Each December Prince Albert II takes part in the traditional 'Bain de Noël' on Larvotto beach but this year it took bravery, following our recent snow falls. As you can imagine, the water of the Mediterranean was really cold but this year the watching crowd had a treat when Prince Albert brought along his beautiful long-time companion, Charlene Wittstock, the South African Olympic swimmer. Another member of the Royal Family of Monaco, Pierre Casiraghi, son of Princess Caroline, took part too. They all took to the sea for a full 10 minutes and afterwards Charlene met Woolite the sheep, dressed as Santa Claus. The swim raised 1200 euros for the Thai After Tzunami Schooling Aid charity.
Casino Square and more of Maggie Calkin's great photos, all showing the ever-changing light show on the Christmas trees.
Snow in Monte Carlo! Such a rare occurrence and what luck that my friend, Maggie Calkins, a professional photographer who lives in Monaco, whizzed out to Casino Square after midnight last night and took these great shots.
Robert is a retired German florist and lives with his French wife in Menton. Last winter he collected the flotsam and jetsam of the Mediterranean beaches and created these crèches (nativities). The figures come from Austria, Germany and Italy.
Most of the Fair is taken up with slides and rides for children and stalls selling gifts and food but there is one tent (small photo) where you'll find jewelry, furniture and ornaments, all made from recycled materials. This necklace has been pinned to a board, alongside a photograph of it on a model. I haven't a clue what it's made of but that it's made of recycled materials has to be good news. 
It's simple but I'd think a little daunting for a small child. The story starts with the lower photo - the child is zipped into the deflated ball. You can see the fat black oxygen pipe on the right. The plastic ball inflates really quickly. And later, there he is rolling around the hazards of the course - King of the World!
The Christmas Fair at Port Hercule has loads of rides and slides for children - the swimming pool has become an ice rink, there's a big wheel and of course, no fair would be a fair without barbe à papa (candy floss).
In 1955, the future invaded the present and the DS was born. a car famous in the 60s and 70s - it even saved a politician's life. The DS pioneered new technolog, including the extraordinary hydro-pneumatic suspension system. Nowadays these cars sell for anywhere between 10,000 and 25,000 euros. Recently a rare cabriolet DS was sold at auction for 300,000.
Remember the days when it seemed everyone in France had a 2CV? Citroën first produced these great, cheap cars in 1948, which gave everyone the possibility of motoring. Production finished in 1990.
Don't know about you, but my favourites are the black ones - reminiscent of so many old French films. 
First of all, apologies for the cars not being totally in focus and badly framed - the cars were positively whizzing around Casino Square - well, whizzing for their age... and it wasn't until yesterday's car, the GT Concept, arrived in front of the casino, that people rushed out, and it had no choice but to stop. The cars I'm showing today and tomorrow came around first - in order of age.
This GT Concept supercar bridges the gap between reality and fantasy as it was initially created for the virtual world of Sony's PlayStation Gran Turismo 5 racing game.
There I was in Casino Square - a dull day, cloud hanging low over the mountains, not the best of days to take photographs when suddenly, along came the Citroëns...
