A Monte Carlo Summer - the Dragon

This fearsome chap peers out from the vegetation by one of the pools in the Casino Gardens.

"It's hard to stop Muggles from noticing us if we're keeping dragons in the back garden - anyway, you can't tame dragons, it's dangerous."
- Ron Weasley

"We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves."
- Tom Robbins

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Funfair - Boo Hoo

It's late afternoon at the Funfair in the port - these kids have had ENOUGH ALREADY!

A Monte Carlo Summer - Le Mas Provençal

The medieval village of Eze is on the Moyenne Corniche and very near to Monaco. Climb the village to the cactus gardens and you'll find views to die for. You'll find galleries and workshops galore as you climb the steep cobbled streets. Eze is known for its little art shops.

At the foot of the village you find the Fragonard perfume factory (which also operates in Grasse) and just along from there, you'll find what is probably the prettiest restaurant on the Côte d'Azur - it's called Le Mas Provençal and is decorated with thousands of fresh tropical flowers. Specialities are milk-fed suckling pig, roast lamb - and also a great risotto served in a hollowed out parmesan cheese. It's not cheap tho. I've eaten there a couple times in the past. Yesterday, it was closed for lunch, but I peered in through the wrought-iron gates to take these photos.

Later, walking back to my car, I passed Jude Law getting out of his - waiting for a lady to get out her side. I didn't like to invade his privacy and ask for a photo - perhaps I'm too English! - would you have done so? He's too gorgeous...sigh...

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Crew

Head down, legs up - sorting out the engine. One of the many guys who work as crew on the yachts in Port Hercule. Well, actually, he could be the owner...nice legs regardless.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Ferrari Ride

You'll always find a Ferrari or ten in Monaco but the other day, driving around, I seemed to be seeing far more than usual - and here's why.

These people are queuing for a ride around the Grand Prix circuit in a Ferrari 360 F1 Spider. This you can drive yourself - cost is 85 euros for the driver and 45 euros for your passenger. If you want to be driven around you can hire a 430 CH with driver.

To read more, click on THIS LINK and don't forget to have the volume loud. You won't want to miss that engine roar - or, should I say, purr.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Diving Helmet

This is a U.S. Navy Diving Helmet from the 1940s. The photograph was a possible choice for yesterday's Theme Day.

It's on display in a shop (see the smaller photo) that sells equipment for the many yachts moored in Port Hecule.

Theme Day: Metal

The first of the month so it's Theme Day and this month's Theme is Metal. Here you see part of a gate frame to the Casino Gardens with the largest of the fountains behind it. Beyond the fountain is the Casino of Monte Carlo - an iconic view of Monaco.

It's hot and humid in Monaco at the moment. The ozone level is not far off critical - people with breathing problems are told to stay indoors and the speed limit has been reduced on all motorways in the Alpes-Maritimes.

There are 184 City Daily Photo bloggers from all around the world taking part in today's Theme. Do visit some of them and and see what 'metal' they have found in their city to delight you. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Werewolf

You can't turn a corner in Monaco without seeing a sculpture. It's rich, rich, rich in beautiful art, often by famous sculptors. And not just outside. You'll find work inside hotels and shopping centres too. The Metropole Centre always has an exhibition throughout its various levels. This summer the featured artist is the ceramicist, Jacky Colville.

This piece is called Banc 'Loup Garou' - banc is French for bench. A Loup Garou is a werewolf.

At first, I cropped this photograph to eliminate the background but somehow it shows itself off better with a bit of space around it - and anyway, look at the beautiful marble floor.

A Monte Carlo Summer - Morning Light

It's nine in the morning - you see Cap Martin, the hills of Menton. Italy is just beyond. We are in the main port of Monaco - Port Hercule. The sun is already quite hot.

On the larger yachts, crew members are busy cleaning. The fishermen have brought in their catch. Visitors are still sleeping or perhaps breakfasting on their terraces.

Monaco is waking up.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Baguette

They teach 'em to love baguettes young in France.

The mother of this little one runs one of the stalls at the Funfair on the port. Baby sat outside happily chewing on his bread.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Fishing Boat

With all the boats and super-yachts in Port Hercule in Monte Carlo, it's sometimes hard to remember there are fishing boats too. This was taken at 9 in the morning - the catch is in and now the fisherman (click to enlarge) is sorting his nets.








The Fish - by William Butler Yeats

Although you hide in the ebb and flow

Of the pale tide when the moon has set,
The people of coming days will know
About the casting out of my net,
And how you have leaped times out of mind
Over the little silver cords,

And think that you were hard and unkind,
And blame you with many bitter words.

A Monte Carlo Summer - I Love Fashion TV

It's dusk, hence the poor light. Soon the yachts will be lit and Monte Carlo will resonate with the sounds of summer nightlife. Here you see the I Love Fashion TV boat.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Funfair - Bungee!

Each year you'll find the Bungee bouncers at the Funfair on the port of Monaco. This year tho, it's in a different place to last year so in these photographs you see le rocher (the Rock) in the background.

Last year, they bounced with a backdrop of the yachts in the harbour. Click on the link to see who was having fun then.

There's still time to enter the competition posted on Menton Daily Photo yesterday. No one, so far, has come up with the correct answer - so do have a go.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Funfair - Pride

Each summer, on the esplanade in front of Port Hercule, you'll find all the fun of the fair.

In the main photograph, the little boy has just finished swinging from one platform to another. He's so proud of himself. I watched him for a while whilst he was waiting his turn - very serious, watching those in front of him, obviously rather daunted. The small photo shows him before the adventure - just as he's about to move off the platform.

There's a competition today on Menton Daily Photo. Do take a look and see if you know the answer. A postcard of Menton will go to the winner.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Clean-up Man

Not the sharpest photograph in the world, but I wanted you to meet one of the men who clean up Larvotto Beach. It's just gone 8 in the morning and he whizzes along the jellyfish nets, checking for any damage. He also picks up any flotsam and jetsam in the sea.

Larvotto Beach has had its publicity problems lately. Analyses of the water have shown a toxic algae called 'Ostreopsis Ovata' which has been menacing Larvotto Beach in particular. In fact all the beaches in Monaco are now under high surveillance.

This algae, which has colonized parts the northern edge of the Mediterranean during the last few years, is a one-cell microscopic organism. Because it contains chlorophyll it's called an algae, but it's also a sort of plancton. Its natural habitat is on underwater rocks where it attaches itself to the rocks in the form of a brown mousse. The problem arises when this mousse detaches from the rocks and floats to the surface. In contact with the sun it gives off a toxic gas.

Two years ago, in Italy - at Genoa - 200 people were intoxicated and hospitalised with respiratory problems.

At the moment, the authorities say there is no danger in Monaco but the problem is being continually observed and tested by the zoological station in Villefranche, a laboratory at the University of Nice and the biology department attached to the Office of the Environment in Monaco.

They say, 'We are not in a situation of alert, but we are in a siuation of enforced vigilance.'

Meanwhile, as you see, people swim.

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Jellyfish Net

Larvotto Beach is protected from jellyfish by this net - well two nets in fact, one either side of the central breakwater. In total there are 320 metres of protection.

And what do you do if you are stung by jellyfish? I remember when I lived in Cairns in Queensland, Australia, there were always bottles of vinegar available on the beach.

Nice-Matin, the other day, tells us that if you can't find immediate help from the Lifeguards (and you will in Monaco) - this is what you must do:

1. Don't move the affected limb or limbs and whatever you do don't rub the skin. It will make it worse.

2. Remove the tentacles with tweezers or with gloved hands (in fact two sets of gloves, it says).

3. Then cover with dry sand or flour or talcum powder or even shaving mousse - which will trap the remaining cells that cause the rash.

4. Then you can then gently rub the affected area with a rigid piece of cardboard or a plastic credit card to remove these remaining cells - unusual use of a credit card!

5. Next you must wash the affected area with hot water (the heat apparently destroys the jellyfish poison).

6. Then you put salt on for 30 minutes.

7. Finally, you must take an aspirin.

A Monte Carlo Summer - Jellyfish!

Jellyfish! Lots of jellyfish! This sign is to be seen on Larvotto Beach. Tomorrow, we'll find out what they do about them.

Prince Rainier III

This sculpture stands outside the chapiteau (the circus tent) in Fontvieille. It was sculpted by Marcus Marin in 2006 and needs to be seen from a distance to properly see the face of the late Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Black

Shiny, immaculate yacht. Smart fenders. This boat is moored in the port of Fontvieille.

Parc Sacha Guitry - 2

Parc Sacha Guitry is a beautiful and peaceful park in Cap d'Ail - the town bordering Monaco - with its many stunning Belle Epoque buildings and wondrous views. It's a place too with a real village/community feel to it.