Baby Doll

What the well-dressed toddler will be wearing this winter. A children's clothing shop in Avenue Saint Laurent, almost opposite the Eglise Saint Charles.

Mirrored Marble

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserve

We're inside the Hôtel de Paris - in a reception area just outside Alain Ducasse's famous 3-Michelin starred Louis XV restaurant. The walls are antique mirrors giving endless reflections of the opulent marble walls and beautiful lamps that are part of the foyer of this fabulous hotel.

A generous friend invited me here for lunch. It lasted from 12.30 to 16.30 and was absolutely the best lunch I ever had in my life.

The Rose Petals

A wedding in Monaco.

"A happy bridesmaid makes a happy bride"

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Scream

Fancy an hommage to Munch's The Scream on your coffee table? Well here it is in Venetian glass. It will cost you 7,250 euros.

You'll find it in the luxurious Metropole shopping centre. This shop on the top level sells nothing but glass - chandeliers, ornaments, vases, jewellry.

The Glass Skull

Same shop as yesterday - an upmarket fashion store. And more skulls - this time all around a chandelier.

Not a Halloween symbol as I took these photos in the Metropole Centre in August.

The Silver Skull

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

A shop in the luxurious Metropole Centre.

'It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.'

~ Mahatma Gandhi

The Two Most Perfect Things - 'Mrs. Worthington'

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One last look at this oh-so-enjoyable show full of so many wonderful Ivor Novello and Noël Coward songs.

If you'd like to hear Noël Coward himself sing 'Don't put your daughter on the stage, Mrs. Worthington' please click on the link.

The smaller photo shows part of a most appreciative audience. Note the beautiful Art Nouveau doors to the Salle Belle Epoque at the Hotel Hermitage.

The Two Most Perfect Things - the Cast

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"We have much in common. We were both boy sopranos and both drink a lot of tea. We have both worked hard all our lives, and are fortunate, talented and successful. We are both reviled by the press and adored by the public, in addition to which we enjoy each other's company and have been close friends for well over a quarter of a century." ~ Noël Coward

The stage of the Salle Belle Epoque in the Hermitage Hotel. The cast (see small photo) - Diane Weller, Stuart Barham (Musical Director/Narrator), Charles Howell (Ivor Novello), Isabelle Roeland & Adrian Fisher (Noël Coward/Author/Director).

The Two Most Perfect Things - the 'Master' & the 'Governor'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

The show is a shortened 'dinner-theatre' version of a new, full-length play about the lives and works of Noël Coward and Ivor Novello - The 'Master' and the Governor.' The research that author, Adrian Fisher, has done demonstrates just how disparate their legacies actually are. While there exists a mountain of books about the life and works of Noël, as well as frequent productions of his works, Ivor, although probably the greater star during their lifetimes, has slipped quietly into semi-obscurity, with only a handful of old biographies to tell his story.

In this shot, we see the Australian soprano, Dianne Weller. She took the part of Gertrude Lawrence although here is she playing the role of Noël's mother early on in the show. In the background, we see Stuart Barham at the piano - the Musical Director and Narrator.

The Two Most Perfect Things - Salle Belle Epoque

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Before the show, we dine. This is the beautiful Salle Belle Epoque in the Hôtel Hermitage.

Originally a more modest establishment than the Casino or the Hôtel de Paris, in 1900 the Hôtel Hermitage was transformed into a luxurious residence for visitors. This Belle Epoque dining-room was the work of Gabriel Ferrier, winner of the Rome Prize and gold medalist at the Universal Exhibition of 1889. The frescoes recall paintings by Fragonard and Boucher.

The Two Most Perfect Things - Noel Coward & Ivor Novello

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We're having a night out in Monte Carlo.

There are many associations in Monaco but for English-speaking newcomers, the British Association of Monaco (BAM) is the one to join. You make new friends, you get help and information on all the little things - a good dentist, where to get your hair cut - sometimes difficult in a new country - and you can attend any of the many events they organise. The British Association of Monaco is a charity and so you even do good whilst having a good time. And when you've lived here for years, well an event is an excuse to get together with old friends. Our group was so large it took up two tables.

So, we are having a night at the Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo, followed as you see by what promises to be a great show. Dress code is Black Tie/1920s dress. We'll be dining in the beautiful Salle Belle Epoque - do come back tomorrow and join us.

Classic Week - the Sedov

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This amazing Tall Ship (have you ever seen so many ropes?) is a steel 4-masted barque launched in 1921. The Sedov was built in Germany and was for 80 years the largest traditional sailing ship in operation.

She is now used as a training ship operating out of Murmansk in Russia and is often seen at the prestigious Tall Ships races, including Monaco.

In the last photo, you see part of the rigging reflected on the bonnet of Prince Albert's car. He is driving himself back to the Palace after a private visit to the neighbouring ship, the Palinuro. As you can see, he had drawn quite a crowd on the deck of the Sedov.

Classic Week - the Bird and the Balloon

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The beautiful silver bird - symbol of the Hispano Suiza is shown against a backdrop depicting an old B & W photograph of the hills above the Principality.

You can read more about this classic car by clicking on the link.

Classic Week - the Thames Ditton

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Amongst the beautiful old cars was this sailing yacht called the Thames Ditton. I don't know its story but perhaps it's one of the first sailing yachts.

In the lower photo, the yellow car is a 1911 Super 2 cylinder cycle car - unique in the world.

The red car is a 1913 Panhard & Levassor Type X 19, 4 cyl. 10 CV.

Classic Week - the 1911 Zebra

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Yesterday's titillation was a 1911 Zebra. The motor bike (see small photo) is a Moto Lereve Dufaud 1901 (Armand 1902).

Classic Week - the Bathers

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As well as sailing yachts and tall ships, we can enjoy displays of beautiful old cars and bikes and even Bleriot's airplane - all displayed against backdrops of massively enlarged old photographs. Don't you just love the bathers.(click either photo to enlarge)

Tomorrow - do come back and see what car this is - maybe an enthusiast knows already?

Classic Week - the Table

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The table seems too big for this sailing yacht but presumably it will straddle the deck somehow, ready for a reception. It's the final day of Monaco's famous Classic Week - when the world's beautiful sailing yachts and tall ships descend on Monaco to compete and to show off their beauty.

Classic Week: Contrasts

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The 3-masted Tall Ship, known as a barkentine, is called the Palinuro, photographed in port for the recent Classic Week, where she took part in the Tall Ships race. She was built in France in 1934 and is owned by the Italian navy.

She is, as you see, quite a contrast to the modern cruise liner, Sinfonia.

In the smaller photo, you see H.S.H.Prince Albert II leaving the Palinuro after a private visit.

Classic Week - Knowing the Ropes

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We are visiting Monaco's Classic Week, when the world's sailing ships and tall ships descend on the Principality to compete and show off their beauty.

Everywhere you look - ropes, pulleys, polished wood and brass that sparkles as much as the diamonds worn by many of the visitors.

Anticipation

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Ice-cream on the terrace of the Café de Paris.