Circus! - the Popcorn, the Dog, the Children & the Tigers

We are outside the tiger enclosure. The dog doesn't take his eyes off a bag held by the child - a bag of popcorn.

No one is holding the dog's lead but then a labrador isn't going anywhere when popcorn is around...

Circus! - Fernando Botero & the Circus

To coincide with this year's Festival of Circus, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco Villa Sauber has mounted an exhibition of the paintings of Columbian artist, Fernando Botero. His figures, as always, arevwonderfully obese - even the animals. The exhibition is open until the 1st March.

Several of Botero's fabulous sculptures are displayed in the Principality. You can see Adam & Eve and Woman Smoking a Cigarette by clicking on the links.

Circus! - the Supermarket

Part of Carrefour, the big supermarket in Fontvieille. And why show a boring image of a supermarket check-out, I hear you ask? Well, as you see it's decorated in honour of the circus festival, as were many other shops in the Principality. With so many acts from so many different countries coming to Monaco to compete for a prize, it's considered one of the most prestigious circus events in the world.

Circus! - the Big Top

The Big Top in Monaco is actually known as the Espace Fontvieille. That's because it's in Fontvieille, which is the land in Monaco totally reclaimed from the sea.

The Espace Fontvieille (literally the Fontvieille Space) welcomes the Festival of Circus every January but for the rest of the year it's used for exhibitions, for the annual dog show, horse events, trade fairs, church bazaars. Rarely is it out of use.

The Big Top has four poles that support the enormous roof (you see two in the smaller photograph) and it's 58 metres in diameter. It can accommodate just under 4000 people. There are many smaller tents that adjoin the Big Top to give even more space. Click on the link to see a photograph taken from above.

Circus! - the Performing Dogs

The Performing Dogs were kept in three separate exercise areas along the walkway where we saw the catering vans.

Look at the intensity in this little one's eyes.

You are see more of these lovely Circus Dogs on Riviera Dogs today and over the coming days.

The dogs come from Germany and are part of Wolfgang Lauenberger's Performing Dogs. See photo below - not one of mine, but taken, with thanks, from the non-official Festival International de Monte Carlo website. If you want to see photos of other circus acts performing in Monte Carlo, this is the place to go.

Circus! - Coffee and a Cigarette

Outside the Circus Café. Talleyrand wrote this about coffee:

Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.

Circus! - the Television Crew

They decided to film in front of the boutique - changed their minds and filmed with the circus van behind the journalist.

This van is used to carry the clowns around, even Princess Stephanie got in at the end of the free outdoor performance on Port Hercule.

Circus! - the Elephants' Home

I wonder if these elephants know that this tent, where they sleep, is alongside one of the most expensive apartment buildings in Monte Carlo?

Circus! - the Elephants

There were three elephants and their accommodation is near to the heliport. You can see the circus tent in the background. We are in Fontvieille - on land reclaimed from the sea.

The elephants look content and well fed, although I have no expertise. They've got a few tree trunks to move about. I remember last year seeing one of the elephants rocking back and forth, which perhaps indicated stress. Not so, this year.

Tomorrow, we see where the elephants sleep during their stay in Monaco.

Circus! - the Boss Man

He has an air of a circus man - a certain swagger. His velvet cord shirt is embroidered with horses, yet he walks comfortably around the tigers.

I got the feeling he's probably the 'boss man.'

Circus! - Pigtails

Some of the horses had long flowing hair in beautiful condition - you could almost see them shake their head and say 'Come up and see me sometime.' This beauty sported several plaits. Isn't she gorgeous? Actually, I've no idea if she is a she or a he or an it but certainly this horse is a beauty. There are 15 horses are part of the Troupe Giona.

The great day has finally arrived! Barack Obama, an intelligent, charismatic, charming, thoughtful man brings change and hope to America and so to the rest of the world. Happy Inauguration Day, Mr President.

Circus! - the Lunch Queue

The circus arrives with its own catering facility. Here you see the circus workers, from those who clean out to the animals to the stars of the show. Each has a lunch ticket and once they've collected their lunch, they'll eat in the tented area beyond.

Every area around the Big Top is used for the circus animals. The elephants are by the Heliport, the tigers and horses are just at the back of the tent itself. Here we've walked past the Columbus Hotel, past the Princess Grace Memorial Gardens and along a walkway by the sea. We are looking towards Italy - you see Cap Martin in the distance. Not a bad place for lunch. Bon appetit!

Circus! - Roger & the house-trained Tigers

Meet Roger Flack, the trainer and tamer of the tigers. Well-fed and in great condition, the seven tigers eat 200 kilos of red meat a day.

You see them playing in the smaller photo. If you enlarge it, you'll see a wooden frame just below the large wheel. The tigers squat over this box to urinate. It stands, presumably, over a drain. Well they are cats, after all and that's what cats do but it hadn't occurred to me that circus tigers would be house-trained. They are!

Circus! - Tiger, Tiger

The circus is in town! This is the 33rd International Festival of Circus at Monte Carlo and it's considered the most prestigious event in the circus world, with acts from all over the world competing for the coveted prizes.

This festival was started by the late Prince Rainier III. Princess Stephanie of Monaco, youngest daughter of Prince Rainier and the late Princess Grace, is known as the Queen of the Festival - she opens it and she takes a massive interest in everything going on, including overseeing the care of the animals. You see her darting about all the time, a big smile and 'Bonjour' to all the Artistes of the Circus.

Today we see the tigers - seven, including three white tigers - in an enclosure just outside the circus tent. (Click small photo to enlarge) They were playing like kittens and all in magnificent condition. I get upset when I read of circus animals living under poor conditions - not so these. They obviously adore their trainer and it was a privilege to be so close to these magnificent creatures.

Do take a look at Tamarindo Daily Photo and David's post on the Las Pumas Rescue Centre. You'll see a marvellous photograph of a beautiful jaguar.

Tomorrow - we meet Roger, their young trainer.

Kermesse Oecuménique - the Snack Bar

So many people giving of their time for this charity event. Loads of tasty snacks for people to buy at a very reasonable price.

And a great group of people willing to pose for a photograph. One called another, 'Come on, time for a photograph,' and in no time everyone was ready. Smile!

Today is the last day of the Kermesse pics. Tomorrow - something large and very dangerous.

Update on Mama Mia and Mistral - please click on the link.

Larvotto Beach - Blue on Blue

We're breaking away from the Kermesse for a day because I want to show you Larvotto Beach taken the day before yesterday. Calm weather, as you see and sunshine, although it's still a little chilly.

High up on the hill and in the distance, you see the luxurious Vista Palace Hotel with its helipad, and further down, you see the Monte Carlo Bay Resort which we saw the other day - from the opposite direction - when we were at the tennis club.

Today though, a deserted beach to enjoy. Blue on blue.

Kermesse Oecuménique - the Face Painting

The idea was to show you the two great ladies who do the Face Painting at the Kermesse, but unfortunately, the pics are useless as I'd not used the flash. Next year!

On the other hand, here is one of the little girls who'd just been painted.

Isn't it hard sometimes to decide which is the better of two photographs? I really couldn't choose between these two. In the smaller one, she is more relaxed and natural - yet there is an enthusiasm I like in the first one. Which do you prefer?

Kermesse Oecuménique - the Tea Ladies and Gentleman

Meet a great group - the Tea and Coffee Ladies and Gentleman - oh, plus one child. You can see they are getting ready to have a fun day. They could be at a village fete in England, couldn't they? Not inside the circus tent in Monte Carlo. There's something so 'British' about a biscuit tin, not to mention the teapots.

Everyone who works at the Kermesse is run off their feet. I bet this group didn't look as bright as this at the end of the day as they do here. I believe all in this photograph are British. Yesterday's Garden Ladies were a mix of French and Scandinavian.

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