Smoking Break

A couple of girls chat and smoke near the Watch Tower on le rocher.  Note the helicopter,  en route to the heliport in Fontvieille.

Monte Carlo Dogs

Not all Monte Carlo ladies strut around in 6 inch heels. Some, like these two ladies,  are more interested in their dogs and were taking a rest with them on a bench in the Casino Gardens.  Note the water bowl.

The Griffon is called Xena and she is 4 years old. And the Jack Russell terrier is called Lana and she is 3.

Both are rescue dogs now living a wonderful life in Monaco with these two fabulous Monte Carlo ladies.

7th Rencontre Artistique - Monaco-Japan - Viatcheslav Plotniko

Viatcheslav Plotnikov is a Russian artist who has lived in Monte Carlo since 2000.  He often paints glamorous scenes like this - the Hotel de Paris featuring famous American film stars long since dead. 

For instance, that's Ava Gardner sitting at the front.  Looks like Humphrey Bogart in the background. I'm sure others are recognisable too.The painting is called 'By Night Monaco.'

The Flower Shop

This rather wonderful flower shop, Narmino-Sorasio, is to be found in Le Park Palace.

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - the Rhino and the Panda

This sculpture is called 'F... Panda.'  I'm not being prudish in not typing that four-letter word but I don't want all the spam that will arrive if I do.

The sculptor is Patrick Schumacher - he makes lots and lots of what he calls 'rhinozebros.' Click on the link to read more.

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - Reni

This lady is dressed somewhat differently to other ladies and you'd think she is young, wouldn't you?  But - good for her - she absolutely isn't.

Her name is Reni and she always wear unusual outfits. She's one of Monte Carlo's characters and loves being photographed.  You may remember her in the Casino Gardens posing for the camera on the night the casino was lit up pink.

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - the Golden Elephant

This elephant reflected all the colours of the exhibition. It was fun to look at and see the constantly changing light and shade - lots of red -  as you walked by.  I couldn't find the name of the artist on the plinth.  

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - the Cleaning Lady

Not everyone dresses up for the vernissage ...

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco-Japan - the Shoes

A art gallery opening is always a good place to see what the ladies of Monaco are wearing. 

I give you - the shoes!

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan - the Ladies

In Monaco, you dress up for the opening of an exhibition.  These Japanese ladies did just that.

7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan - Blake's Phantom

Last night saw the opening of the 7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan in the Auditorium Rainer III. It's a marvellous space overlooking Port Hercule and of course 'le tout Monaco' was there including many Japanese ladies wearing traditional dress - wonderful!

Each artist showed one work only.  This beautiful piece is by the well-known Canadian sculptor Blake, whose studio is in Monaco.  This is one of his new series called Phantom and yes, that's real gold leaf which I believe takes over a week to apply. This sculpture is called Phantom Sky.

The exhibition continues today and tomorrow - 11h to 19h.

Jules Massenet

Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era.

This statue stands, where it should, outside Monte Carlo's opera house, which is to our left.

Today, Monaco doesn't look like this photo - it's raining heavily and has been for days ... 

The Ring

Who would buy a ring like this - and why?  It's for sale in a shop just around the corner from the Café de Paris.

The Fur Coat

You'd need to be rich to trail a mink on the ground like this, wouldn't you?  

And for all you animal lovers, I'm one too!  No animal should be killed for its fur - or for anything else, come to that.   I'm simply your friendly Monte Carlo photographer reporting on what I see ... on this occasion at the Cafe de Paris. 

The Jolly Chef

What a jolly chef!  He's about to enter the plastic covered terrace of his restaurant on le rocher.

Spring!

This is the promenade between Fontvieille and Cap d'Ail - the port of Cap d'Ail is to the right.

Looks like Spring to me!

The Watch Tower

The watch tower and beyond, Cap Martin and Italy.

Narrow

Here's yet another passageway on le rocher - this one so narrow it needs to be properly lit.

Don't you just love imagining what it would have been like to live here centuries and centuries ago?

Café de Paris - Coffee?

The terrace of the Café de Paris in Casino Square.  Fancy a coffee in the sunshine?

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Click HERE to see how other City Daily Photo bloggers around the world have interpreted the theme of  'Café Chairs.'

'There be dragons ...' in the Casino Gardens

'It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.'

~ J. R. R. Tolkien