Grand Prix - Turquoise on the Red Carpet

One of the many stands in the pedestrian street where the vendor is getting ready for Practice Day.

Grand Prix - What's wrong?

Alright, not the greatest photo, I agree, but there is something wrong in this first photo.

We are in Monaco, yet the policeman is French. The smaller photograph shows you a Monaco policeman.

The French policeman told me he (and others) had been called in to help during Grand Prix week. I think he was enjoying himself on the streets of Monaco.

Grand Prix - the Dummies

At Grand Prix time even the dummies in the windows wear ear protection. We're in Rue Grimaldi, which is primarily a shopping street. The reflections though show shutters and balconies from apartments above the shops.

Grand Prix - the Tyre Movers

During a break between practice sessions, suddenly the track got busy with snakes of tyres being towed from the Pit Lane and along part of the track. Each team had a different colour vehicle with guys holding onto the tyres to prevent them falling off.

Watching the Grand Prix: 7 - be a Marshal

Of course I'm kidding. These marshals are highly trained and I doubt they get to see much of the Grand Prix, as they'd need to be totally vigilant in their work at every second. It's also dangerous.

There are 650 marshals at the Monaco Grand Prix. The ones you see here (taken on the Thursday during a break between practice) are known as Chefs de Poste. There are also Commmissaires au feu, Commissaires de signalisation and Commissaires d'intervention. The ones you see here, I believe, are the ones who would quickly remove a crashed car by hooking it up to one of the many cranes around the track, allowing the race to continue as soon as possible.

These marshals are sitting alongside a statue on the edge of the port of Louis Chiron, the Monegesque Gentleman Driver, a major part of Bugatti's history. Please click on the link to read about this legendary man.

There are other ways of watching the Grand Prix and I don't have special photographs - from one of the hotels, for instance, and also from a restaurant. I read in Nice-Matin that seats at one of the port restaurants were available at 650 euros a head.

Tomorrow - more shots of Monaco at Grand Prix time.

Watching the Grand Prix: 6 - from a Yacht

The smaller photographs shows how close some of the yachts are to the track - others are a little further away and then, presumably, you'd need a pretty big boat to see what is going on.

(Thanks very much to Rick from Manhattan Beach, California for the following information)

The biggest boat in the photograph belongs to Flavio Briatore, owner of the Renault team and is called Force Blue.

To the left is Georgio Armani's yacht, My Mariu apparently no longer used by him as he's bought another and it's up for sale. Click on the links to see more details of these yachts.

Watching the Grand Prix: 5 - from a Balcony or a Rooftop

It can cost a small fortune to rent a terrace or roof top for the three days of the Grand Prix but certainly it would be one of the best ways to see it. Sit back, be waited on, sip champagne and just indulge yourself.

As I mentioned the other day, it was reported in Nice-Matin that takings for balconies was down around 50% this year due to the financial crisis. As many balconies are rented privately, not via agents tho, I'm not sure how they can be sure of their percentage.

Theme Day: Feet

It's the first of the month and so Theme Day once again in the City Daily Photo community.

Today's theme is 'feet' and here you see the feet on a beautiful sculpture you'll find at the lower entrance to Monaco's railway station. It's called 'Fraternita' and was given to the late Prince Rainier in 1999 on the 50th anniversary of his reign by GLI Italiani di Monaco. The sculptor is Sauro Cavallini. (Please click on the smaller photo to see the sculpture enlarged).

To see how others have interpreted this Theme do click here to view thumbnails for all participants. You will find many great images to delight you.

Watching the Grand Prix: 4 - from the Hillside

Yes, you can watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the hillside if you don't mind being a little uncomfortable. This is below le Rocher. As you can see, a great view as the drivers negotiate Rascasse or pull into the Pit Lane. I thought this was a free area until Ed corrected me. Apparently it costs around 70 euros to sit here. Thanks Ed.

Once again, apologies for lack of good photographs - it was a muggy ol' day and this was taken from a great distance.

Watching the Grand Prix: 3 - from the ACM Extension - again

Here's a few zooms onto the Automobile Club of Monaco's extension. A bit grainy - I was a long way away.

The girl in the red cap is one of several working there - all dressed the same.

In the last photo, note the glass of champagne on the rail - hope he doesn't knock it off!

Watching the Grand Prix: 2 - from the ACM Extension

The structure (you see all of it in the smaller photograph) is the Automobile Club of Monaco's extension. This is put up each year for members of the ACM to watch the race but is also available for visiting ex-racing drivers and presumably for anyone who is lucky enough to have been given a ticket.

We'll see a little more of this tomorrow.

Watching the Grand Prix: 1 - from the Stands

You can watch the Grand Prix from so many different places. Here's the first - from one of the many stands.

Tomorrow: More ways to watch the Grand Prix.

(Photos taken at Thursday's practice session.)

Grand Prix - the Crowds

Crowds - you can't avoid them in Monaco at Grand Prix time. This was taken on Thursday practice day so you can be sure by Sunday - race day - you'd hardly be able to move. All part of the fun as the excitement builds. Here we are in the pedestrian street, Rue Princesse Caroline, looking towards Port Hercule.

Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton & the Pit Lane

Alright I know these are very small figures but you can just see Lewis Hamilton walking in between the dotted lines. I was an awful long way away. If you watched the race you'll remember that Jenson Button parked his car in the pit lane in error and then had to run all the way along the road in front of the port to the Start/Finish line and Prince Albert. Well I took this from that distance - ie the Start/Finish line - so my little Lumix did pretty well.

In the smaller photo you see the Pit Lane, bottom right with people walking on it. Opposite is one of the stands with an enormous screen at the end showing the race. Behind some of the smaller boats. (This photograph was taken on Thursday during the Practice session).

Grand Prix - the Indispensable

If there is one thing you must have at the Monaco Grand Prix, it's ear protection. Forget cotton wool, wax shapes for your ears, you need noise cancelling headphones and the more you pay the better they will be. You can pay around US$250 for a pair made by BOSE and they'll be good. You will pay 45 euros for these and they include listening to the race on the radio. You can buy even cheaper - see the last photo.

The salesman of the Race Radio headphones told me that it's mandatory to have hearing protection at 110 decibels and that the noise of Formula One cars is 130 decibels. A gun shot is 140. Believe me, he's right, I had no protection on Practice Day on Thursday and suffered for it.

Grand Prix - Button on Pole and WINNER!

The main photo shows Jenson Button negotiating the chicane before the swimming pool. In the smaller photo (lower right) you can see this chicane in relation to the left-hand side of Port Hercule. You can see the swimming pool in the posting of two days ago. Jenson Button lives in Monaco, so home turf for him. (These pics were taking during the Thursday practice session).

There are 33 kilometres of safety barriers in place, 20,000 sq. metres of wire fencing, 5000 protection tyres, 500 fire extinquishers (1 every 15 metres), 32 surveillance cameras + 7 mobile ones. And then there are 1100 tons of stands, 900 tons of Boxes.

There are 650 marshals, 120 professional firefighters, 30 reanimation doctors, 40 doctors (30 on the circuit and 10 for the spectators) 46 nurses (30 on the circuit and 16 for the spectators) 250 paramedics (80 on the track and 170 for the spectators).

There are 7 rapid-response fire engines, 3 vehicles for extraction and extrication, 3 service vehicles, 40 ambulances, 2 boats, 2 helicopters, 60 race organisation vehicles.

Grand Prix - the T-shirt Seller

Before you get to the stands or the balconies, you have to wade your way through stalls selling t-shirts and souvenirs. I always wondered why Formula One is a 'guy' thing...

In the smaller photo, you see a Ferrari. I don't know if it's driven by Felipe Massa or Kimi Raikkonen but I think it's the latter - and if so, then Pasi from Finland will be pleased!

An event - the Amber Fashion Show - was held last night in Monaco at the Meridien Beach Plaza hotel - around the swimming pool. The models? Why some of the Formula One drivers, of course. David Coulthard in a redingcote, Lewis Hamilton in leather, Jenson Button looking rather dashing, but then he does, doesn't he? The designer was Petra Ecclestone, daughter of Bernie Ecclestone. It was presided over by Liz Hurley and is in aid of Elton John's AIDS foundation. The catwalk, of course, was black - ie bitumen? In the audience - Prince Albert and his girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock, Richard Branson, Boris Becker etc etc. There was a prize offered of a run of the circuit with Jenson Button - now that would be something, wouldn't it? It all happens in Monaco...

Grand Prix - Getting In

We've entered the Palais Heracles by handing our pass (see yesterday's post) to these friendly ladies.

Now we are up on the 11th floor and this is the view directly ahead showing the part of the track that goes around the swimming pool. A hazy day and very humid.

If we look to the left we see the hill going up to Casino Square and the track coming back thru the tunnel. To the right, the pit lane. (We'll see all this another day).

Nice-Matin reports there is a 50% drop in bookings for the Monaco Grand Prix this year. Many people who have an apartment overlooking the track rent out their balconies for a goodly sum. This year bookings are drastically reduced due, of course, to the world's recession. The same is true of tickets for the many stands around the track - I gather prices are being reduced to encourage more visitors.

Each year in Monaco, just before the four days of Grand Prix activities, the Principality holds a football match in aid of charity. One team is made up of a group of well-known personalities in the world of sport (Star Team) and one team consists of Formula One drivers. Prince Albert, who is a keen sportsman, captained the Star Team. The result: 5-2 to the Formula One drivers.

More tomorrow...

Grand Prix - Locked out!

During the four days of the Monaco Grand Prix: Thursday's Practice session, Qualifying on Saturday and of course the Grand Prix itself on Sunday - if you live anywhere with access to the track then you need a pass to enter your apartment building.

Perhaps you are a visitor and will be watching the race from a balcony overlooking the track, well you need one of these passes else you won't get onto that balcony. Every apartment building around the track is locked down and bolted and you'd better believe it. You would normally enter from the rear and give your name and hand over your pass before you are allowed in. Your name must match that on the official list. The pass shows not just the name of the building but also the name of the owner of the particular apartment you are visiting and that person's phone number. In this case, it's the Palais Heracles on the Port of Monaco. (I've masked the name and telephone number)

Trains and buses are the only sensible ways to get into Monaco on race days. Today the track will be closed from 07.00h to 18.30h and in Monaco, when the Grand Prix track is closed, Monaco is closed.

Lucky me has a friend whose mother lives on the 11th floor of the Palais Heracles which is bang over the Start/Finish line of the Grand Prix track - in front of Port Hercule - and today I'm invited onto the balcony for lunch and to take photographs. Come back tomorrow and see if I got a shot of Jensen Button. Don't count on it - I think he might be going too fast!

The Salle Empire at the Hôtel de Paris

The Salle Empire is a stunningly beautiful banqueting room in the Hôtel de Paris, used, as you see here, for functions. The terrace overlooks the Place du Casino.

I think these guests were rather enjoying being looked at and photographed by the crowd outside. Perhaps a British gathering as I thought I heard a few Brit accents.