Change the Light Bulbs!

Someone needs to change the lightbulbs outside the Hôtel de Paris.

Old Soul

Do you ever wonder what kids are thinking?  This guy looks like he is an old soul with young shoulders, but perhaps the reality is he just want to get home to play with his Nintendo?

This was taken in the market in Place d'Armes.

The Lady with the Pearls

More detail from the house we saw yesterday.

Detail

Here's a detail from the house we saw yesterday.  Just a few steps from Port Hercule and such delights await!

Rue des Acores

Monaco isn't all Belle Epoque hotels, super yachts and beautiful people.   If you walk a few steps from the port you find small streets with interesting old buildings, speciality shops, family-run restaurants and people walking home with their shopping.  The market on Place d'Armes is just above us to the left.

A Frenchman's Hands

Have you ever met a Frenchman who doesn't use his hands?  Or an Italian?  This was taken in one of my favourite restaurants in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.  It's called Les Vents d'Anges.

Dreadlocks

This is one of the servers at a restaurant at the Monaco Yacht Show.  I've always adored dreadlocks.

November Sun

Three Monte Carlo ladies sit by the fountain in the Casino Gardens enjoying the gentle November sun.

Balance

Do you ever feel like this after a late night!

This was taken outside an art gallery in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Apologies, I don't know the name of the sculptor.

The Whizzing World

This was taken at the Monaco Yacht Show. It was extraordinary to walk into this section and suddenly see this enormous 'world' whizzing around on the gigantic screen. All very high tech and that seems to be what Imtech Marine is about.

Elsa's Table

A table at the Elsa Restaurant in the newly refurbished Monte Carlo Beach Hotel, looking towards the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.

The Coat Hook

The Casino Gardens have it all - including, it seems, a hook for your jacket.

The Oval Window

A detail on the Casino building. You only have to 'look up' in Monaco to see such joys.

Fur

There's an awful lot of fur on display in the shops this year. I'd like to think it's 'faux' but I fear it's the real thing.

There is a girl I know who would probably love this little Dior number. She's called Barbie of the Day and you can find her by clicking on the link.

A View from Cap Martin

We've walked past the point of Cap Martin and are on the Promenade Le Corbusier. In the distance we see Monaco.

The smaller shot was taken from le rocher, looking down over Port Hercule and in the distance is Cap Martin - where I was standing to take the main photo. Beyond Cap Martin is Italy.

Brigitte for President

Brigitte Bardot, screen icon and animal rights activist may run for the French presidency in France's 2012 elections. The 76 year old star of 'And God Created Woman' has been asked to stand by the Ecology Party. In a letter to Mr Sarkozy, she told the president that 'someone's voice is needed to defend animals as neither the Right nor the Left give a damn!'

Read more here - Daily Telegraph.

This painting of the star stands in the window of an art dealer in the Scala building in Monaco.

Hermitage Hotel

A double 'H' for the Hôtel Hermitage. Brass, set into the paving of the street in front of the hotel.

Noriko and Kaito

Crossing the Casino Gardens is always a pleasure and often a great place to grab a photo - a tree, a flower, people. And of course, with a camera in my hand, I often get handed a camera and asked to snap a couple or a family.

That's what happened a couple of days ago. Lovely Noriko asked if I would photograph her and her son in front of one of the fountains and afterwards I asked if I could repeat this on my camera and here it is. Noriko is Japanese and lives in Liguria which is across the border in Italy. And how adorable is her son Kaito!

Cigarette Break

A book, a cigarette - a break from work at one of the up-market fashion or jewellry shops on Allée Serge-de-Diaghilev, just off Casino Square. The street is named after the famous Russian dancer who founded the Ballets Russes.

Off to work we go...

The side entrance to the Café de Paris - almost time to start serving lunch. Don't you love the beautiful Art Nouveau glass.