Cruise Ship

Friends arrived yesterday on a cruise ship. Their ship, Seabourne Legend, is the smaller one at the end and takes only 208 passengers. The monster boat in the foreground is called 7 Seas Navigator and has facilities for 490 guests. This is the first time I've visited the digue (floating dock) - security is tough - I had to pass two sets of police to collect my friends but at the same time they were really friendly.

We don't like Japanese gardens anyway!

As you can see, dogs are not allowed in the Japanese garden, so the husband waits outside with the dogs whilst the wife looks around the beautiful gardens. Later, I saw this couple walking - one Yorkie was in a basket, another on lead. You can see more photos of these little dogs at Riviera Dogs.

Three nuns

Three nuns out for a night stroll on Le Rocher. They are walking away from the Oceanographic Museum towards the Cathedral.

Iron Woman

Last Sunday there was an International Ironman contest in Monaco. Competitors came from all over the world to compete in this prestigious triathlon. The winners had already reached Casino Square by the time I took this photo of a competitor running towards the tunnel from Avenue Princesse Grace. Sadly, wickedly, between 12 and 14 bikes were stolen the night before the contest - bikes valued at between 5,000 and 7,000 euros, so some athletes were unable to compete, others borrowed a bike but their performance suffered. An enquiry is taking place.

How to light a palace

The Palais Princier at night. On the right, you can see the statue of 'Malizia' - François Grimaldi.

Japanese garden - 2

The Japanese garden is just along from the Grimaldi Forum on the Avenue Princesse Grace. A wonderfully peaceful place to lie face down on a rock and have a chat with the koi carp.

'The Grace Kelly Years, Princess of Monaco'

This is the view from the bar on the first floor of the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. It serves delicious sandwiches and is a great place to have a cool drink before visiting the amazing exhibition called 'The Grace Kelly Years, Princess of Monaco.' This wonderful exhibition, curated by Frédéric Mitterrand (nephew of the former President of France) took two glorious hours to walk around and to say it was moving is an understatement. If you happen to be in Monaco whilst it's still on, do visit.

The strange looking V shaped object to the right is part of a sculpture standing on a lower level of the building.

Have a drink in this bar - you can sit at a table, at the bar or relax on one of these sunbeds if you want.

Japanese garden - 1

A view from one side of the Japanese garden in Monaco. In the distance: Cap Martin. I'll show you more of the really Japanese part of this beautiful garden another time - today I was in the mood for sea in the background!

Daily Photo Theme Day: Street Signs/Street Lights

If you have to have a heart attack, then Monte Carlo is probably the place to be - you are never far from a defibrillator. You'll find this group of signs on Le Rocher.

There are over 100 City Daily Photo bloggers participating in today's theme of Street Lights or Street Signs. Do take time to enjoy them:

Seattle (WA), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - Boston (MA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Evry, France - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Nottingham, UK - Toulouse, France - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Manila, Philippines - Mumbai, India - Montpellier, France - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Moscow, Russia - Paris, France - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Lyon, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Hyde, UK - Hong Kong, China - Joplin (MO), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Chandler (AZ), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Arlington (VA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Sydney, Australia - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - San Diego (CA), USA - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Nelson, New Zealand - Quincy (MA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Bend (OR), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - New Orleans (LA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Detroit (MI), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Selma (AL), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Arradon, France - Sheki, Azerbaijan - New York City (NY), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Tenerife, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Forks (WA), USA - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Chateaubriant, France - Madison (WI), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Ajaccio, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Budapest, Hungary - Lyon, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Le Guilvinec, France - River Falls (WI), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Naples (FL), USA - London, UK - La Antigua, Guatemala - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Trujillo, Peru - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Oslo, Norway - Grenoble, France - Shanghai, China - Toronto (ON), Canada - Durban, South Africa - Zurich, Switzerland

Les Pommes

This family sit on the edge of the grass in the Casino Gardens. I like the way they are so synchronised with the eating of their apples.

May the police force be with you...

This policeman is directing traffic in front of the port where the Fun Fair is in full swing. With his light sabre, perhaps he's really Darth Vader? May the police force be with you...

Climb!

We're back at the Children's Fun Fair in the Port. I wonder how many of these kids will grow up to be mountain climbers? When they get to the top, by the way, they abseil down - see below.

Pastels

A pretty street leading off the big square in front of the Palace. Even the colours of the walkers' clothes seem to blend with the pastels of the buildings.

People

The Metropole shopping center is currently displaying art work in painted aluminium by Stéphane Cipre. You will find another work by this artist at THIS LINK and THIS LINK.

Summer nights in Monaco

Part of the main port at night. Formula One enthusiasts will recognise the swimming pool in the lower right of the photo - the cars, of course, whizz right around it. In the foreground is part of the summer fun fair for children - you saw some bouncing kids the other day.

Sky Mirror

Sky Mirror, by the British (Mumbai-born) artist Anish Kapoor, consists of a concave mirror in polished stainless steel measuring 2.5 metres in diameter that 'makes the world turn upside down, giving the illusion of bringing the sky down to street level.' It stands in front of the Casino and has replaced Jean-Michel Folon's poetic Bird Fountain, which will displayed elsewhere in the Principality.

This sculpture was given to Monaco by Mrs. Lily Safra. The artist, a Turner prize-winner said, 'Lily saw Sky Mirror and decided to offer it as a gift to the Principality. Prince Albert was "brave" enough to exhibit it on the Place du Casino - such a symbolic setting of the Principality.'

Personally, I was bowled over by this sculpture. You'll see reflected in the mirror, the casino and terrace of the Café de Paris. The photo below shows the Casino in the background.

Bounce!

Most of the area in front of the port has been transformed into a children's playground. In the photo below you can see the trampolines where three happy kids can bounce at the same time. Wish I were a kid.....do you?

Concours International de Feux d'Artifice Pyromélodiques

Last night saw the final entry in this year's fireworks competition, a prestigious event in Monte Carlo. This year, the competitors were Germany, France, Russia and finishing, last night, with Hong Kong. France won the competition with 200 points, Hong Kong came second with 172, then Germany with 159 and finally Russia with 101 points. This photograph doesn't do justice to the evening. The fireworks, the colours, the music was just beautiful - almost like a ballet at times. I only realised this morning that I have a 'fireworks' setting on my camera but this photograph was about the sharpest photo I have, unfortunately not one with lots of colour. This was taken from the 11th floor of an apartment in front of the port, so I was lucky enough to have a great view. Great dinner on the terrace too! Everyone living around the port turns off their lights just before 10 p.m. and when the show is over (it last around half an hour) all the boats in the harbour sound their horns for at least five minutes, by way of thanks. It makes a sort of music. I found it very moving.

In the past, there have been a few dramas. One year most of the windows and glass doors blew out in some of the apartment buildings along the port! Another year a couple of apartments caught fire! I think though everything is now under control but never say never.

Driving home, I was stopped by the police - just a check on car documents - so there was much banter about which country was the best. The concierge in the apartment block I'd visited thought Hong Kong, the three young policeman said definitely France. And France it was.

'Malizia' - François Grimaldi - 1297

In the 12th century, the Geneose were granted sovereignty over the port and the Rock of Monaco by the Emperor of Germany. In 1215, the fortress (now the Prince's Palace) was built.

These were years of struggle between the Guelfs (partisans of the Pope) and the Ghibellines (supporters of the Emperor). In 1295, with the coming into power of the Ghibellines, the important Genoese Grimaldi family, who had taken the part of the Guelphs, were forced into exile in Provence and in 1297, Francesco Grimaldi, known as 'Malizia' (malice), disguised himself as a monk to gain entrance to the fortress. His ruse worked, the gates opened to let him in, thus enabling his soldiers to take the garrison by storm.

The two monks featured on the coat of arms of the Grimaldi family commemorate this battle. This statue stands outside the Palais Princier on Le Rocher.

Monte Carlo Ladies - 5

She sits on the terrace of the Café de Paris. She's beautiful. She may not be a Monte Carlo lady, of course - perhaps she's a visitor. She looks sad but she may not be - after all, it's not easy sitting alone at a table, unable to be animated, as she probably would with a companion. Is she waiting for someone?