18 March 2012

Hediard at the Galerie du Metropole


Hediard. Luxury food on the ground floor of the Metropole Centre. Hediard opened its first shop near Chartres in 1832.

The Monte Carlo store opened in Monaco in 2010. All too tempting ...

17 March 2012

Monte Carlo Ladies


A couple of Monte Carlo ladies cross Avenue Princesse Alice near Square Beaumarchais.

16 March 2012

Reflections of a Gardener


One of Monaco's many gardeners watering around Anish Kapoor's celebrated Sky Mirror in front of the Casino.

15 March 2012

Peace in a Pool


You'll find peace and a place to reflect in all the beautiful gardens of Monaco. The Casino Gardens, of course are the busiest, especially in the centre where you find the fountains, but just walk a few yards to one side and you'll find pools like this. Look carefully and you'll see the balcony of a building reflected in the water.

14 March 2012

Cleaning the Metropole Centre


Not easy cleaning the curved ceiling above this chandelier in the Metropole Centre, especially as the area within the railings drops down to the floor below.

13 March 2012

Bonsai in the Casino Gardens


I've never noticed this bonsai in the Casino gardens before. It's quite a large bonsai, but a bonsai nevertheless. The bowl looks as if it's made and signed by an artist - next time I'll look more carefully.

Amazing root formation, don't you think?

12 March 2012

In Step


Sunshine and shadows on the steps leading down from the back of the casino building.

I seem to think I've seen exactly the same design of wrought iron railing outside the Metropole Centre but perhaps my memory is deceiving me. It often does ...

11 March 2012

Sweeping Up


Curved windows at the back of the Café de Paris make good photo opportunities.

10 March 2012

Agretti


We're in Beausoleil market today - so near to Italy that it's no surprise to find signs for produce written in Italian. This is Agretti - looks like grass, doesn't it? In fact it's a tender succulent, native to the Mediterranean. It's also known as Barba di Frate (Monk's Beard) and in English, Barilla Plant, Opposite Leaved Saltwort or Russian Thistle.

Frances Mayes, author of the wonderful Bella Tuscany, wrote of this plant: 'Spinach is the closest taste, but while agretti has the mineral sharpness of spinach, it tastes livelier, full of the energy of spring.'

Remove the roots, steam for 5 minutes, and serve still slightly warm with some olive oil and lemon or prepare fettucine and mix with fresh chopped agretti, lemon and oil.

09 March 2012

Swish...for International Women's Day


Couldn't resist the swish of this lady's cape.

It's a day late, but nevertheless a photo for yesterday's International Women's Day.

08 March 2012

The Accordion Player


How's this for a beard! This lovely man was playing the accordion in Beausoleil yesterday and was happy to let me take his photo. Carlo is a member of the Scottish Dance Group of Monaco. He lives in Menton.

07 March 2012

Heels


How does she walk in those heels?

06 March 2012

Up and Down


Cypresses on the ground, cypresses on the roof - in Fontvieille.

05 March 2012

As Winter as it Gets


This is about as 'winter' as it gets in Monaco. We're in the Princess Grace Rose Garden - the roses have been pruned and fed and are waiting for spring. The olives have had a heavy pruning too - but not long now, and buds will be bursting.

That's the circus tent you see in the background.

04 March 2012

Dire Straights


A wobbly yacht in the port of Fontvieille.

03 March 2012

Fontvieille - Homage to Raymond Orfali


Fontvieille is the area of Monaco constructed, almost entirely, on land artificially reclaimed from the sea. It added 22 hectares to the area of the Principality and necessitated the use of 7.5 million cubic meters of earth and rock. After the work was finished in 1973 the actual construction of the buildings in Fontvieille began and this new quarter of the Principality started to develop.

This plaque is a hommage to Raymond Orfali, who was the chief engineer for the project from 1965 to 1971 instigated by the late Prince Rainier III, known as the 'Builder Prince.' (Click on the link to see a photo of Prince Albert II and Raymond Orfali at the inauguration of this plaque).

02 March 2012

Pristine!


Monaco is clean! Everywhere is pristine and here's one of the reasons. This guy is pressure cleaning the pathways in the Parc Paysager de Fontvieille, very near to the Princess Grace Rose Garden.

01 March 2012

Jean-Michel Jarre and electricity!


It's Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community and this month's theme is ' electricity' so we're going back to the fantastic Jean-Michel Jarre concert on the port - given by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene in July last year to celebrate their wedding.

It was a great night and it took a lot of electricity!

To see how others around the world have interpreted this theme click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

29 February 2012

Sweeping up Botero's Ash


Fernando Botero created his wonderfully voluptuous 'Woman Smoking a Cigarette' in 1987. She endlessly smokes her cigarette in the Parc Paysager de Fontvieille.

Do you suppose the man in the smaller photo is sweeping up her ash?

28 February 2012

Wrapped up for Winter


Many of the trees and shrubs, despite blue skies and sunshine, are wrapped up for winter but then it's still chilly at night. These are in the Parc Paysager de Fontvieille, near the Circus tent.
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