Tuiga

It's painstaking work keeping Monaco's beautiful gaff cutter, Tuiga, in great condition.  She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2009 and is the flagship of the Monaco Yacht Club.

She was originally comissioned by the Duke de Medinacelli, a close friend of the King of Spain, Alphonse XIII.  Tuiga has known ten owners in 100 years.

In 1995, seduced by the slender lines of this yacht – regarded by Eric Tabarly as 'one of the world’s most beautiful yachts.' - H.S.H. Prince Albert II expressed his desire to own her, benefiting from the support of the 'Tuiga Committee.'

A Mirrored Rolls

Walking through the Park Palace shopping complex it's fun to photograph the mirrored pillars and whatever they reflect. 

So we have a Rolls Royce and a sports car (at that time on display) and a lady walking past the flower shop.

Light, Shade and Calm

Everywhere you look in the Japanese Garden, you'll find perfect vistas, reflections, light, shade and calm.

Fractured Stone

More reflections from the Japanese Garden. Today: fractured stone.

The Reflection of Life

François Truffaut said:

 'I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself.'

Le Tour Odeon

Well, it's hardly the most exciting photo in the world, is it?  But if you don't live in Monaco, or nearby, meet the Tour Odeon (Odeon Tower).

From Wikipedia:

Le Tour Odéon is a double-skyscraper currently being built in the Principality of Monaco. It's the first high-rise in the city-state to be built since the 1980s.  At 170 meters high, Tour Odeon will be the second tallest building on Europe's Mediterranean coast, after Gran Hotel Bali (186m) in Benidorm, Spain. Had Tour Odeon been built in neighboring France, it would be among that country's 10 highest buildings. It will be the 199th tallest building in the world - by floor count - upon its finish date.
Building Height : 170 meters, 50 floors.
259 residences, including 73 for-sale private luxury residences (including 2 Sky Duplex apartments of 1,200 m² each and 1 Sky Penthouse of 3,300 m² over 5 floors).
10 subterranean levels with 543 parking spaces.
Retail shops, offices and business centre. Wellness center including spa, a fitness center and a swimming pool.
Both the building's architecture and the shadows it casts on the cityscape have been criticized since the beginning of the project. In particular, residents of the adjacent French twon of Beausoleil have criticized the building for blocking the views and above all diminishing real estate values. An association was created, and the mayor called for discussions between French and Monegasque authorities.  After a construction incident, some locals attributed the tower the nickname 'Odious Tower' The project continued as planned.

Click on THIS LINK to read a Daily Mail piece about the  £250 million penthouse, the most expensive penthouse in the world! 

Getting the Lowdown ...

A view of the sea through the railings that are part of the wall overlooking Larvotto Beach.  That's the handrail running along the top.

Flower Lady

The flower lady at near Beausoleil market waits patiently ...

Courgette Flowers

Courgettes flowers. ( Zucchini in America). The smaller photos (posted a week ago) shows where them in context - the market of Beausoleil.

They are normally served as beignets (fritters) or stuffed and baked. And they are delicious!

Oleanders on the beach

Love the white oleanders on Larvotto Beach.

Blue Belt

Presumably this is a sort of floatation helt?  Really I don't know. Whether you can swim or not, I'd think it must be rather nice - just float and dream.

Note the cat on the earpiece of the headset - love it.

Ni Box - over the sea

Ni Box is where adolescents go to play: there's a bowling alley, video games, a discoteque and Life Club which is for clubbers.  Now they have this area over the sea.

Ni Box is the white building on the right of the smaller photo.

Lotus Land

The lotus has to be one of the most beautiful of flowers. 

Here it is in the Japanese garden and in all its stages of life:  the bud, the flower, and the beautiful seed pod emerging from the dead blossom.

Larvotto Beach - Walkway to a Swim

Walkway to a swim ...

Summer berries

Beausoleil market:

Summer berries - the strawberries were further along the stall ...

Rookie of the Year ...

Rookie of the Year ... in Beausoleil.

Courgettes as far as the eye can see ....

Courgettes (zucchini), with or without their flowers, for sale in Beausoleil's market. This sort are called 'trompette.' 

Don't!

There's an awful lot of things you CAN'T do on Larvotto Beach - so whilst you are not doing them, watch out for the sea urchins! Ouch!

Japanese Garden - Walk with Me ...

A pretty walk-way in the Japanese Garden on Avenue Princesse Grace.

Miami Plage - Piquant Oil

If you've ordered a pizza you'll need a bottle of piquant oil on the table.

It's good on lots of things - goats' cheese for instance. Yummy ... or Miam Miam as the French say.