with accompanying Vroom Vroom noises!

Emerging Continents

Monaco seems to have almost as many statues as it does policemen. This creation is situated in the gardens of Fontvieille and is by the sculptor, Blake. You can see more of his work here.

Emerging Continents was created in 1990 and inspired by "global events of 1989 in divided Germany; in barricaded Tiannamen Square, China; in Africa and Asia, fired Blake’s compassion into imagination and action, producing this representation of these emerging Continents. They are emerging from, or trapped by, the stone that represents their history and echoes their future. Their portraits depict repression and rebellion and the work plays on the distinction between treason and revolution."

A Tree grows in ...Fontvieille

This tree, with its resident pigeons and doves, is in the gardens near to the circus tent - gardens that adjoin the Princess Grace Memorial Rose Garden. Does anyone know what tree this is? It's not a competition - I don't know either! Just curious. Isn't it interesting how the birds space themselves out on the branches?

Larvotto Plage at Dusk (2)

This is the other end of Larvotto Beach (see yesterday's post) - here you see the sunbeds and umbrellas ready for the next day's sun worshippers.

Larvotto Plage at dusk

I love the beach at dusk. Here you see the new Monte Carlo Bay Hotel in the background and to the right is the Summer Sporting, where you'll find Jimmy'z, the well-known nightclub.

Little red train

Many cities have a tourist train - here is Monaco's whizzing along the Boulevard Princesse Grace. Read more here.

Monthly Theme Day: City Exchange - Platja d'Aro, Spain

It could almost be Monte Carlo although the beach doesn't look right, does it? In fact it's a beach in Spain near to Girona. I thought you might like to see a bunch of Old English Sheepdogs in a City not my own. 150 dogs had gathered for the Euro-OES-Show from 21 different countries. The show is held in a different European country each year. Here you see the Danish contingent, posing on the beach just before getting onto their coach for the long journey back to Copenhagen.
Woof woof to you all!

Please visit these other cities taking part in today`s theme:

Rome, Italy -
Singapore, Singapore -
Tenerife, Spain -
Rotterdam, Netherlands -
London, UK -
Montréal (QC), Canada -
Melbourne, Australia -
Naples (FL), USA -
Bastia, France -
Hong Kong, China -
Mazatlan, Mexico -
Buenos Aeres, Argentina -
Manila, Philippines -
Arradon, France -
Madison (WI), USA -
Evry, France -
Seoul, Korea -
Shanghai, China -
Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia -
Sequim (WA), USA -
Singapore, Singapore -
Budapest, Hungary -
Baziège, France -
Hamburg, Germany -
Toruń, Poland -
Nelson, New Zealand -
Madison (WI), USA -
Vantaa, Finland -
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -
Mainz, Germany -
Dubai, UAE -
Saint Paul (MN), USA -
Cork, Ireland -
Stockholm, Sweden -
Menton, France -
Tel Aviv, Israel -
Albuquerque (NM), USA -
Kitakami, Japan -
Stayton (OR), USA -
Szentes, Hungary -
Stavanger, Norway -
Grenoble, France -
Villigen, Switzerland -
Paris, France -
Hyde, UK -
Moscow, Russia -
Joplin (MO), USA -
Jakarta, Indonesia -
Greenville (SC), USA -
Cape Town, South Africa -
Asheville (NC), USA -
Seattle (WA), USA -
Kyoto, Japan -
Tokyo, Japan -
Madrid, Spain -
Auckland, New Zealand -
Oulu, Finland -
Lubbock (TX), USA -
Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina -
Baton Rouge (LA), USA -
Sydney, Australia -
Maple Ridge (BC), Canada -
Vancouver, Canada -
Seattle (WA), USA -
Selma (AL), USA -
Chandler (AZ), USA -
Sharon (CT), USA -
Manila, Philippines -
Lyon, France -
New York City (NY), USA -
Los Angeles (CA), USA -
Brookville (OH), USA -
Hayle, UK -
Wailea (HI), USA -
Saarbrücken, Germany -
San Diego (CA), USA -
Boston (MA), USA -
Saint Louis (MO), USA -
Cypress (TX), USA

National Museum of Automatons and Dolls of Yesteryear

This is the entrance to the musuem - a fascinating world of automats and dolls of yesterday in period costume presented in showcases containing miniature furniture and everyday items, thus recreating the sophisticated atmosphere of the XIXth century. This was just what Madelaine de Galéo had in mind when she put together this collection, which is housed in a splendid campanile villa designed by Charles Garnier, the architect responsible for the Paris and Monte Carlo opera houses. The automats are demonstrated to the public several times a day. Prepare to be entranced at this website.

Princess Grace

This statue of Princess Grace was given as an homage by the Belgian community in Monaco to Prince Rainier III. It was created by Livia Canestraro and her husband, Stephaan Depuydt in 2004 and sits in a small garden by Larvotto Beach on Blvd. Princess Grace. (Photo taken just before dusk yesterday evening - perhaps the reason it isn't that sharp.)

Princess Grace Rose Garden

This rose is growing over the wrought iron archway that frames the entrance to the Princess Grace Memorial Garden.

La Grande Laveuse

The Washerwoman is signed Renoir - Guino 1917 and is set in the beautiful pool of the Fontvielle Gardens, just by the circus tent. You can see the setting below and what one of the locals thinks of it.

Train lines

This is not dissimilar to yesterday's photo except that here you see the railway line that runs along the coast. Alongside is the road - the Basse Corniche. Hopping a train is a great way to see the coast - commuters from Nice to Monaco have this view every day. There are three Corniches - the Basse, the Moyenne and the Grande - and also there is the autoroute.

Riviera Dreams

This was taken at Eze-bord-de-Mer yesterday morning around 8.30h. There was a bit of a haze so the peninsula you see in the distance is not very clear but in fact, is Cap Ferrat. To me this photo says 'Riviera.' It's says everything I love about living here.

Lovely weather for ducks

This is part of a pretty garden in Fontvieille - all on land reclaimed from the sea. Running from the Heliport and Circus and finishing at the Columbus Hotel - a beautiful hotel, partly owned by David Coulthard, the Grand Prix driver. This lovely garden opens onto the Princess Grace Memorial Rose Garden. The ducks and geese are enjoying the day as much as I did - and I hope you enjoy it too.

The Winged Messenger

The Messenger, created in 1999, stands in a park in Fontvieille. The sculptor, Blake, was born in Canada and later trained in Paris.

"The angel-like “Messenger” is representative of the spirit, portrayed as striding forward as she gently lands, and begins to furl her dramatic wings. Demonstrating a continuing interest in mythological history this heroic figure represents the bearer of wisdom and enlightenment, much as flight has an affinity with both science and spirit. The movement of her arms confirm her attachment with the heavens as well as the earth with her right arm reaching to the sky and her own spirituality, as her left searches for the earth and its humanity.

The sculpture was originally created as a monument to the glory of peace and humanity. The expression of these very themes; the spreading of wisdom, and the bringing of intellectual light persuaded the Foundation “Education for Peace” to adopt “The Messenger” as their emblem in 1997, symbolising their philanthropic endeavours to educate for peace in war torn societies."

A butterfly for Earth Day

This photo comes with apologies to Abraham (Brookville Daily Photo) who is the genius at photographing insects - and about everything else, come to that. This was taken with my simple Point and Shoot (that's right, Jilly, blame your tools) at the Princess Grace Memorial Garden and isn't as sharp as I'd like, but it seems apt for today - Earth Day. A fact I discovered, thanks to Isabella's wonderful Naples Daily Photo blog.

Many thanks indeed to Abraham, Alice and Isabella for help with the new format on this blog.

Harbour of Cap d'Ail

This is the small port of Cap d'Ail - taken from an apartment in Monaco. In the distance you can just see Cap Ferrat. Ail is garlic in French - although I'm not sure of the signifance of the name in this case. Perhaps one time garlic was grown here. Now they grow apartments.

Lili writes -

'Ail is not garlic in this meaning in Cap d'Ail, but the distortion of the Latin word apicula (=abeille = bee) - during centuries the Cap d'Ail flag has some bees on it, too.'

Thanks so much for this clarification, Lili which is great to know.