Kermesse Oecuménique - the Garden Club of Monaco

Each year, before Christmas, there is a Kermesse Oecuménique held in the chapiteau (circus tent) in Fontvieille. A kermesse is a charity bazaar - this one is in aid of six different charities in Monaco.

There are 25 stands with 200 volunteers selling clothes, gifts, bric a brac, jewellry, toys, home-made food for Christmas, household items - we'll meet more volunteers and see more stands over the coming days. Everything is donated and often you find great bargains and, it being Monaco, of good quality - for instance, in the clothing section it's not hard to find designer clothes if that's your 'thing.'

The Kermesse is also a cosmopolitan rendevous for people of all nationalities who live in and around Monaco - the Brits, the Germans, the Italians and the French, of course and many other nationalities too - so it's a great day out in aid of charity and to meet up with friends. The stands are placed in a circle (ie following the shape of the circus tent) and in the centre are 60 tables and I can tell you the food is always great at this event. I always make a beeline for the second-hand bookstall which has thousands of English books.

I was invited to get there early to take photographs of all the standholders. A bit daunting as photographing inside the tent isn't easy. There are a few harsh lights and no natural light at all. I decided to take each photograph with and without flash but only the ones taken with flash worked. As I went around and got chatting to people - many of whom I know and are friends - of course I forgot the flash - duh! but over the next few days I'll show you a few photographs of the great people who give up their time and effort for this very worthwhile charity event.

Here are the great ladies of the Garden Club of Monaco.

The Olive Lizard

This is an even stranger olive tree than yesterday's bird as you see by its aerial roots. And can you spy the carved lizard? Again, it's part of the tree and is dead centre in the photograph. In the background, yachts in the harbour of Monaco.

To see another carved tree - a manatee, no less - take a look at Fort Lauderdale Daily Photo

The Olive Bird

Here's another of the carvings made of olive wood. It's not carved and then stuck onto the tree, but is actually part of the tree - a dead branch, carved into a bird. These were on sale at the Christmas Fair in Menton. To see The Lady in the Olive Tree please click on the link.

Like Mother, Like Child

This mother and child were looking at the donkeys at the Christmas Fair on the port of Monaco. I was struck by the exact same expression they have on their faces - the look, the way they purse their lips.

Jumbled

An apartment block with its balconies reflected in the mirrored exterior of an office building - just behind the main port of Monaco. I didn't realise how the reflection was jumbled up until I saw it on the computer screen and thought it quite interesting. Mind you, you'd not want to have had too much to drink, would you?

Update on Mama Mia and Mistral on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

View from the Monte Carlo Country Club - 3

During the Masters Series Tennis, these poles will be ablaze with flags of many nations. Today, just one.

To see exactly where we are, please click on the link and look at the smaller photograph - you can then see this pathway which leads from the restaurant toward the parking area below.

There is a Caption Competition on Menton Daily Photo today!

The Monte Carlo Country Club - the Restaurant

The restaurant of the Monte Carlo Country Club. The walls are filled with framed photographs of famed tennis players.

Note: The story of yesterday's villa is now unveiled. Please read again the copy that went with that photograph if you are interested.

View from the Monte Carlo Country Club - 2

Look east from the Monte Carlo Country Club and you see this impressive house on the Moyenne Corniche in France. It's called Villa Varavilla and was built in 1891 by Camille Blanc, who was the first Mayor of Beausoleil. His father, François Blanc, was known as the 'Magician of Monaco' and was the first president of the SBM (Societé des Bains de Mer). He created, with Prince Charles III of Monaco, the famous Casino of Monte Carlo, from which much of Monaco's wealth originated.

In the smaller photograph (you might need to click to enlarge) you can see M.C.C.C. in the turf above the main court. In just over three months all the tennis greats will be playing here.

The Monte Carlo Country Club

Today, a different viewpoint. We are looking down on the Monte Carlo Country Club from a vantage point on the road above - actually in France. (Photo taken in September)

Just beyond the tennis courts, and facing out to sea, are the terraces and restaurant of the Country Club. That's where I took yesterday's photograph.

The building you see with three towers - out on the promontory - is the opulent Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort which opened in late 2005.

Interestingly, there was a multi-billion dollar project to reclaim an enormous area of land from the sea, thereby increasing the size of the Principality. Only a few weeks ago, Prince Albert announced, because of the recession, it wouldn't be happening. The choice of design had already been reduced to two well-known architects - Sir Norman Foster and David Liebeskind. Monaco is only 2 square kilometres in size and it would have increased this by 20% with a beautifully shaped peninsula jutting out to sea in front of Larvotto Beach, which is just beyond the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel. Click on the link to read the full story.

For an update on Mama Mia and Mistral please click on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

View from the Monte Carlo Country Club

The Monte Carlo Country Club is what I think of as the tennis courts. It's where, in April, the Masters Series is held and when all the famous names in tennis descend on the Principality - if they don't live here already that is, and some do.

This is the view from the Country Club restaurant. We're looking at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel which is undergoing some sort of winter restoration. In the distance you see the restaurant, La Vigie. My neighbour's father used to work here on the motorboats that arrived with the rich and famous. Sadly, that lovely man is no longer with us, but his wife, who is in her 80s now, is a delight and raps me over the knuckles when she corrects my bad French - which is often. When she tells stories of their lives in Algeria before they had to come to France, she giggles and laughs like a child. I learn a lot from her and not just about the language.

Tomorrow - the Country Club.

The Car from Nassau

What caught my eye about this car is first of all the number plate - 50005 - and then that it's registered in Nassau in the Bahamas. Long way to bring a car, I thought. It was parked at the prestigious Chèvre d'Or Hotel in Eze village.

This posting is for Gail's Man at Nottingham Daily Photo who is somewhat Monte Carlo car deprived at the moment...Happy New Year, Gail's Man! I think this is a Mercedes. Right?

Theme Day - Best Photo of 2008

Today, being the first of the month, it's Theme Day for the City Daily Photo family and today's Theme is 'Best Photo of 2008.'

Flicking through the year's photographs, I found the ones I responded to were always of people. Sad, happy, tired, whatever. It seems to me people are what matter even though I do love to take views too. So, here's a young man photographed in Eze Village, which is near to Monaco, in October. How thin he is in comparison to his large head and hands. He seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He's taking a break from his work at one of the two prestigious hotels in the village.

Today's post is dedicated to a fellow CDP blogger (he knows who he is) who, by email, has endlessly and patiently helped me with photographic advice and encouragement over the last year or so - without you, bla bla.

Happy New Year to everyone and thank you to all the friends I've met through blogging - let's hope that 2009 brings a more peaceful world.

To view other City Daily Photo bloggers' favourite Photo of the Year - and you'll see some fabulous photographs, I know - Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

For an update on the continuing story of Mistral and Mia, the Hell Hole dogs - which is getting better by the minute - please click on the link.

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - The Man who Drank too Much

Enjoy New Year's Eve everyone - and don't end up like this guy!

For an update on Mistral and Mama Mia, the Hell Hole dogs who arrived at Pension Milou yesterday - please click on the link.

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - the Lady in the Olive Tree

In one corner of the Christmas Fair, you'll find these strange olive trees for sale. A portion of the tree, that has presumably died back, has been carved and waxed. Here you see a lady growing out of the tree.

For anyone interested, today is a BIG DAY at Pension Milou as we are adopting two dogs rescued from a Hell Hole. Shut in a roughly 2 metre square run for 8 years, never let out and never cleaned out. Yes, living on 8 years of excrement. They were lifted out of there yesterday and are currently en route to me from the Languedoc - should be here in a few hours! Obviously, I've not met them - the first dogs given a home by email! If you want to follow the excitement please read more on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Neopolitan

There is so much detail in what you see but I doubt the photograph does it justice. It's one of the 160 nativities on display at the Christmas Fair. Somewhere in this, there is a baby!

The Christmas Eve Swim - Prince Albert and Woolite, the Sheep

Readers of Menton Daily Photo will have met Woolite, the sheep before. She is the mascot of Les Foulées Roquebrunoises and runs with the group and swims in the sea - always with her proud owner, Philippe Mazza. Thankyou, Philippe (who you see in the smaller pic) for both photographs.

Taken just before the 4th Bain de Noël on Christms Eve at Larvotto Beach, you see Prince Albert in the centre of the photograph, wearing sunglasses and green shorts under his Father Christmas robe. The swim was in aid of TATSA (Thai After Tsunami Schooling Aid). Woolite was proud to swim in the sea in such exalted company.

This was reported live on television - to view the video, to see everyone including Prince Albert, swimming in the sea and to hear the Prince speak, click on the link.

To see Woolite swimming in the sea please click on this link.

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Italienne (Imperia)

Another beautiful Nativity - one of 160 on display at the Christmas Fair on Port Hercule.

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - the Donkey Ride

The Donkey by G. K. Chesterton

When forests walked and fishes flew
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood,
Then, surely, I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening bray
And ears like errant wings—
The devil's walking parody
Of all four-footed things:

The battered outlaw of the earth
Of ancient crooked will;
Scourge, beat, deride me—I am dumb—
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour—
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout around my head
And palms about my feet.

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Polonaise

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.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas on the Port of Monaco - Crèche Romantique Italienne

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.

Some scenes are tiny, some almost life size and all are impressive. They are on loan to the Mairie of Monaco, from the collection of Fabienne Mourou. The collection was started by Fabienne's mother 40 years ago and is dedicated to her.