19 June 2011

Folon's Birds plus One


Wonder if the gull knows he's become part of Jean-Michel Folon's fabulous Fountain of the Birds on le rocher.

18 June 2011

Sheep, goats and rabbits...in Monaco


No, you are not at the wrong place... there really are sheep, goats and rabbits in Monaco. This is a small area in the Parc Princesse Antoinette - the children's garden.

I believe part of the late Prince Rainier's infamous zoo below le rocher has been turned into a petting zoo for children and happily some of the wild animals sent to Africa - a couple or so years ago two leopards, Pitou and Sirius, were released into the wilds of Africa by by conservationist Virginia McKenna. Sadly, Pitou was killed by a puff adder in January this year.

17 June 2011

Recycling


Plastic bottles into flowers...

Here's another 'tree' created by children from one of the kindergartens in Monaco and on display in the Parc Princesse Antoinette.

16 June 2011

Ladies who Lunch...


...at La Note Bleue on Larvotto Beach.

15 June 2011

Emma's Dream


We're back at the Princess Antoinette Park which is a children's garden and where today its paths are lined with mysterious trees.

Each 'tree' has been decorated by children from the various kindergartens around the Principality.

This tree addresses children's life and dreams - you see Emma's in the last photo:

'Life is when I run with my brothers below where I live. It's super! I would like to drive a beautiful black Ferrari such as you often see in Monaco.'

And she probably will...



14 June 2011

A Roof Garden


This roof garden overlooks le rocher - you can see - in the distance - the Oceanographic Museum on the left and the cathedral on the right. In the middle ground you see the crenellations of the Palace.

The photo foreshortens everything - in fact there is a big space between this garden and le rocher. I took it on a long zoom from just below the Jardin Exotique which is even further away.

13 June 2011

The Old Bell


This bell hangs outside the Cathedral on le rocher. It came from the old church of Saint Nicolas which was built in 1484 and was rung in celebration in 1641 when Prince Honoré II expelled the Spanish garrison and so liberated Monaco.

12 June 2011

Bling


If you don't want to wear glittery high heels on your feet, you can always wear them on the t-shirt.

11 June 2011

The Carabinier's Smart Car


A Smart car belonging to the Prince's Carabiniers - as you can see it's electric and is 'charging' at a docking station opposite the Palace.

10 June 2011

Monaco Grand Prix - the Big Clean-Up


Immediately the Monaco Grand Prix is over, work begins to dismantle the stands.

The main photo shows the Pit Lane on the far left. In both photos you can see the outside tables of restaurants that are facing the port although no one can see the boats with all the steel in the way.

These photos were taken a week ago so probably the majority has already been cleared away by now.

09 June 2011

Fooling the Eye...


Trompe l'oeil on le rocher. False window, false bougainvillea...

At the base of this wall is a restaurant's outdoor seating.

08 June 2011

Sainte Cecile



On le rocher, look up and you might see this. Isn't she lovely...

The Fete Day of the Roman martyr, Sainte Cecile is celebrated on the 22nd November in Monaco. Sainte Cecile is often considered to be the patron saint of musicians.

The charming marble sculpture is by the artist Ange Zagoni.

07 June 2011

The Old Well


This lovely old well stands in the gardens of Monaco's new National Museum, Villa Paloma.

06 June 2011

Villa Paloma - the Pirate


This jolly Johnny Depp type stands outside the newly restored Villa Paloma, which is now the National Museum of Monaco. It's simply called 'Pirate Untitled 2008.'

He's overlooking Port Hercule and to the right le rocher. To his left is Cap Martin and beyond that Menton and Italy.

(Forgive me, I forgot to note the name of the sculptor and will add this at a later date. If anyone knows, do please jot me a comment or email.)

05 June 2011

Doorway


A pretty entrance on Boulevard du Jardin Exotique.

04 June 2011

A Curtain of Bougainvillea


The Parc Princesse Antoinette is a garden for children high up in Monaco - it's near the Jardin Exotique and the new national museum of Monaco, the Villa Paloma.

This sculpture is almost hidden in the bougainvillea - there's a curtain of it along another wall. This is not my favourite colour bougainvillea - others love it. I find the colour too strident, too harsh when there are beautiful soft reds and apricots available. No matter - it's the toughest variety which is doubtless why it's used so much in the south of France, Italy and Monaco.

03 June 2011

La Turbie - Play Time


One of the great things about medieval villages is that the streets are too narrow for cars, so children can play freely.

02 June 2011

La Turbie - A restored village


La Turbie is a totally different sort of village to Gorbio, where I live. You won't find many ruins. It's much more restored and everywhere you'll see pots and plants and even handsome young men...

01 June 2011

La Turbie - Under Construction


If you are doing any construction work in the medieval village of La Turbie, then watch out as you carry old doors through the narrow streets. La Turbie stands at over 500 metres on the Grande Corniche above Monaco.

Please click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's theme of Under Construction.

31 May 2011

La Turbie


Let's leave the chaos of the Grand Prix for a few days and pop up to La Turbie, the charming medievale village above Monaco. La Turbie is best known for its extraordinary Trophée des Alpes, a sixth-century monument to the power of Rome but more of that another time...

So often, people think of La Turbie simply as an exit off the autoroute - the one between the Monaco and Menton exits. As you can see, it's so much more than that...
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