22 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Bathrobe


No, you don't often see a gentleman walking about Monte Carlo in a bathrobe. He's probably been to the Thermes Marin de Monte Carlo - the Monte Carlo Spa - which is a fabulous gym/pool/everything for health and well-being - and is connected to the Hotel Hermitage, and I think, to the Hotel de Paris too, by an underground tunnel. He is about to cross the road at the level crossing you see to his left - this would lead to the Hermitage. So doubtless he decided to take the above-street route today.

21 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - August


Monte Carlo in August - A Ferrari, yachts and lots of visitors. Not that you don't see Ferraris and yachts all the year round - you do. More tourists though in July and August.

20 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - Black and White


For one second, I thought these three were real. They sit on a wall above the Park Palace shopping centre which is opposite the Casino Gardens.


19 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - la Gare


Monaco has a fairly new railway station. You can enter from various levels. Here is the view as you come down the escalator from the highest level - we are looking at the harbour from the St. Devote corner.

To get up or down involves escalators and lifts and happily, views like this. I look this standing on the moving escalator so am surprised the view remained pretty much in focus.

18 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - Le Louis XV


One day I'm going to rob a bank and eat here...

Alain Ducasse's Le Louis XV restaurant in the Hôtel de Paris on Casino Square is Monaco's most famous restaurant - 3 Michelin Stars. Mortgage your house to eat there. Drool, drool....

Click on the link and take the virtual tour. Don't forget the ceiling.

I'm told they have a camera hidden in the ceiling above each table so the waiters can see (from afar) when service is needed and the chefs know when to start preparing the next course. And anyway, don't you just hate a hovering waiter?

17 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - Silver


Take a stroll around the port - yes, it's opulent, big yachts, speedboats, trendy restaurants, you get the feel of wealth - but there is wonder just in the reflections on the water.

This silver sea took my breath away.

16 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - Hot Dogs


The young man had been carrying the girl around on his shoulders - he lowered her onto a plant stand by the port. She jumped off and immediately threw her arms around him - a flower above their heads.

Hot dogs in front of a hot dog stand!

To see The Barack Obama Dog please click on the live link to Riviera Dogs.

15 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Beach Cleaner


Monaco's beaches are not pristine by luck. Here you see one of the clean-up guys. It's early morning, already people are taking a dip but for this man, it's a working day on Larvotto Beach.

14 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Palm Fronds


If you tire of the beaches, you can always find peace and beauty in one of the many gardens in the Principality. Here we are in the Casino Gardens. These palm fronds entranced me. (Click on the small photo to see the palm)

I believe this is called Erythea Armata, a palm from California and sometimes known as the Blue Palm. If not, I hope the knowledgeable-on-all-things-horticultural, Tog of Coral Gables Daily Photo will correct me.

13 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Funfair - Boating


Are they practicing for the day they'll have a boat like Daddy's?

12 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Pool Man


Early morning and the young man is putting out the umbrellas ready for another hot day. We are at the swimming pool in Port Hercule.

This one is for you, Sally from Sydney Daily Photo. Sally swam in this pool when she and her family visited in June this year.

11 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Funfair - Waiting


These children are watching the bungee jumpers at the funfair on the port. Perhaps waiting their turn, perhaps just dreaming. What a mixture of faces and expressions. And how beautiful is that little boy on the left?

10 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Conversation


It's just gone 8 in the morning. These two guys are sitting, deep in conversation, at La Note Bleue, which is a jazz lounge, beach restaurant on Larvotto Beach.

09 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Opera House


A view of the Casino (in fact the back of it - ie the Opera House) taken from the far side of Port Hercule, which is way way below. This shot shows Monaco's setting in the hillside.

08 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Riva


A canvas cover on the boat and its reflection. A Riva speedboat. Probably the most prestigious speedboat of all. Click on the link. Once into the website, it's worth looking at the 'Historical' link to see some lovely old boats.

You'll see quite a few Riva yachts in the harbour of Monaco.

07 August 2008

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

06 August 2008

A Monte Carlo Summer - the Funfair - Boo Hoo


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

05 August 2008

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...

04 August 2008

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.

03 August 2008

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.
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