The Casino Vineyard

The small round garden in front of the casino is happily untouched by the renovations in the upper gardens.  In fact, it has been transformed into an ephemeral vineyard!  Right down to the traditional rose bush at the end of each row.

This is to mark the 150th anniversary of SBM (Societe des Bains de Mer).  In fact, you can now order a Bordeaux Grand Cru by the glass in any of the SBM hotels, restaurants or casinos.  There is a choice of 150 different wines.  This started on June 22nd and continues for 150 days.

Progress at Casino Square! - the Silk Floss Tree and the Digger

The scoop of a digger seen though the beauty of a Silk Floss Tree as the destruction of the Casino gardens continues.  The Latin name of this gorgeous tree is Ceiba specioso - it's the same family as the Baobab tree.

Let's hope it survives ...

Progress at Casino Square! - the Winter Sporting

This is the Art Deco Winter Sporting - the building that is to be replaced.

Progress at Casino Square! - the Palms

It would appear (one hopes!) that the trees and palms are to be saved.

At the moment, the machines are being used to dig around the massive palms and beautiful trees.  Presumably they will  be left in place or will be lifted and hopefully replaced when the building work is finished.  Who knows? Doubtless we'll eventually know the answer ...

This photo shows the Café de Paris and the Casino.

Progress at Casino Square!

This is called progress!  The casino gardens are being dug up and the building you see to the right - the Winter Sporting (a beautiful Art Deco building) - will be knocked down in favour of a massive shopping complex. The building in the centre is the Hotel de Paris and you can just see a corner of the Casino to the left.

More tomorrow ...

La Spiaggia

Early morning at La Spiaggia on Larvotto beach.

People Watching at the Café de Paris

On the terrace of the Café de Paris, everyone faces Casino Square so they can 'people watch.' 

And if you sit at the back with a camera, you can watch people watching people!

Puff Puff

Seen on the terrace of the Café de Paris yesterday.  Presumably it's an electronic vapour pipe?

Simple Pleasures

There are still simple pleasures available in Monaco. 

In the smaller photo you see the heliport in the distance.

Biking

Bikes for hire on le rocher.

Written in Glass

These are the windows of the newly built Conseil National of Monaco on le Rocher - the Monagesque Parliament building.

Checking the Bill ...

Checking the bill?  Dividing the bill?  Foreign money is sometimes complicated ...

Tourism Movement

Visitors walk towards the lifts that will take them up to the Oceanographic Museum, the Palais and the Cathedral and all the delights of le rocher.

Tourism on le Rocher

The tiny ruelles on le rocher are enchanting if you can look past the tourist merchandise either end of a passageway.  Oh dear ...

The Open Air Cinema

Monaco's open air cinema. We've seen this on the blog before this is a slightly wider shot.  You can choose the type of seat you want to sit in - recliners, normal chairs etc and so prices vary. Great place to watch a film.

Nymphe Salmacis - F. J. Bosio

This sculpture is called Nymphe Salmacis and it's by the Monegasque sculptor, F. J. Bosio, who lives between 1768 and 1845. It stands in the forecourt of one of Monaco's public buildings on le rocher.

Petanque at the Palace - Red!

With the red and white flags of Monaco and the red t-shirts, we're not about to wonder where we are!

Petanque at the Palace - Sway!

Swaying pom-pom girls keep the crowd entertained as they wait for the next game of petanque.

Petanque at the Palace - the Pom Pom Girls

Meet the pom-pom girls - well, part of them. Tomorrow we'll see the rest.

Petanque at the Palace - the Throw

At the Petanque tournment in front of the Palace, this lady, who was playing with the Prince, has a pretty deft action, don't you think?