Fête XVIIIth Century - the Programme Lady

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

As you can see in the small photograph, the man handing out the wine tries to persuade the young lady (who hands out the programmes) to have some wine. She looks a little unsure and then agrees.

I wonder if they had red nail polish in the XVIIIth century?

We see the Palace in the background - note the weather, low cloud over le rocher and humid that morning. No wonder the wine was welcome.

Fête XVIIIth Century - the Wine

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

This is the fourth year the Mairie (Town Hall) of Monaco has put on this festival in honour of Prince Antoine 1st, who was responsible for much of the beautiful architecture in the Principality.

It takes place on le Rocher, the part of Monaco where we find the Palace, the Oceanographic Museum and the Cathedral.

So come along, put on your 18th century clothes and let's have a good day out. And first...why a glass of wine, of course.

In the last photo, you see the wine cart being pushed towards the Mairie - the workers (and there were an enormous number of volunteers) were offered a glass of wine to help them through the day.

The Opera House

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

A zoomed photo taken at dusk and from exactly the same position as yesterday's photo. The steeples you see are the casino building and specifically, the opera house, designed by Garnier.

Note the turquoise cupola far left. You can see a close up of this by clicking on the link.

Dusk

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Dusk in Port Hercule. We are looking at Avenue d'Ostende which runs from Ste. Devote up to Casino Square. Lights are being turned on. People wait on rooftops for the fireworks to begin (see yesterday's post).

All Lit Up

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Each summer Monaco holds an International Fireworks competition. Every three weeks a different country presents its display. Last night it was the turn of Austria. You have to get to Monaco early if you want a parking place and as you can see in the small photo, people line up around the port awaiting the wonders to come.

The jury judges on creativity, technique and synchronisation with the music. In three weeks time it will be France's turn and then we'll have a result.

Note the yacht (centre, foreground of the main photo) with its swimming pool lit up. No one skinny dipping tho, which might have been fun.

Hibiscus

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Hibiscus in the Jardin Saint Martin on le Rocher. This is one of the most peaceful gardens in Monaco and well worth a visit when you are in the vicinity of the Cathedral or the Oceanographic museum.

My preferred photo in terms of image was the smaller one on the left but I felt the two with the wrought iron railings and view down to the port of Fontvieille tell more of a story. So here are all three!

Lady on Bench

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

It's been a while since we had a Monte Carlo lady, so here's a pretty one on the Rue Princesse Caroline which is the pedestrian street leading up from the port. This street has benches in various places all the way up, so there's a usually somewhere to sit and chat.

Parade of Eagles - 'S.O.S. Ecology'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

This eagle, by Avi Kenan, is called 'S.O.S.Ecology.'

The artist was the winner in his category in the 'Eco Art Parade.'

Parade of Eagles - 'Yiskaago'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

This eagle flies above the pond in the Casino Gardens. It's by the artist François Maurin and is called 'Yiskaago.'

Interestingly, in the first photo, the eagle is facing one way and then, went I went back to photograph it again, it was facing the other.

The Child and the Dachshund

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

In June we met a real Monte Carlo Dog, a tiny chihuahua, all dressed up in pink and owned by the owner of an art gallery in the Winter Sporting. That day in the gallery, I photographed this wonderfully effusive and adorable child with her 5 month old dachshund puppy called Titta. They were in gallery because her mother was helping the owner with the vernissage. They live in Genoa, along the Ligurian coast in Italy.

The Palace Guards

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Honor, Loyalty and Devotion to Duty is the motto on the flag of the Palace Guards, a group created in 1817 to provide 24-hour security for the Palace, royal residences, the Sovereign Prince and his family.

The Guard is composed of 3 Officers, 15 Sergeant-majors and 80 Privates, all highly trained French military men. It has been reorganized several times since its inception and in January 1904 Prince Albert I renamed them "COMPAGNIE DES CARABINIERS DU PRINCE".

These are the Guards one sees each day promptly at 11:55 AM in front of the royal entrance on the Palace Square performing the ceremony of the Changing of the Guards. This tradition is performed in full dress uniform, black in the winter and white in the summer, and has not changed for more than 100 years. But this ceremony is only one of the many duties of the Palace Guards. They escort religious and civil and ceremonial processions; and ensure security for sports and other public events in the Principality.

The Players

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

What game are these two playing? They throw something (dice, coins?) on to what looks like a book? If any one knows, do leave a comment and I'll include it here.

The players sit in a little niche outside the Quai Des Artistes restaurant on the far side of Port Hercule, just before Stars n Bars.

Night: the Cupola

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Let's stay in a 'night' mood after yesterday's Theme Day.

It took me a while to find out what this building is, so beautifully adorned by an interesting cupola. Well, I'm told it's a bank. Perhaps it wasn't originally a bank but hey, this is Monaco, so who knows? The photo was taken from the terrace of the Hôtel Hermitage looking down on Port Hercule and the area of Monaco called La Condamine. You can see the Palace on Le Rocher in the background.

Theme Day: Night - Girls' Night Out

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

It's the first of the month and as always it's Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community. Today's theme is Night and this is a Girls' Night Out in Cap d'Ail, which adjoins Monaco. They are eating at Le Cabanon, a great little restaurant right on the rocks at the beach - very simple, great food.

To see how other bloggers in our world-wide City Daily Photo community have interpreted this theme - and I promise you there will be endless delights - please click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Parade of Eagles - 'Love your Life'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

This eagle is called 'Love your Life' and is by artist, Gitte Peters. It stands in the Casino Gardens.

Parade of Eagles - 'Why?' again...

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

This is another shot of yesterday's eagle. Just loved how the little girls, dressed in white, are enjoying this sculpture. Please click on THIS LINK to read about Eric Brocchi, the artist, or simply look at yesterday's post.

Parade of Eagles - 'Why?'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

The Parade of Eagles is on the theme of ecology and the environment and in particular it speaks of the Bonelli eagle which is about to disappear in this region.

Today's eagle, displayed in the Casino Gardens, is called 'Why?' and is by Gorbio artist, Eric Brocchi. Gorbio is the village where I live and you can see Gorbio on Menton Daily Photo today.

Do click on Eric Brocchi's website to see him working on the eagle. It's fascinating.

Parade of the Eagles - "L'Aigle de la Paix''

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

This sculpture in the Casino Gardens is by Anna Chromy and is called The Eagle of Peace.

Parade of the Eagles - 'Giving Wings - the Protector'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Soaring high above the Casino Gardens, this is 'Giving Wings - the Protector' by Zivo.

Parade of the Eagles - 'Hawkology'

Photos & Text Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

In the Jardins des Boulegrins, we see Hawkology by Anthony Alberti.