Dance of Colour

Colour dances in the pool at the Japanese Gardens.

Nall's Pansy

To get to the Grimaldi Forum's theatre you go down, down via escalators into the depths. And there high up on a wall, just before the theatre entrance is this enormous pansy.  Click to enlarge and you'll see this is made entirely in mosaic, in fact Opio mosaic.  Opio is a village not far from Monaco famous for its glass.

Artist, Nall has two installations in the Grimaldi Forum, "Pensee Sunrise" and "Pensee Sunset" - I'm not sure which this is.  Each meausre 6 yards by 6 yards and you can buy postage stamps of the works in any Monaco post office.

Alabama-born Nall lives and works in Vence. Click on the link to read about him and his work.

Yacht Watch

A couple of yachts framed by trees in the Japanese Gardens.

Toned Beauty

Don't you love how the soft salmon colour of this lady's dress tones so beautifully with her gorgeous hair.  Note the shoe colour too.

She's walking towards Larvotto Beach and looking towards Cap Martin.

Summer on Larvotto Beach

Let's go to the beach ...

Monte Carlo Beach Hotel - the Pool

The pool of the renovated Monte Carlo Beach Hotel. This was taken in April. No doubt those sunbeds will have bodies on them today.

An Insect from Jupiter?

You do see the strangest things in Monaco.  This looks a bit like a large insect, doesn't it?  Perhaps from a distant planet?

In fact it's an electric motorbike make by a Swiss company - with rain protection thrown in. You see many electric vehicles in Monaco. The Principality is keen on promoting a green environment.

Miami Plage on Larvotto

Grab a towel and head for the beach ...

Chihuahua amongst the Cheeses

I'm not sure of the law in Monaco but probably 'dogs are not allowed' in the Carrefour supermarket.  This doesn't seem to stop some shoppers putting their little dogs in their trolley.

You often see a chihuahua amongst the cheeses ...

 Photo taken on the escalator that goes down to the car park of the shopping complex in Fontvieille.

Les Thermes Marin de Monte Carlo - Windows

The massively tall windows at the Thermes Marin de Monte Carlo.

Ignore the sky - today it's a perfect Mediterranean blue and going to be hot again.

Les Thermes Marin de Monte Carlo

Les Thermes Marin de Monte Carlo is a beautiful spa, gym, pool and restaurant with stunning views over the port of Monaco. This is the entrance.

The Realtor's Office

A pretty corner in Fontvieille. This is a realtor's office whose windows reflect one the restaurants that line the port.

Botero's Fat Foot

Maybe we can put our feet up for the weekend?  This foot is from Botero's wonderful Woman Smoking a Cigarette which you'll find in the Park Paysager de Fontvieille.

Walking the dog ...

Walking the dog in Fontvieille - small boats set against the magnificent backdrop of the rockface that is le rocher.  Look way up and you'll see the cathedral.  

Balance at the Beach

Larvotto Beach: whilst the adults take lunch, the kids skateboard.

Lunch with Extras

Ain't love grand ... Wonder if they've ordered lunch yet.

Place François Bosio

There's a tiny square, Place François Bosio, opposite Le Pinocchio which is packed with tables that surround what appears to be a well.

At the back of the square is a bronze of François Bosio, a famous sculptor born in Monaco. Click on the link to read about him. 

When you see photos of hundreds of apartments surrounding the port, it's easy to forget these little gems.

Learning to eat well ...

Doubtless one of the reasons French and Italian childen (and Monegasque too of course) grow up to so love their food is because they start young.

Le Pinocchio

If you are on le rocher, Le Pinocchio (note his image on the wall) is a good Italian restaurant for lunch. Always busy. Good food. Friendly waiters. I had a truly excellent clam risotto - and later realised I should have taken a photograph before eating it!

Larvotto Beach - Parasols

Larvotto Beach - looks like summer's finally arrived ...