Circus! - the sealions

Here are the sealions. Personally, I don't visit the circus because of the animals. We have surely grown beyond all that and their exploitation. I did take some photographs of the elephants but I won't be publishing them. I thought them in poor condition and remember last year, when I saw them in their tent, one was rocking back and forth - not a happy camper. As for the big cats in their cages - no way.

However, my friend, whose apartment overlooks the circus, tells me she hears the sealions having the best fun in their area of water and certainly they looked happy to perform at this outdoor event.

First and last of the animals. Tomorrow - the bikers!

As an aside, and a very important one, Prince Albert has sent two leopards from the Monaco Zoo to the Born Free reserve in South Africa. There have been endless complaints over the years about the poor conditions in the zoo. I believe Virginia McKenna, from the Born Free foundation, campaigned for years to get the place closed, but in Prince Rainier's years, nothing was done. An elephant died, as well as a white tiger last summer and finally, at last, the zoo, as it was will come to an end. There is still a hippopotamus and a dromedary but presumably these will find a new home too.

Prince Albert plans a farm for children where they can come and see and pat donkeys, goats, sheep, rabbits etc. A far better idea. Good for the Prince!

Circus! - the ballet

The Troupe Freedom de Kiev - but introduced simply as The Ballet. They were fabulous - tons of energy, vibrant music and great fun.

Circus! - the clowns

Every January we see the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival which takes place in the beautiful circus tent in Fontvieille. Today, following tradition, there was an Open Air Circus Show on the port on Monaco. I couldn't get through the crowd looking down on the show, so walked down to the level where it was being held, right in front of the yachts in the harbour. It was worse - people standing ten deep and I'm a titch so didn't have a hope of seeing what was going on, let alone getting a photograph. Suddenly I saw a few people sneaking through a barrier. Naturally I did the same. An official stopped me. 'Just one photograph?' I asked. He agreed and turned away - by then he had many more people to deal with so I carried on walking and ended up standing near to the dignitaries and official photographers. In fact, at one point, I tried taking a photograph of some cute children who were standing alongside me until the bodyguard stopped me and I realised they were Princess Stephanie's children.

You can see the decorative Casino building on the left hand side of the photograph. More fun at the circus tomorrow.

There were so many dogs waiting patiently whilst their owners watched the circus. If you want to see one - please click on the link.

Sainte Dévote - 2

Here's a closer look at this lovely church. You can read about the legend of St. Dévote by clicking on the link.

Followers of the Monaco Grand Prix will know that the corner called St. Dévote is notoriously one of the most difficult and dangerous in the race.

Sainte Dévote - 1

This is one of the most beautiful churches in Monaco. The port is behind us. The overpass - the Voie Rapide - shadows the church and made it very difficult to photograph.

St. Dévote is the patron saint of the Grimaldi family and every January 27th, the Principality celebrates St. Dévote's Day as a national holiday. According to legend, during the Roman era a young Corsican Christian named Dévote was executed and her body placed in a boat for Africa. The boat drifted off course and ran aground on the coast of modern-day Monaco, where a state was founded in her honor. The Chapel, originally built in the 11th century, is at the site where, in the 4th century, the boat with St. Dévote's body landed. At the end of the 19th century, the chapel was restored, enlarged and given a new, monumental façade. Every January 26th, a boat is burnt on its square at nightfall in the presence of the royal family.

Do come back tomorrow for a closer look.

Girl on a Motorcycle

No, not the Alain Delon/Marianne Faithful movie - just a little girl on her father's motorbike. This was taken near to the church of St. Devote.

Talking of children and parents, Nice-Matin is reporting today on INSEE, which is the National Institute for Statistics. In their latest census they report that one child in two is born outside of wedlock in France. I've no idea of the statistics for Monaco. Do you know the statistics in your country?

Hippopotame

A massive great hippopotamus suddenly appeared in Casino Square just before Christmas. It's a bronze by the artist Mornar and is on the Café de Paris side of the square. In fact, as you come up out of the underground parking - boom - there it is and pretty impressive too.

Pretty money

Isn't this a pretty bank? I posted the front of this building once before - here is a detail from the side. It stands opposite Casino Square and looks down on the casino, which I suppose is as good a place as any for a bank.

Japanese Garden - 13

The beautiful Tea House in the peaceful Japanese Garden on avenue Princesse Grace.

La Vigie -2

This photograph shows the beautiful white house in the foreground - La Vigie - which you saw yesterday. It stands on the promontory called Pointe de la Vieille. This is the boundary between Monaco and Roquebrune-cap-Martin. You can read more in yesterday's post.

La Vigie

This beautiful house stands, as you can see below, just above the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel on a promontory of land called Pointe de la Vieille. The land was originally leased by the SBM of Monaco, and later in 1926 they bought it. The Pointe de la Vieille marks the eastern boundary of Monaco and France. In 1902, Sir William Ingram, a rich English baronet - who incidentally owned the Château of Roquebrune at one time - built this beautiful white house, La Vigie, when it was considered one of the finest houses on the Riviera. Following his death, and years later, after many disputes over the land, the house became the property of the SBM. It remained vacant for years until 1986 when, following restoration, it was lived in by the designer, Karl Lagerfeld until 1997. (this is a very condensed history - you can read the full story HERE).

Monte Carlo Beach Hotel - 2

You've seen this hotel before but only from a far greater distance. On the promontory in the background is the Restaurant La Vigie - a divine place to sip a glass of champagne before dining with the lights of Monte Carlo before you. This hotel on the eastern edge of Monaco, on land, so far as I know, leased from France. On the hillside above La Vigie - and hidden in the trees - are summer huts that can be rented for the season. I have friends who years ago used to rent one of these and spent lazy days meeting up with friends and their children and lunching on the beach. What a life!

The empty pool you saw yesterday is just out of shot to the left.

No swimming

The pool of the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel in winter.

Pensive

This sculpture 'Pensive' is by Emma de Sigaldi and is placed very near to the Carrefour shopping centre in Fontvieille, the area of Monaco reclaimed from the sea. The new port of Fontvieille is just across the roundabout you see in the background.

Let there be light

As you walk around Monaco, you'll sometimes see apartments with their balaconies covered in foliage - not for privacy, I'd venture to say, but to keep out traffic noise. This apartment is on Avenue de la Madone which rises up from the Casino area.

Japanese Garden - 12

An interesting bridge in these beautiful peaceful gardens. I did consider using it for our Bridge Theme day - anyway here it is today.

Stretch!

Stretch that leg! This young man is ready to run. You'll see many people jogging in Monte Carlo. In the background you see a part of the Church of St. Devote, a beautiful church and one you'll read more about soon.

Dressed

The pedestrian street of Monaco, rue Princesse Caroline, dressed for the holiday period. The main port is behind us.

Hôtel de Paris - detail

A detail from the exterior of the beautiful Hôtel de Paris. The hotel, one of the grandest in the world, was built in 1864 by Dutrou. Opulent in decor and gracious in manner, this nineteenth century 'palace' has been home to royalty and the world's brightest luminaries. You can see more of the Hôtel de Paris by clicking on the link.

Green space

Monaco seems so built up when you see it from a distance. And it is. But there are many beautiful gardens throughout the Principality, some quite large - others are simply a small area of green with pathways allowing you to get from one place to another. This pretty little area is below the casino with the main port off to the right.