High Seas and La Vigie

Churning seas in front of the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel.  This is technically France (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin) - but the Pointe de la Vieille, on which stands the hotel and the tall cream building, was bought by the SBM in Monaco in 1926.  The tall building is La Vigie, built in 1902, for Sir William Ingram. In recent years it was lived in by Karl Lagerfeld and now I believe is offered for rent. You can read more about La Vigie by clicking on the link.

A Run on the Beach

A day of endless rain and wind two days ago turned into this - yesterday.  Sunshine, high seas (for the Mediterranean) and a run along Larvotto Beach.

The Water's Edge

As you walk along the port of Fontvieille, don't just look at the luxury yachts - peer into the water. 

You never know what you might see ...

Fontvieille

The Port of Fontvieille yesterday morning. That's the le rocher (rock) on the left - on top of which, you find the Palace, Cathedral, Oceanographic Museum etc.

Chandeliers

Look up, and chances are you'll find a chandelier in Monte Carlo.

Lamplight

Street lamps seen through the waters of a fountain in Casino Square.

Park the Rolls!

These are the guys who will park your Rolls Royce or Bugatti Veyron for you when you go to the casino.

The Colours of Autumn ...

A closer view of this Art Nouveau entrance we saw the other day. Couldn't resist those rich colours and reflections ...

A Wild Boar in Monaco!

 

A wild boar in Monaco!  Whatever next ...

Welcome!

The check-in desk of the Hotel Metropole.  Pretty, isn't it?

The Road Most Travelled

A lone policewoman stands at the entrance to Avenue de Monte Carlo which leads into Casino Square.  The road 'up' (Avenue Princesse Alice) leads to the Hôtel Hermitage. 

Hôtel Métropole - Face Off

The Hôtel Métropole.seems to go in for faces on walls. Remember THIS one?

Collywobbles at Casino Square

A wobbly Casino Square seen through Anish Kapoor's Sky Mirror.

Autumn at Lanvin

The Lanvin windows are always fun.  When it's time for a new window display, do you suppose a designer in Paris sends insructions to all the Lanvin shops of the world - so they are all the same?   Or perhaps each local shop, such as this one in Casino Square, does its own thing? 

Hotel de Paris

There's always something going on at the Hotel de Paris - people coming, people going, posh cars, busy doormen ...

The Glass Saxophonist

This guy plays his saxophone day and night in a jeweller's shop near Casino Square. 

Art Nouveau?

This entrance is below the casino building, the side of which you can see lit up pink for the recent Pink Ribbon Monaco evening.   It's perhaps a private gaming area - for the high rollers.   Don't you love the wrought iron and glass canopy - Art Nouveau or in that style ...

Snakes Alive at Louis Vuitton

There are rather a lot of snake-like creatures promoting one small handbag in the Louis Vuitton window.

Princess Grace's Wedding Dress made of Diet Coke Cans

This sculpture based on Princess Grace's wedding dress was created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of her death.  The dress is made of thousands of pieces of aluminium, using 4,000 cans of Coca-Cola Light (Diet Coke) in a unique design and intricate weave inspired by the magnificent fine lace original wedding gown.  It took over 2 years to complete.

The sculpture, by Nikos Floros, is on display in the foyer of the Hotel Metropole and is 10 feet long, 5.5 feet wide and 6.5 feet tall.

Blonde Ambition

Crossing the Casino Gardens ...