So the snails are cooking and Alain pours in a glass or two - or three - of cognac. The recipe on the Taraf Goulamas website calls for pastis but the bottle on the table looks more like brandy to me.
Suddenly in the middle of the performance, this lady wanted to be photographed with the performers - and as you see, they didn't mind at all!
Not for the squeamish...the snails are about to be poured onto the fire. But before that there is the ritual of praying for the snails as the musicians walk in a line and then each player drops a solitary snail into the pan as he says goodbye.
Meet the group Les Taraf Goulamas who can cook snails whilst they play great jazz!
A last look at this great group of performers. The juggler, the dancers, the singer and the accordian player take their bow.
These dancers were mesmerizing. So good, so involved, such brilliant dancers and fabulous choreography. He is Raphael Thiers, she is Morena Di Vico and the choreograher is Lisie Philip. Click on the link to read about La Compagnie Antipodes.
The lady on the left with the red and black shoes handed out the programmes - I imagine she works for the Direction des Affaires Culturelles de Monaco. The lady on the right I'd noticed earlier and had taken her photo as she crossed the road. She asked if I'd taken her photo. 'Yes,' I said, 'I was rather fascinated with your outfit.' She told me she is a designer from Germany and then asked if I would send her the photos - which of course I will.
Monaco has just had a weekend of great street theatre with performances taking place during the day and evening in different parts of the Principality.
Monaco's latest tour bus - le grand tour! There are twelve stops taking in the whole of Monaco. You can get on or off as often as you like. A day ticket costs 17 euros for adults and 7 euros for a child. Included in the 12 stops is the Bateau Bus stop and the complete tour lasts approximately one hour.
And then there were four...
You'd have thought the Monte Carlo Rally had arrived last Saturday. I was crossing the Place du Casino when suddenly four Rolls Royces drove up and parked outside the Hôtel de Paris.
Later today, the Tour de France will be over for another year as they cycle down the Champs Elysées in Paris. The winner - Alberto Contador. Last year in Monaco we saw his rivalry with Lance Armstrong - this year, with the courageous Andy Schleck.
