For Japan

Bracelets (martenitsa) in memory of those lost in the Japanese tsunami hang on a cherry tree at the entrance to the Japanese Gardens.

Summer's Here...

Looks like summer has arrived on Larvotto Beach. Hope it stays.

Reminds me of L.S.Lowry's matchstick men and women...

Louis Vuitton

Don't ask me the price of the bag because I didn't ask. Actually I prefer the stand with its interesting shape and reflections.

An Edgy Theme Day

The marble balustrade on the stairs that lead from the Buddha Bar down to the Fairmont Hotel - originally Loews Hotel for any the F1 fans. Sharp edges, curved edges, straight edges for today's Theme Day.

Please click here to see how others around the world have interpreted today's theme.

The Buddha Bar

The entrance to the Buddha Bar which opened last June. The afternoon light was just right for this reflection in one of the windows.

Yellow Tulips

Monaco is ablaze with yellow tulips at the moment. The Casino gardens are full of them and here too - in Avenue des Beaux-Arts - outside Dior.

Salon de Jeux Privés

It's always fun to photograph reflections in the curved entrance of the Salon de Jeux Privés, which is just down the slope from the main Casino.

The Child and the Giraffe

A children's birthday party on Larvotto Beach.

Peekaboo

Peekaboo in the Lanvin windows in Place du Casino.

'False face must hide what the false heart doth know.' ~ William Shakespeare

Hot or Cold?

Either the two gentlemen wearing suits and eating lunch on Larvotto Beach are feeling the heat or the man in the background is cold... What do you think?

Right Side Up in the Japanese Gardens

'The world is wrong side up. It needs to be turned upside down in order to be right side up.'

~ Billy Sunday

Monaco Mourns...

Monaco mourns HSH Princess Antoinette who died the other day. Note how all the flags, even tiny ones in a jewellry shop window, are tied up with black ribbon.

The funeral takes place today.

Bird's Eye View

Sometimes it's helpful to have a bird's eye view... Here is a small garden - mostly lavenders and rosemary I think - opposite La Rose des Vents on Avenue Princesse Grace. Pretty, isn't it?

For anyone interested, I took this from the 19th floor of the Formentor building - and leaning well over the edge of the balcony!

HSH Princess Antoinette

After all the razzmatazz of the Venetians, let's pause for peace in the Japanese Garden.

A sad time in Monaco at the moment as Princess Antoinette died a few days ago. Princess Antoinette was the sister of Prince Rainier, father to Prince Albert and his sisters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie. She was 90 years old. The Principality is now in mourning for two weeks with the funeral taking place on Thursday. She had quite a life and was married three times - click on the link.

Princess Antoinette adored dogs, indeed she kept many dogs at her house, Au Bout du Monde, at Eze-bord-de-Mer. She was involved in animals rights and was President of Monaco's Society for the Protection of Animals. She was very knowledgeable on the subject of dogs and I remember a lovely conversation I had with her at one of the Monaco dog shows when I sat opposite her at lunch that day.

Venice in Monte Carlo - Giacomo Casanova

Giacomo Casanova lived between 1725 and 1798 and was a famous Ventian womanizer. How did he do it in those heels?

Venice in Monte Carlo - Hair

Perhaps not as sharp an image as would be ideal, but I just had to show you this hair! And what about that nifty red number in the smaller photo.

Tomorrow, the man himself: Casanova...

Venice in Monte Carlo - One for the Ladies

After so many beautiful ladies, how about a good looking young man...

Venice in Monte Carlo - Everything's coming up Roses...

Even for Monte Carlo, one might say this is a little over the top!

Venice in Monte Carlo - Dressing Up

Apart from the chilly weather it must have been such fun to dress up in all these stunning Venetian costumes. Helps if you are beautiful too...

Venice in Monte Carlo - Costume and Cloud

As you can see, cloud hangs low over the Casino Gardens. Not ideal conditions for a good photo but of course everyone pulls out a camera.