Chaos in the Principality

The flags for the Masters Series represent only part of the chaos in Monaco today. President Sarkozy of France flies in by helicopter at noon for lunch with Prince Albert, and will then visit the Oceanographic Museum, which is closed to the public all day. He leaves at 5.

Meanwhile, the tennis draws capacity crowds - Federer plays Nalbandian and Nadal plays Ferrer today. Go Raffa! And work continues throughout the Prinicipality for the Grand Prix in May.

It's virtually impossible to get in and out of Monaco - police have closed many of the roads for Sarkozy.

I had a vet's appointment in Cap d'Ail to get my dog's teeth cleaned - had to cancel. Beau doesn't mind! Think he's about the only person (whoops, dog) who doesn't.

Ahoy there!

At the far eastern end of Larvotto Beach is an area where you see young children playing. I think it's probably a properly run nursery for kids - babies, toddlers and upwards. It operates in the mornings.

Monaco Grand Prix - Flower delivery

Everyday life at Port Hercule - and all part of the preparation for the Monaco Grand Prix - and also the Masters Series tennis which is on at the moment. Here you see a crew member taking delivery of a flower arrangement.

Monaco Grand Prix - Tyre protection

More Grand Prix preparation. Old tyres everywhere - lining the route, against the walls and barriers - these protect the drivers, of course, in case of a crash.

I wonder why some are painted red and some are not? Does anyone know?

Monaco Grand Prix - Painting the Yacht

It's not just the stands that have to be constructed. The yachts arrive in port and naturally enough they need to be prepared too. I'm not sure if this man is on cleaning, repairing or paint duty.

The smaller photograph gives you an idea of the size of this yacht - click on the photo to enlarge. You can see this crew member way down the far end.

Monaco Grand Prix - The Bolt Carrier

This young man's job is to deliver materials to other workers, such as those we saw yesterday. He's carrying what appears to be bolts (probably the wrong word) that secure one piece of scaffolding to another,

He doesn't look too happy, does he? Although later, he did give me the briefest smile.

Monaco Grand Prix - Construction

This is dangerous work. You can see the height of this particular stand in the small photograph. Click on it to enlarge.

There are many stands to be constructed and all are temporary - put up each year specially for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Monaco Grand Prix - Preparations

Perhaps the biggest date on the Monaco calendar is the Monaco Grand Prix. This year it will be held on the 22 - 25 May, with the Historique Grand Prix earlier - 10 - 11 May.

As you can see, the preparations are well under way - here the port is filled with all the paraphernalia needed to construct the massive stands.

This is the first of a series where we'll see how the Principality prepares for this prestigious event.

Same but different

This is the same beach you saw yesterday but taken from the other end and so, of course, facing the other way. Today we are looking towards Italy. The area you see jutting out to sea in the distance is Roquebrune-cap-Martin. The other side of Cap Martin, you'll find Menton and then Italy.

Beach in waiting

We've had rain, on and off for a couple of weeks - more on than off. But yesterday was glorious - so is today. This is Larvotto Beach at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. I almost felt I was on holiday...

The massive cruise liner in port is the Sinfonia. You can see another photo of her by clicking on the link.

Parc Sacha Guitry - 1

Cap d'Ail adjoins Monaco. There are no borders - it's simply a question of one street is in Monaco and one is in Cap d'Ail, which is a commune of beauty, charm and wondrous Belle Epoque villas. Here we are in this lovely park, which is next to the villa that belonged to the celebrated writer and actor, Sacha Guitry, who died in 1957.

"A man must marry only a very pretty woman in case he should ever want some other man to take her off his hands" - Sacha Guitry

Sacha Guitry was five times married, which might explain the quotation.

A view of the Cathedral

Taken from the port of Fontvieille, you can see Monaco's beautiful cathedral on le Rocher. A view of the front of this building can be seen by clicking on the link.

It is here that Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married and are buried.

Aurora

Meet Aurora. How beautiful a name is that! Aurora is a professional dog handler from Padua in Italy - visiting the Principality for the Monaco Dog Show. She is such a dog enthusiast and when she realised I was interested in photographing rare breeds for Riviera Dogs she kept bringing more and more unusual dogs into an empty ring for me. 'I bet you don't know this one,' she'd say. And I didn't. She also introduced me to the dogs' proud owners.

Here you see her after the show, waiting for her transportation in Fontvieille with two Pugs, a French bulldog, a Griffon Bruxellois (front left) and a Petit Brabancon (front right). For a bigger and different version of the dogs, please click on the link above.

Aurora is the best sort of dog handler, enthusiastic, loves the dogs yet handles them in a calm and professional manner. Hardly surprising as she's won an enormous amount of Junior Handling Awards. She also speaks perfect English. Click on her name to see her website.

Noeud - Kim Hamisky

This bench - The Knot - is featured in a Sculpture Walk in Fontvieille. I love sculptures you can sit on, touch, enjoy.

If you like sculptures you'll be spoiled for choice in Monte Carlo - they are everywhere! This will be the 70th featured on this blog, although around 30 of the 70 were in the Expo in the Casino Gardens and so are not now on view - except just one, which has been installed in the Principality.

There are so many scultpures in Monaco and sometimes I feel like Sherlock Holmes trying to find them, because the powers-that-be move them around from time to time. No easy feat when you consider the weight of a large bronze.

The Knot is by the Vietnamese-born artist Kim Hamisky and was created in 1987.

Monte Carlo Gentlemen - 4

Eye candy for the ladies. Standing in front of the Hermès shop, which is just along from the Casino, how could I not notice this divine looking guy?

And if you're not into dishy men with long hair and irresistible smiles, take a look at the lamppost - it's beautiful too!

No fishermen?

Gone fishing! And who owns the rods? As you'll see in the smaller photograph, the family is having a picnic, with a wonderful view of the Oceanographic Museum on le Rocher. Just a little further along is where I stood to take the large photograph of the museum - shown HERE.

Do I win? Do I? Do I?

The Monaco Dog Show draws exhibitors from all over Europe. It's held in the Chapiteau (circus tent) in Fontvieille. Click on the link to see this beautiful tent from outside. Not so easy to photograph inside tho.

Here you see one of the judges about to assess the qualities of a French bulldog. Did she win? She's doing her very best to impress, isn't she? I don't know if she won or not but as all dog exhibitors know, win or lose, they take the best dog home.

Every day you'll find - on Riviera Dogs - different breeds seen at the Monaco Dog Show. Yesterday: a gorgeous pair of Bloodhounds - today a little apricot-coloured Poodle, prepared and 'Ready for my close-up, Mr. de Mille' moment. Just click on the link to see them and drool ---- whoops, that's the Bloodhounds drooling, not you.

'Grande Carpe' - Francois-Xavier Lalanne

This fishy welcome to the beautiful port of Fontvieille was sculpted in 1996. It stands at the entrance to the port on land that was once sea. All of Fontvieille was once sea.

You can read an article published in the International Herald Tribune on this artist and his wife.

Musée Oceanographique - 3

It wasn't until yesterday that I realised you could get a shot of the Oceanographic Museum from this angle. Just shows what you discover if you let your feet wander. I walked up steps and then way along the far end of Fontvieille port, hoping for a better shot of the Cathedral which is to the left of this building - and suddenly there, before me, was the museum. We'll see the cathedral another time. We are looking up at le Rocher, where you also find the Prince's Palace.

I've written about this amazing museum before but it bears mentioning again. Founded by Prince Albert 1, it was inaugurated in 1910. It's a museum of marine sciences and not to be missed when visiting Monaco. The building rises majestically from the sea to a height of 279 feet and took 11 years to build, using 100,000 tons of stone from La Turbie, a village high above Monte Carlo. Part of the museum is dedicated to Albert 1, who was a major navigator. Here you'll find his laboratory ships and collections of marine fauna including a skeleton from a 66-foot whale.

The famous Jacques Cousteau was director of the museum for many years.

In the basement, you will find the world-famous aquarium with its extraordinary show of marine flora and fauna. With 4,000 species of fish and over 200 families of invertebrates, the aquarium is now an authority on the presentation of the Mediterranean and tropical marine ecosystem.

And the winner is...for the result of The Great Monte Carlo Swimming Pool Quiz please click on the link.

St.-Jean-cap-Ferrat

Taken from just below the Parc Sacha Guitry in Cap d'Ail (we'll visit this lovely garden) here's a view of St.-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. If you follow the peninsula around, back towards us, you can see a more built-up area just at the right hand edge of the photograph - that is Beaulieu-sur-Mer with its beautiful Belle Epoque villas.

At Cap Ferrat you'll find some of the most expensive real estate in the south of France. Many famous people have lived or stayed here. Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild built an opulent and exquisite Tuscan-style palazzo, known as the Villa Ephrussi de Rothshild. David Niven lived here. Somerset Maughan lived in his famous Villa Mauresque. Others who owned estates here or visited include Charlie Chaplin, Sir Winston Churchill, Isadora Duncan, King Leopold II of Belgium.

And it still attracts the rich and famous.

Tomorrow: the answer to The Great Monte Carlo Swimming Pool Quiz. If you've not yet entered, there's time to do so!