The gardens are beautifully laid out as you can see in the small 'plan' on the left.
Some plants, furry and spikey at the same time, are extraordinary. The plant in the foreground above is called Cleistocactus Strausii and originated from Bolivia and Argentina
(see close-up below).
A plant is called a succulent when it stores water to withstand dryness. The Garden of Eze has succulents from Africa and America that are well-adapted to arid climates. The water is stored in the fleshy parts - mostly the leaves and stems. These plants developed tricks to limit evaporation: smooth skins, sometimes covered with wax, hairs and thorns, instead of leaves. Many succulent plants, cacti and sisal (agaves) in particular came to Europe at the time of the great Discoveries. The first cactus is believed to have been brought back by Christopher Columbus but it was not until the Renaissance that these plants were studied and understood.
The first sisal (agave) was imported in the XVIth century and when it blossomed, it was several metres high and was considered quite a marvel at the time. General Weber, a member of Maximilian of Austria's expeditionary force in 1865, was one of many to whom we owe the presence of agaves on the Riviera. Today, cacti, agaves, aloes and euphorbias are a fundamental part of the Riviera landscape.
This simple and beautiful crèche is one of the 160 different nativities on display in Port Hercule. It was made in Poland, the figures being almost life size and made of straw.
This is one of the 160 beautiful Crèches du Monde (Nativity Scenes of the World) currently on display at the Christmas Fair at Port Hercule.
These two young ladies were sitting on the steps watching the skaters, chatting and eating waffles. I snapped the smaller photograph first and then asked the girls, who live in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, if they'd pose, which they did - and with such beautiful smiles too.
This is the swimming pool (now a skating rink) in Port Hercule - the Christmas Fair is behind us, the yachts ahead. The Monaco Grand Prix runs around one side of this famous swimming pool.
Let's have a glass of mulled wine before we start exploring the Christmas Fair. It's cold - we need it.
Back to Port Hercule in Monaco for the Christmas Fair, which this year has some great displays - in particular, many beautiful and different nativity scenes from around the world.
In the large entrance to the Fragonard factory are several displays of old perfume bottles and other paraphernalia that relates to the making of perfume. Not quite sure where the fans come in?
We're still in the gardens and looking down, this time on the Fragonard perfume factory. This is a branch of the factory in Grasse, a town famous for its perfumes. This factory makes soap and face creams - the perfumes are made at their main branch in Grasse. 
A roof terrace with a view. This is just below the gardens and looking in the direction of Italy. 
We are at the top of the gardens (see yesterday) and looking down on the Moyenne Corniche. There are three 'corniches' running along the French Riviera: the Basse, that runs along the sea - then the Moyenne. The third is the Grand Corniche and this is reached via the road you see on the top right hand corner - going to the Col d'Eze. And of course there is the autoroute which is the highest road of all.
There are many 'Earth Goddesses' throughout the gardens - the work of the renowned sculptor, Jean-Philippe Richard.
Only two small areas of an imposing castle built on top of the rock of Eze now remain. Built in the second part of the XIIth century by the family of Eze. It belonged to Provence and the fortress was guarded by the Castellans.
The gardens are beautifully laid out as you can see in the small 'plan' on the left. 
