10 March 2014

Combat Naval Fleuri - Mimosa Hair-Do


Don't you love that this lady is getting in the mood with her hair decoration, whilst waiting for the Naval Battle of the Flowers at Villefranche-sur-Mer to begin?

08 March 2014

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Young Man


No explanation needed. Just a beautiful young man to brighten our day, along with the mimosa.  Happy weekend everyone ...

07 March 2014

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Battle


The battle isn't really a battle!  It's mostly people collecting flowers to take home with them! Just a few of the kids throw the flowers back at the boats. And lots end up in the sea.


06 March 2014

Combat Naval Fleuri - the Gorilla


The sun shone and the gorilla had the best seat in the house!  What a fabulous day in Villefranche sur Mer, with my friend Sylvie, for the Combat Naval Fleuri (Naval Battle of the Flowers).  The boats (these are called pointu) take off for a parade around the port.

Later the battle begins ... 

05 March 2014

Rained out at Villefranche sur Mer - the Fish and the Car


Depite the rain, two of the boats were already in process of decoration - one with a fish and another with a car.

The festival is due to take place today with hopefully better weather than Monday when it had ot be postponed due to rain.

More tomorrow ...

04 March 2014

Rained out at Villefranche sur Mer


Yesterday, the annual Naval Battle of the Flowers was due to take place in Villefranche-sur-Mer, just along the coast from Monaco.   I went along with my friend Sylvie but it rained and it rained and eventually it was postponed.  It will now take place tomorrow.  Here you see some of the boats, waiting to be filled with floats made of flowers  - which stand, happily undercover, on the edge of the port.

Sylvie and I got rather wet but ended up having a great lunch and drowning our sorrows.  We'll go back on Wednesday.

03 March 2014

The Champions Parade - the 'Golden Foot'


This girl  has removed one shoe and is trying out for size one of the famous footballer's feet, cast in brass, on the Champions Parade in Monaco.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, a keen football fan, made the decision to dedicate part of the Principality’s waterfront to this Walk of Fame of the greatest footballers of all time.

The Golden Foot award is an international football award, given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements (both as individuals and team players) and for their personality.

Ten nominees are chosen by a panel of international journalists based on the criteria that they are at least 28 years of age and still playing. Out of this list, the winner is selected by an online poll, where anyone can vote.  The winner of the award, given by HSH Prince Albert II,  leaves a permanent mold of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco.

Since 2009, there has been a charity auction accompanying the Golden Foot event. The auction is held during the gala evening at the Hôtel de Paris, and raises funds for fighting AIDS.

02 March 2014

The Breakwater at Larvotto (2)


An alternative photo to yesterday's.  Same scene but a longer shot.

01 March 2014

The Breakwater at Larvotto


Sunbathing on the breakwater at Larvotto Beach. 

28 February 2014

The Antique Car Museum


The entrance to HSH Prince Rainier's collection of old cars in Fontvieille.  Here is a Mclaren Mercedes Formula One sports car.

27 February 2014

Happiness


Grimaldi Forum forecourt

'It's never too late to have a happy childhood.'  ~Berke Breathed

26 February 2014

Grimaldi Forum


There are always interesting angles to photograph on the forecourt of the Grimaldi Forum. You can just see the heads of walkers and joggers in the background - they are on the walkway below.

25 February 2014

Purple and Viiolet and Pink.


Purple and violet and pink.  What the well-dressed rollerblader is wearing in Monaco.

24 February 2014

The Bees are a-buzzing...


Rosemary tumbles over a wall alongside St. Nicolas' Church in Fontvieille.  We have sunshine, we have rosemary, we have bees a-buzzing. Spring can't be far away ...

23 February 2014

The Port of Fontvieille and the Tunnel


This is the edge of the port of Fontvieille and the tunnel that runs under le rocher (where you find the Palace, the Oceanographic Museum and so on).  If you drive thru this tunnel you come to the main port of Monaco, Port Hercule. 

This photo is so typical of Monaco. Extreme beauty alongside roadworks, or massive cranes looming into the sky.

22 February 2014

Upside-down steeple


The steeple of St. Nicolas' church in Fontvieille, reflected in a puddle.




21 February 2014

The False Pepper Tree


We are on the lowest terrace (behind the casino) looking towards Cap Martin and beyond that, Menton and Italy.

20 February 2014

Waiting for the Lotus


Waiting for the lotus.  The pots you see on the upper right are filled with lotus plants waiting to burst into leaf and then glorious flower.  The crazy patterns are reflections of apartment buildings on Avenue Princesse Grace.

19 February 2014

Reflections at the Grimaldi Forum


Apartment buildings along Larvotto reflected in the sloping windows of the Grimaldi Forum.
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