Coffee morning

Coffee morning ... at the Café de Paris.

Scooting Along ...

Togetherness on a scooter.

Volleyball on Larvotto

Reflection in the windows of the gym on Larvotto Beach and in the smaller photo - the reality. Not much volleyball going on but lots of discussion on the rules!

Squashed Balconies

Mirrored glass reflecting balconies and a road (notice the white van in the lower left section) is always fun to photograph.  This was taken on Boulevard Princesse Grace on Larvotto.

The Monte-Carlo Casino Lit up Pink - Thursday October 3rd 2013

If you're in Monaco on Thursday evening - 3rd October - go to Casino Square where you'll find the Monte-Carlo Casino will be illuminated in pink as a gesture of support towards breast cancer victimes. This will be the 3rd breast cancer aware campaign by Pink Ribbon Monaco.  


And take your camera!

The Podfather Cometh

Who is the 'Podfather' I wondered, as I sipped my coffee on the terrace of the Café de Paris.

 Wikipedia says:

'Adam Clark Curry (born September 3, 1964 in Arlington, Virginia is an announcer, internet entrepreneur and media personality, known for his stint as VJ on MTV and being one of the first celebrities to personally create and administer Web sites.  In the 2000s, he became involved in podcasting, and has been called the 'Podfather' because of his efforts.'

Vineyard in Sky Mirror

The vineyard planted in the garden in front of the casino is reflected in 'sky mirror.'  You can see the Casino building top centre.  The Cafe de Paris is to the right - everything is the wrong way around of course! In reality, the Cafe de Paris is off to the left ...

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.