Find the number!

Find the number! Here are groups of waiting tourists on Le Rocher - outside the Oceanographic Museum.

I've only ever been part of a group when I took a 4-wheel-drive trek in the rainforest of northern Queensland. Normally, I prefer to explore alone - just a guidebook for company. That way, I can stop for a coffee when I want or take a wrong turn and discover a treasure.

My gut feeling says I'd hate to be part of a group such as these you see here, yet it's obviously a great way to be sure you get to see everything and don't miss any information. Do you like to be part of a city tour?

The way in

The entrance to the small harbour of Fontvieille. You can see another photograph of this harbour, posted a couple of days ago - HERE. The rocks on the left are part of Le Rocher, the oldest part of Monaco where you'll find the Palace, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum and beautiful old streets.

The Prince's Carabiniers

The Carabiniers on Le Rocher. In the 18th century, this building was a lodging for officers of the French garrison under the reign of Charles III. A guard of honour was created in 1870 and since 1904, the building has been the barracks of the carabiniers of the Prince. You can see a bigger photo of the building HERE - last building on the left. If you want to know the requirements to become a carabinier to Prince Albert, click HERE.

Musée Oceanographique - 2

On Le Rocher. On the right is part of the Musée Oceanographique. You can see another view of this beautiful building HERE.

A Prince's Dream

Yesterday, we strolled along the battlements and today here is what we see as we look over the wall. This is Fontvieille, which is the area of Monaco reclaimed from the sea. This reclaimed area contains beautiful apartments, the famous circus tent, a football stadium, the Princess Grace Rose Garden and the heliport. Beyond the tall buildings is Cap d'Ail.

The charming harbour is far smaller than the large main port, which is the other side of Le Rocher. Below us, at the foot of The Rock, there remains a cove as a reminder of the port which in former times provided shelter for the fishermen's pointus.

It took dozens of years for the large-scale work to be completed and owes its creation to the visionary spirit of the late Prince Rainier, known as the 'Builder Prince.' You can see other views of Fontvieille HERE. Also, HERE - at this second link - you can see Le Rocher on the left, which is where we are standing today.

A treasure in the corner

We're back on Le Rocher today. Here's a corner of the battlements in front of the Palais Princier. Peer over the wall on the right and you look down on the harbour of Fontvieille. Do come back tomorrow and we'll look over the wall together.

Daily Photo Theme Day: A Typical Breakfast

A typical Monte Carlo breakast, at least in this café, Le Royalty, is a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Croissants are available but no one has ordered one. Le Royalty is in rue Princesse Caroline (the pedestrian street of Monte Carlo) opposite the Port.

Today is Daily Photo Theme Day. 99 Daily Photo bloggers from cities all around the world will be presenting their Typical Breakfasts today. Do click on their blogs and enjoy their offerings:

Saint Paul (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - New York City (NY), USA - Tel Aviv, Israel - Hyde, UK - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Stockholm, Sweden - Paderborn, Germany - Singapore, Singapore - Haninge, Sweden - Nottingham, UK - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Manila, Philippines - Boston (MA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Singapore, Singapore - Joplin (MO), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Paris, France - Sequim (WA), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Boston (MA), USA - Chennai, India - Madison (WI), USA - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Toulouse, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - La Antigua, Guatemala - Selma (AL), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Sheki, Azerbaijan - Sydney, Australia - Mumbai, India - Seoul, South Korea - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - New Orleans (LA), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Villigen, Switzerland - Montréal (QC), Canada - Stayton (OR), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Moscow, Russia - Springfield (MO), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - Arlington (VA), USA - Cologne (NRW), Germany - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Manila, Philippines - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Stavanger, Norway - Bastia, France - Hong Kong, China - Wailea (HI), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Sydney, Australia - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Kansas City (MO), USA - Grenoble, France - Paris, France - Evry, France - Saigon, Vietnam - Prague, Czech Republic - Cape Town, South Africa - Brookville (OH), USA - Brussels, Belgium - San Diego (CA), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Shanghai, China - Zurich, Switzerland - North Bay (ON), Canada - Lyon, France - Naples (FL), USA

Big Brother?

Tele-surveillance cameras as seen everywhere in Monaco. The Prinicipality has the reputation of being one of the safest in the world. This one is near to the Musée Océanographique on Le Rocher.

Do you have such cameras in your city and do you think they are a good idea?

Chained Melody

Beauty in the detail - part of the chain fence you saw in yesterday's post.

Place du Palais

This is part of the Place du Palais. On our right, but way out of view, is the Palace. (see yesterday's post). Behind us and a long way below is the Port of Monaco.

Home to a Prince

Here's the right-hand corner of the Grimaldi Palace, home to Prince Albert. The Palace dates from the 16th and 17th centuries but still preserves its medieval towers, built by the Genoese in 1215. Francesco Grimaldi took possession of the fortress in 1297, and his successors enlarged it.

Pottery

This pretty pottery shop/atelier is on a tiny road that leads from the Place du Palais to the Jardin Saint-Martin. The shop was closed and after peering inside and seeing its bare shelves, I got the feeling it might have closed down.

On guard - 1

One of the immaculate Palace guards marching up and down. He'll soon go back into his little hut and stand guard.

Tourism

Shopping in Monaco isn't all luxury shops. Here, on Le Rocher you'll find many shops that fulfil the needs of the tourist. If you continue to the end of this walking street, you'll find the Palace.

Lucky baby!

This boutique is one of two on Le Rocher, set up by the late Princess Grace as part of the Fondation Princesse Grace. This one sells hand-made baby clothes - something you rarely see these days and quite beautiful they are too.

Where's the Chef?

It's around 11 in the morning and this young chef hurries back, through one of the tiny streets on the Rock, to the restaurant where he works.

Postes

Here's the post office on Le Rocher. Apart from the poubelle (rubbish bin) it's rather nice, isn't it? In Monaco you buy a Monaco stamp. French stamps are not accepted. And whilst mailboxes in France are yellow, in Monaco they red - remember the Daily Photo Theme Day: a Public Mail Box.

Bashful, Happy and Sneezy on the Rock

Down a narrow road leading off the Place du Palais, I peered through an old wrought-iron gate and spied Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Not what I expected in Monte Carlo!

Monaco Open Air Cinema

This is new Open Air Summer Cinema, just along from the Oceanographic Museum. It advertises as starting at 9.45 at night but normally it's 10 p.m. or later. You can buy a glass of wine, you can sit in lounges or chairs. The films are in English with French subtitles - and it's a great place to meet up with friends. Why not come tomorrow - they are showing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix? It's rather magical setting I think you'll agree. Click on the website of the Summer Cinema, scroll down, and you'll see a map of exactly where this is on the Rock.

Les Années Grace Kelly, Princesse de Monaco

This year, for the first time, Monaco is holding an International-scale exhibition in tribute to the late Princess Grace. Held at the Grimaldi Forum and open from July to September it's called 'Les Années Grace Kelly, Princesse de Monaco' and is organised in close collaboration with the Prince's Palace, which has unveiled never before seen items (letters, dresses, jewels, fashion accessories, film, photos...), this exhibition retraces all the periods and facets of her life, from Grace Kelly, Hollywood star, to Princess of Monaco.

At the same time, you'll find many beautiful photographs of the Princess displayed on the streets. The one above, taken in 1970, show Princess Grace taking Princess Stephanie to school, Rue Compte Félix Gastaldi.