Monte Carlo Gentlemen - 2

There's a fascinating exhibition of art on at the moment in the Casino Gardens and I was photographing many of the exhibits for a series that starts tomorrow - do come back, it's on Art and the Environment.

Anyway, I was photographing near to these two gentleman when the one on the right called out to me, 'Copyright for me if you take our photo,' and laughed. 'Right then, I'll take your photo,' I said. 'Smile!' And they did. I then asked if they lived in Monaco and the same guy told me, 'Yes, we live in these gardens.' I don't think so! Later I saw them walking around the Metropole Shopping Centre.

Tunnel under the Rock

This tunnel cuts right under le rocher - you can see the palace on top. To the right is the edge of Fontvieille harbour. You can see a car driving down to an underground carpark - this is the parking area for Carrefour, the big shopping centre in Monaco. My car is in there. I arrived through the left hand tunnel - when I leave I'll take the right-hand tunnel which divides in the middle: straight ahead for the main port of Monaco and onwards to Menton. Or you could take another route that brings you up to the Jardin Exotique and the direction of Nice. The are several tunnels in Monaco - one for instance, will take you to the autoroute.

Monte Carlo Gentlemen - 1

Here we are - as per the request for 'Monte Carlo Gentlemen' - I think you'll agree this first one properly fits the bill: tall, slim, good-looking (trust me) well-dressed, designer stubble, sunglasses - bien sûr - and car keys, presumably for something smart parked in the car park nearby.

Will this do, girls?

Monte Carlo Ladies - 11

Three ladies walking along the port - the yachts are to the right of the photograph.

I've had a suggestion, by the way, for 'Monte Carlo Men.' Good idea! Watch this space.

Colours

Colours - in the pedestrian street just up from Port Hercule. Looks like everyone has gone away for the winter?

Monaco from the Moyenne Corniche

I was driving along the Moyenne Corniche the other day on the way from Menton to Cap d'Ail and stopped the car to snap this photo. The building in the foreground is the relatively new Monte Carlo Bay Resort. In the distance you see part of Port Hercule and behnd it, le Rocher, where you'll find the Palace. There are three 'corniches' - the Basse Corniche that runs along the sea, the Moyenne Corniche than runs along half way up the hills towards Nice. And then the Grande Corniche that is way up top and goes through La Turbie. And then, even further up, is the autoroute. So when you give someone directions, much depends on where they are coming from...

When I see a photo like this I realise I need a bigger camera with a better zoom - but anyway, it gives you an idea.

Scruples

We saw an orange tree in the pedestrian street two days ago. Here's another. This time in front of Scruples, the English book shop in Monte Carlo. Other towns along the French Riviera have English bookshops - Antibes, Cannes, Nice, Valbonne. Yet others have an English library, often part of the Anglican church. Indeed there is one of these in Monaco, attached to St. Paul's Anglican church and another in Menton, attached to St. John's English church.

Bleu sur bleu

Not all the boats in Port Hercule are luxury yachts.

Many thanks to Chuckeroon from Richmond Upon Thames Daily Photo who suggested more and better trimming of this photograph. I've now done this and reposted. Thanks Chuckeroon!

On a level

The majority of streets in Monaco slope - hardly surprising when the Principality is built on hills. This restaurant is the pedestrian street (rue Princesse Caroline) that runs from Port Hercule to rue Grimaldi. As you can see it appears to be having a deck built, presumably so it can accommodate tables and chairs.

Note the orange tree. You'd not lack for fresh orange juice at the moment.

Veuve Cliquot

Valentine's Day in Monte Carlo? We'll have champagne - perhaps Veuve Cliquot? This little shop is in one of the tiny streets that runs from the Port to rue Grimaldi.

Veuve Cliquot is a champagne house in Rheims - veuve means widow. It was founded in 1772 by Philippe Cliquot-Muiron who played an important role in establishing champagne as the beverage of choice of European nobility and the bourgeoisie. A generation later, the son of the founder died, leaving his widow in control of the company. It is she, Madame Cliquot, who is credited with the industrialisation of champagne production. You see her portrait to the left. Happy Valentine's Day!

Monte Carlo Ladies - 10

Here's yesterday's lady. All alone now. Still with her cell phone and this time stuck to her ear. She's facing the yachts but not seeing them.

I prefer this to yesterday's photograph although yesterday's, with woman and man both texting, told a strange story.

Text message

Conversation? What's that?

11th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - 4

Which one do you prefer?

11th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - 3

This is the area - port and yachts to our right - that was filled with cars until the day before I took these photographs. Now it's emptying fast. This lady walked around every car, examining each one very closely. The Start/Finish line of the Monaco Grand Prix is on the road you see on the left.

11th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - 2

Another dirty car for the petrol heads. This one is from the UK, isn't it, Gail's Man?

11th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - 1

Following the Monte Carlo Rally, we had the Monte Carlo Rally Historique which took place from the 1 - 6 February, and so yesterday cars were leaving, goodbyes being said. So - if you like looking at dirty old cars, I'll post a few over the next days. Even I know this is a Mercedes.

Take a look at the Automobile Club of Monaco's website for more information.

Stand up for your rights!

This is a section of the beautiful Jardin St. Martin on Le Rocher displays cactus. Another of the many gardens of Monaco, Le Jardin Exotique, has nothing but cactus and succulents and we'll visit that soon.

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Menton Daily Photo and Monte Carlo Daily Photo - FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Thank you to the City Daily Photo family for your encouragement, generous comments, fantastic help from talented photographers and most of all, friendship. Working on Menton Daily Photo and Monte Carlo Daily Photo has changed my life. I now see - really see - my beautiful part of the world. I only looked before...

And of course, a massive thankyou to Eric of Paris Daily Photo, whose brilliant vision this was and to Demosthenes and Igor, who put in endless time working on the technical issues in keeping us all up and running.

Trunk decoration

Such a beautiful trunk on this tree in Casino gardens. I think it's a magnolia. A young climber, perhaps a bougainvillea, grows against it. Note the smart rubbish bins in Monte Carlo.

Sainte Devote and the burning of the boat

This bronze of St. Devote stands in front of the church which you can see if you click on the link.

According to legend, on the 27th January 312, a ship bound from Corsica, bearing the lifeless body of a young Christian martyr, ran aground here. It was discovered by some fishermen and the young martyr delcared the patron saint of Monaco.

Every year, with the Royal Family in attendance, a fishing vessel is burnt, from which rises a white dove symbolising the spirit of the Saint. One year my best buddy, Candy, was over from America and we went along to watch the burning of the boat. I'd forgotten the dramas that night and asked Candy to remind me:

"So...you've forgot what happened on the night of St. Devote, eh? I can't see HOW. It wasn't just the royal family-- Prince Rainier and Prince Albert and Stephanie and Caroline and all their chirren--we almost went up in flames too! If you remember, there was an enormous bonfire pile of palm fronds--with a wooden dory on top of them. There were about a half dozen Pompiers--every single one of them smoking--nonchalantly standing around with huge jerrycans of gasoline. The combination of Gitanes and gasoline alone gave me some pause...but nevermind...it looked very French. You and I were waiting next to the bonfire area--we'd decided to stand on the quai and see the fireworks. It turned out to be a perfect spot, because we were right next to the damn thing--which is where the Royal lighting-of-the-beacon was about to occur. As the Rainier entourage approached--the pompiers began sloshing away, emptying an alarming amount of gasoline on the pile. But I figured, hey-- there were a lot of fronds, and they'd probably need a good boost to get going. I also assumed that some designated fireman-flunky would do the actual lighting. I was so wrong. As I recall, almost all the adult members of the Royal family were handed some sort of burning torch (the pompiers were apparently lighting anything they could get their hands on). Now, remember, the Royals hadn't seen the gallons of gasoline that had just been glugged all over the fronds. They innocently stepped forward and put their torches on the pile and FWOOOOMPH!! There was a fireball that could be seen from outer space. I thought my face had melted. Whichever Princesse it was who was wearing the full length mink--jumped back and started patting her coat frantically, so as to put out any stray embers. I have this vision (seared, as it were, into my brain) of Prince Rainier and Prince Albert completely outlined in a corona of flame. Everybody was sort of stunned for a moment--the flash had been like one of those cartoon explosions--there was total silence (except for the crackling fire). Then bits of ash began to float gaily around us like black snowflakes, and everybody started to laugh. The fireworks went off with a bang, too, but they weren't near as dramatic as the lighting of the dory! Now do you remember?"

Now, of course I do. After, we sat on the port, feet dangling over the edge and watched the fireworks and listened to the accompanying music.

Dull day

A dull day at the port but the light is somehow rather peaceful and romantic - the sea was so still. How spoiled - and lucky - we are here when a dull day is of note!