11 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Medusas
These helium-filled méduses (jelly fish) were beautiful. Several young girls, clad in blue and green, led them around the square in front of the palace and every now and then one would dip in the breeze, its tendrils caressing your face. Children would give it chase, but too late, it was up and away again...
10 August 2011
09 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Big Brôzeurs
These guys - the 'Big Brôzeurs' - had me laughing out loud. They are 2.5 metres tall - 3 metres when they extend their telescopic necks - and slightly scary at times.
08 August 2011
07 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - Hot Lips & the King
It's hot work being a dancing girl - look at this pretty girl's top lip.
In the smaller photo you see the King and Queen. 'U Sciaratu' (All Fools Day) in olden times, was the day when men dressed as women and vice versa, a pauper dressed as the King and the 'Lord of Misrule' presided over it all.
I've got a feeling the dancing girls are a modern touch!
06 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - Strapped Up and Pushed In
05 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - Soap Bubbles
04 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Bubble Driver
03 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Bubble
02 August 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Terrified & Terrifying Bushes
These two bushes - you couldn't tell they weren't real when they bent down and stood perfectly still alongside a genuine tree or bush. They performed in the tiny streets of le rocher, trying to get from the safety of a real bush to another - if they saw a little dog, for instance, they'd act terrified and when someone walked past, they'd jump out and frighten them.
I was laughing so much I could hardly keep my camera still.
01 August 2011
Port Hercule
It's Theme Day once again and today's theme is 'postcard-worthy.' There are so many iconic views in Monaco - the port for starters.
The smaller photo of the Principality was taken en route to La Turbie one day recently. I was standing just below the Vista Palace Hotel.
Please click to see how others around the world have interpreted today's theme.
Tomorrow: back to the Carnival!
31 July 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - Walking the Tightrope
30 July 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - Ciboulette and Oscar
This little car plus an entertaining ventriloquist and her dummy (Ciboulette and Oscar) chugged around the streets of le rocher entertaining the children - and a few adults too.
29 July 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Dragon and the Sentry
You don't really expect to see a dragon in front of the Palais Princier, do you? Glad to see the sentry is amused and hasn't hauled him off to the Princely dungeons...
And for the unbelievable...click on this link to read about and see photos of the woman who crashed her Bentley into a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, a Mercedes Benz and a Porsche causing $1.1 million damage. All this happened outside the casino yesterday.
28 July 2011
Carnival 'U Sciaratu' - the Flying Elephant
In the olden days, there used to be a festival in Monaco where the world turned upsidedown for a day. It was called 'U Sciaratu' (All Fools Day) where men dressed as women and vice versa, a pauper dressed as the King and the 'Lord of Misrule' presided over it all.
This festival hasn't been seen in Monaco for twenty years but last Saturday it came back to Monaco Ville (le rocher).
So, come with me and enjoy a modern day 'U Sciaratu' - we'll see parades, watch amazing creatures writhing in a bubble, be surprised by bushes that move. There are men - 9 feet tall - with elongated necks. The children can learn to walk on a tight-rope, spin a plate, balance on a ball. There is face-painting, balloon twisting and of course there are near naked women walking the streets. There's music and dancing and a lot more not mentioned - but everyone has the best fun. I loved every minute of it. A great day for kids and grown-up kids like me. And you...
To read about this festival dating back to olden times do click on THIS LINK.
More tomorrow...
27 July 2011
Watersports
As you can see, you don't need a megayacht such as the one we saw yesterday to have fun on the water.
There are many more photos to show you of Cap Ferrat and along the coast but they will have to wait for another time.
Tomorrow we go back to Monaco as it's Carnival time on le rocher! - and it's the best fun.
26 July 2011
Paul Allen's Octopus
There were so many yachts on the water but none as big as Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's megayacht Octopus. In the top photo you see one of his helicopters taking off.
The 414ft Octopus, has eight levels, a crew of 60 including former U.S. Navy Seals, two helicopters, seven boats, a remote-controlled vehicle that crawls across the ocean floor, a swimming pool, a recording studio. a basketball court and two submarines.
According to the Daily Mail, the Octopus was the world's biggest when Paul Allen bought it in 2003, costs £12 million a year to keep up and £483,000 for a full tank of fuel.
25 July 2011
24 July 2011
23 July 2011
The Cap Ferrat Walk
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