Japanese Garden - 4

A good place to stop, sit on a bench and have a chat - don't you think? The Japanese garden is beautiful but put it in this setting, right by the Mediterranean and it's mind-blowingly gorgeous.

(Thank you so much to everyone who has kindly posted comments whilst I've been away in England. I hope to catch up with your blogs today and tomorrow.)

Almost there

A luxury yacht on its way to the main harbour of Monaco. This photo was taken from the beautiful Japanese garden on Avenue Princesse Grace.

Let's do lunch!

Let's do lunch!

Tebe in Costume - 1982

This sculpture stands on Avenue d'Ostende overlooking the main port of Monaco. The Palace on Le Rocher is opposite. The artist is the well-known Italian sculptor, Giacomo Manzu (1908 - 1991).

Port Palace

The photo says it all really - a sunny day, sun umbrellas, lunch overlooking the port of Monaco.

Japanese Garden - 3

The red bridge in the Japanese garden on Avenue Princesse Grace. You can glimpse the sea through the trees.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee...

Isn't this fun? Photo taken from the Japanese gardens.

(Am away for a few days but will still be posting each day. Really sorry tho I won't be able to Comment. Will catch up on your wonderful blogs on my return).

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.